11 Simple Ways to Spruce Up Your Building

Do your outside areas and parking lots look soiled, damaged, or old? This should be expected and not a surprise.

After a harsh winter, many properties may be looking worn. The effects of the brutal weather are evident everywhere. Take a walk outdoors and keep your eyes open. Sign posts have been knocked down by windy conditions. The striping on your parking structure has been obliterated by storm water and snow plows. The salt that was spread eroded the speed bumps and curb edges. All of this, combined with signs covered with graffiti and hedges squashed by negligent drivers, ensure that the property certainly needs some comprehensive spring time renovations.

Where's the best place to begin? The following is a checklist for Spring Spruce Up so that you can start making sure the parking lot and outside space is visually appealing as well as clean and safe.

1. Put in new sign posts when old ones are twisted or rusty. Consider sign posts that are flexible so they bounce back to standing if hit. It's worth your while as you will not have to replace them over and over again with new posts.

2. Stop signs or parking signs that are faded need to be replaced or renovated. Install bright fresh signs.. Buy the ones that are highly reflective and you'll increase night visibility when headlights shine on them.

3. Protect yourself from those who would vandalize the property. You'll spend a lot in time and effort if you have to replace signs that have been vandalized. When you are going to replace the signs, do so with an upgrade to those that have a protective coating. With this special coating, sunlight will not cause fading and graffiti will be easy to clean.

4. If curbs or speed bumps are cracked, it's time to replace them. If you use rubber or plastic, you'll never have to repaint again and they won't fade or chip.

5. Redo the stripes in the parking lot. Hire a professional painting company to put fresh stripes back on your parking lot.

6. Go over the safety measures for the parking lot. In the warmer months, more folks will go outside. Put in signs at the crosswalks so people will know where they can safely walk and so drivers will know if certain areas are restricted to vehicles.

7. Fix the sidewalks where they have cracked. Take out the sealer and fill in any crack wider than 1/4". Mend the little holes that appear as soon as you see them. This will prevent water from being absorbed which will consequently transform small potholes into bigger ones.

8. Make sure areas that are restricted because they're not safe, cannot be easily accessed. Restrict access to vehicles or pedestrians by using traffic cones or tape to barricade some areas.

9. Perk up the outside grounds. Replace dying plant life with newer, healthier landscaping. Then put in some bollards for protection. Use security posts, called bollards, to make sure cars don't mar the sidewalks and your landscaping efforts.

10. Take things off your property that have been damaged or are no longer in good shape. Fix tables and repaint them, and do the same with trash cans, bike racks, and other things, returning them when they are new looking and clean.

11. Put a reminder out regarding the smoking policy for your property. Put signs up that say whether smoking is allowed or not outside the doorways of buildings and in the outside areas where breaks are taken. Put out receptacles to catch cigarette butts so the sidewalk isn't messy.

A Spring Spruce Up can make any outside space look new again, even if it is in really bad shape. Just use your checklist. Once you have new signs, a parking lot that is neat, and fresh landscaping, your grounds will provide a clean, secure environment that is also visually appealing.

Steve Parker, Sr. Estimator. RaiderPainting.com is the leading painting company providing commercial and industrial painting services to over 1,000 Fortune 500 customer nationwide. We are experienced painting contractors, call 877-724-3371 for a no obligation Estimate.

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Get the Best Deal in Parking Lot Striping

Some history about parking lot striping may be in order before delving into getting the best deal out of it for any facility. Post-World War II economy has made a giant out of the automobile industry, spurred by the government's drive to better the transportation services in the country. With more cars on the roads, better highways, road networks, and navigational systems were established. As part of road navigation improvements, car parks and the need to stripe them became an essential component of the road system.

As consumers navigate the roads more often to conduct their daily lives, businesses grew in the awareness of the importance of car parks to attract and maintain the loyalty of customers. As part of enhancing customer relations, car ports and stalls in business facilities became the norm. And with federal laws regulating the design of car parks in state highways and businesses, adequate space and good parking lot striping became standard fixtures in business facilities.

Parking lot striping is integral to the business because the car park is the first part of the facility that car-going customers commonly encounter, and a good impression of these areas is therefore critical. Entrusting this project to a parking lot striping contractor carries with it a high degree of attention to detail and some careful research, in order to get the best value for the project.

Where to start? From the few simple guidelines enumerated below:

1. Clarify parking lot striping goals. The design dictates the way the striping contractor will work. Facility managers should be concise on the deliverables and expected output of the project. This way, the contractor knows exactly what are the targets that need to be reached, to guaranteed satisfaction.

2. Balance the need for quality over cost. It's a tightrope, but facility managers just have to walk this line to get the best value out of the parking lot striping project. Quality need not be expensive, in the hands of a capable contractor.

3. Think ahead and into the future. The business car park may evolve in the course of time to keep up with business growth. Facility managers must take this into consideration in parking lot striping. Future business expansion, natural aging, and physical damages from constant heavy loads will also cause the car park to change, and the contractor must be able to anticipate and address these issues.

4. Be attuned to cutting-edge striping technology. Innovations abound everywhere, with almost all painting contractor companies stocking up on these technological advancements and products. Facility managers must keep in step not only with what's new or what's hot, but most importantly, what's good quality, when it comes to these innovations.

5. Place a premium on knowledge, skills and experience. It is a wise move to rely on a parking lot striping company that has successfully completed many striping projects in its work history. Hands-on experience is an important factor in the success of the project, and facility managers must consider this as one strength of any potential contractor. Experience can be verified from testimonials of past clients.

Parking lot striping not only assures compliance of federal regulations, but in getting the best deal with contractors in the conduct of the striping project, also guarantees a well-designed parking area for vehicles, to the convenience and delight of customers.

Steve A. Parker, Sr. Estimator, RaiderPainting.com - the preferred painting company for building owners and facility managers of commercial and industrial properties nationwide. Call 877-724.3371 for a free Estimate. And check out the Raider Painting Blog [http://blog.raiderpainting.com].

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The Perks of Asphalt Pavement Make It A Solid Driveway Medium

Paving a driveway is generally the last thing on a homeowner or potential homeowner's mind, but the choices made can make a real difference down the road. Some driveway types will require lots of maintenance and frequent repair or replacement and others, such as asphalt, are meant to stand the test of time. Buying one that will last is generally the best choice
overall.

Typically, the three big picks for driveways that are paved are gravel, concrete and asphalt. Those who want practically maintenance free driveways go with asphalt. Asphalt does require maintenance, but it stands up well to time and maintains its appearance well when it's treated with care. This is true for a number of reasons.

Asphalt, the stuff roads are made of, is meant to take a serious beating. For paving purposes it's made of a mixture of concrete and petroleum that's designed to handle heat, weight and wear and tear when it retains a solid form. Just like a roadway, though, it requires proper laying and care to maintain its usefulness, but when these go into the mix, the advantages over plain concrete are many and include:

* Smoothness. Asphalt generally looks cleaner and smoother than gravel. It's also a little easier to shape than concrete. A well laid asphalt driveway can look as pretty as a black sheet of glass.

* Property value. A solid driveway that looks great can add value to a property by increasing its eye appeal.

* Appearance. Asphalt that's well maintained can hold its appearance much longer than typical concrete and especially gravel. Since it's laid down and hardened, asphalt won't need to be replaced as often as loose gravel drives will.

* Stain resistant. Asphalt is great for helping a driveway stay in pristine looking condition. Oil spills and other stains that plague gravel and concrete either just don't stick to asphalt or they are not visible. This makes asphalt the best choice for those who want their driveways to stay in brand new looking condition.

Asphalt drives can cost a little more than the other two alternatives, but since they maintain their appearance and resist stains, they can be the better choice. The cost savings in the long run can be fantastic. When the other two are in need of repair or total replacement, asphalt can stay looking great.

The key to making sure an asphalt drive looks good all the time is to make sure it's taken care of. Asphalt needs to be properly sealed to resist cracks, breaks and potholes. Grass around the edges needs to be removed on a regular basis to ensure it doesn't create problems, too. The little bit of maintenance, however, is a lot better than having to deal with ugly stains or premature replacement.

The natural enemies of unsealed asphalt are heat, the sun's ultraviolet rays, and more. When a driveway's sealed, it can last a life time. Just make sure to follow proper maintenance routines and an asphalt driveway will prove itself tops over the other choices.

#1 ResourceAsphalt paving supplies. [http://www.asphaltpavingsupply.com] [http://www.asphaltpavingsupply.com]

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Asphalt Paving Problems and Solutions

Protecting your asphalt investment from deterioration is the key to keeping an attractive looking parking lot or driveway. Sealcoating new asphalt within one year of installation is the best and most cost efficient way to avoid expensive repairs due to pavement failures. However, let's take a look at some common asphalt problems and their solutions:

Oxidation and Graying

Over time, traffic, water, gas, oil, the suns unrelenting rays will wreak havoc on asphalt pavement. The older the pavement gets, the more exposure to elements, the more the asphalt pavement will fade and take on a gray appearance. This graying is a sign that the asphalt is oxidizing and drying out. The drier it gets the more brittle it will become and the more prone to cracking. It's a downward spiral at this point if nothing is done to stop the water from penetrating the asphalt cracks. It is critical that asphalt repairs are made as part of an ongoing asphalt pavement maintenance plan to avoid further decay.

Raveling

Another asphalt paving maintenance issue to be aware of is raveling. When the binder, which acts as a glue, that is used to hold the stone and sand particles that make up the asphalt starts deteriorating, this is called raveling. Pieces of aggregate will loosen and breakaway from the pavement surface making it thinner and thinner as it deteriorates.

The surface of the asphalt pavement will appear rough as pieces of the asphalt away and separate. This can create a void for water to penetrate into the base material.

Linear Asphalt Cracks

Transverse and longitudinal cracks are fairly common in asphalt pavement as it ages. Starting small, they will expand over time. Again, any crack in asphalt is an opportunity for water to penetrate. Pavement expansion due to hot and cold temperatures will continue to cause the cracks to expand.

Cleaning out any dirt or debris from such cracks, asphalt repairs can be made to stop water from seeping below the pavement and help stop the crack from growing.

Sealcoating the pavement early on helps lock-in the binder and prevents from cracks from occurring.

Vegetation Growth

If cracks, gaps or joints in asphalt are left unfilled, grass, weeds and other plants - even trees have been known to grow right through a parking lots surface. Not only does this make for an un-kept looking parking area, but the roots of the vegetation can cause severe damage to the base of the asphalt. Additionally, as the plant grows, the roots and the visible vegetation will widen the gaps letting more water penetrate the surface eroding the base materials. A simple asphalt crack repair before vegetation has a chance to take root can save property managers thousands of dollars in repairs or replacement.

Maureen McHale provides marketing help for businesses of all sizes, in a variety of industries. Visit hiremaureen.com for more information. For more information about asphalt and paving and about ABC Paving and Sealcoating, visit their website or call 866-934-7623 for a free estimate.

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Vaca Vet Striping Works On Residential Asphalt Surface That Needs Extensive Work

Vaca Vet Striping worked on a large private residence that needed extensive crack filling and sealcoating. Two layers of sealcoating will be required (photos are showing 1st coat). This asphalt surface is 20 + years old and needed extensive work.

If you need Seal Coating done at your home give Vaca Vet Striping a call! We strive to provide quality work and great service at an affordable cost.

707-592-8331

How Much Will Sealcoating Cost You?

If you have an asphalt based driveway, or maybe you're a business that has a parking lot.   You may find that sooner or later your driveway is going to start cracking, or just simply look bad.  If you don't maintain it on a yearly basis, you will find that it's going to deteriorate rather quickly.

What should I expect with seal coating pricing?

Every contractor is going to be different when it comes to giving you a quote.  This is why it's important that you talk with at least 3-5 companies when considering a deal.  Never ever go with the first company that you come across, as this can be a relatively bad idea.

When you want to get an exact price, most legit sealcoating companies will come to your house and conduct a free estimate.  This is a great way to get an exact price.  You will find that they will basically measure the length and width of your driveway.  Every company is going to have it's own formula.  Some companies may charge you by the size of the driveway, while others may charge you based on the labor charges.

What am I going to get?

With a great sealcoating job, they are going to basically resurface your driveway / parking lot.  They will repaint any parking lines and make your lot look like it's brand new.  Keep in mind that if you have any cracks, they may just fill it with crack filler, rather than replace it.  If you want to have a nice, smooth surface, you will find that you will want to replace it entirely.

You're going to be able to choose from a few different options as well.  You will find that you can get it sprayed on, which will be cheaper.  If you wish, you can also get it brushed on, which will look better, but will cost you a little more.  This will vary again depending on the contractor.

Every contractor will be different.  Be sure to get a few quotes to know the exact price that you're going to pay, because it will vary on city by city.

Want to know the exact sealcoating cost in your area? Get estimates, as well as what other people paid all at HowMuchIsIt.

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Deciding Between Asphalt Paving and Concrete?

If you're thinking about paving a parking lot, driveway or road, and can't decide between asphalt paving and concrete paving, this article is for you!

Where concrete was once the preferred method for paving roads and parking lots, today, asphalt paving is the preferred choice.

Let's take a look at how concrete and asphalt are made to compare and contrast the features and benefits of each type of paving.

Concrete is made using crushed rock and sand aggregate, cement and water. As the mixture dries, the cement binds the concrete and holds the aggregate together. Once set, concrete is a stiff and unforgiving solid substance. However, if the surface beneath the concrete has not been made perfectly smooth, concrete is prone to cracking and breaking.

Asphalt is also made using aggregate. However, instead of using cement as a binder, bitumen, a dark, sticky substance derived from crude oil is used. To build a parking lot or driveway, hot asphalt is poured onto a layer of heavier aggregate and then pressed into it with a steamroller. Once cooled, asphalt is strong enough to withstand automobile traffic. While asphalt is extremely hard and durable, it offers enough flexibility to accommodate imperfections in underlying surfaces, a feature that concrete does not have.

The other advantages of asphalt paving over concrete or cement paving are numerous. One advantage over concrete is that removal and replacement of damaged asphalt is a relatively easy process in comparison to that of concrete. Asphalt is also completely recyclable. Due to the large demand of asphalt for recycling purposes, it is rare that this material will be sent to the landfill.

Another benefit to asphalt construction projects is that they can be finished and the roadways opened for traffic much faster and with a lot less expense than concrete construction projects. Additionally, maintenance and repair of asphalt pavement is quicker, easier and less expensive than that of cement pavement. In fact, repairing minor cracks in asphalt driveways and walkways can be so easy that, with the know-how, one person, by them self, can complete a minor asphalt repair project in just one afternoon. A benefit in making the simple, inexpensive asphalt repair can increase the longevity of an asphalt surface significantly.

When more than just asphalt crack repair is needed, the solution still requires less time and money repairing asphalt paving over cement paving. Unlike concrete, which needs to be removed and replaced when significant cracks appear, asphalt can be resurfaced in much less time, and at a fraction of the cost.

Whether you're talking about new construction, maintenance, or repair -- asphalt paving is a better solution than concrete paving in almost every situation, saving you time and money.

Maureen McHale is a web marketing consultant. ABC Paving and Sealcoating (ABC) provides commercial paving service throughout the state of Florida.

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Asphalt Driveway Basics: What to Know About Asphalt Driveways

Most of the time, not a lot of thought is often given to what type of driveways homeowners want. There are positives and negatives to each option, but as many people find out, asphalt can be a wonderful driveway option for any customer.

The climate you live in is one of the important things to consider when determining which driveway material is best for your situation. As you travel north in the United States, the prevalence of asphalt driveways increases due to the up and down weather conditions that occur in colder climates. Driveways that spend time in colder climates have different needs and requirements than driveways that do not face a lot of weather adversity. This is because asphalt is a more pliable and flexible material than concrete driveways, which makes it more forgiving in those climates. Also, for people living in snowy areas, the black color of the asphalt can also aid in melting ice and snow faster. Those seemingly small things can make a huge difference in adding on to your driveway's life span.

When time is of the essence, asphalt driveways are a good choice. When done by a professional, they can be done relatively quickly and with out a lot of mess. A new asphalt driveway can usually be installed in a day or two after the sub-grade preparation. This causes fewer problems for the driveway owner. These driveways also be driven on around 24 hours after their installation, making it relatively more convenient than other methods. Less wait time can end up being a forgotten factor when considering driveway options, but it should not be dismissed. With proper installation and care, an asphalt driveway can last up to 20 or 30 years. This lifespan is based on the installation's quality, the type and frequency of driveway maintenance and your region's climate.

Asphalt driveways should be sealed every 3 to 5 years to maintain their quality and prevent deterioration once they are a minimum of 6 months old. It is recommended that a quality commercial grade asphalt sealer does the sealing to ensure the highest quality.

These driveways can be an economical and aesthetically pleasing solution for your driveway needs. They offer a sharp, sleek and clean look for your driveway. If you determine that your climate and location are suitable for installing asphalt driveways, contact a professional to help you assess what your pre-installation check list should include.

For more information about asphalt driveways, please speak with a representative at http://www.jwasphalt.com/

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Asphalt Maintenance - What You Need To Know

Asphalt maintenance is an integral part of property management. It is a known fact that asphalt driveways are more common than concrete driveways, especially up north. They have to be well-maintained especially in areas of harsh weather. Harsh heat from the sun and corrosive deicing salts can wreak havoc on an asphalt surface.

Measures should be taken to stop these corrosive forces.

Various asphalt paving companies have come up with innovations that help in maintaining asphalt with the aid of certain strategies. Most of them are simple and easy and can be followed even by a layman. The first and foremost is that asphalt weathers easily and must be maintained by annual sealing. Proper drainage of water is a critical to prevent penetration and erosion.

The driveway should be kept clean and well-maintained from all natural pollutants such as air, smoke and draining facilities for water. The asphalt mix has to be of good quality and comprise good graded materials, so that the asphalt mix stays firm on the existing layer and does not give away too soon.
As asphalt cracks and splits due to age and various stresses it will need to be resurfaced. This is accomplished by grinding off the top layer and reapplying a fresh coat of asphalt.

Getting the right proportional mix of various binding agents that help in fixing the asphalt layer on to the scraped surface is very important for standard asphalt pavements. This coating should be applied smooth and even at suitable temperatures.

Asphalt maintenance can be tricky to the untrained professional. You would be well advised, when hiring a contractor, to check all references. Spend some time and check out their work. Make sure they are licensed and insured. Above all else, make sure you get the agreement in writing and signed. In other words, list every last thing you agreed to and get a signature. This protects both parties involved.

Peyton Stallings is a lifetime Atlanta resident and general contractor. Peyton is President and onsite manager for PKS Paving And Construction and writes regular columns on, paving, Asphalt Paving Atlanta and construction in general. To learn more please visit our site at http://www.pksasphaltpavingatlanta.com.

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