Asphalt Installation - Understand the Process Before You Choose a Paving Company

If you're thinking about getting asphalt installed, either as a driveway or something else, knowing how it's installed is important. Not only will it help you know what to expect during the installation, but you will understand where your hard earned money is going. Here is some information on asphalt installation to help you understand the process before you choose a paving company.

The Stone Layer

Typically, asphalt installation begins with the company putting down a layer of stone or gravel. Many contractors use crushed gravel as it is the least expensive base to use for the asphalt. If you want the best sort of underlay for your asphalt, you can request a larger stone - however, be prepared as it may cost you more. Once the stone layer has been put in, the contractor will move on to the pouring the asphalt.

Pouring the Asphalt

Generally, after the stone has been selected and placed where it is needed, the contractors will pour the asphalt. You may notice that the gravel extends a few inches past where the asphalt is poured. This is good - if the asphalt made it to the sides of the gravel to the dirt or grass, it can easily break off at the sides as there is nothing supporting it. This will make your driveway look terrible!

Leveling

After the asphalt is poured, you will notice your contractor using a machine to straighten or level the surface of the driveway. This is to make sure everything is perfectly level and that there are no bumps or areas that are higher or lower than the rest of the asphalt. When this is finished, your asphalt only needs to cool and set up and you will have a brand new driveway. The time it takes to finish your driveway depends on how large it is and many other variables. Your contractor will discuss this with you before the job is started.

After the asphalt is poured, you must of course stay off of it for a while. Many contractors will ask you for a down payment, however Ludwig Paving is the only company which will not. They are also able to quickly repair any small damages to the asphalt. For instance, http://www.LudwigPaving.com has a 24 hour emergency service for cracks and potholes. Now that you know how the installation goes, you know what to expect from your asphalt installation and contractor. For all of your asphalt paving and maintenance needs in Toronto and the surrounding areas, Ludwig Paving is your best bet. 25 years of experience and customer satisfaction in the driveway, parking lots, and all other paving jobs. If you need great quality paving and excellent customer service, visit http://www.LudwigPaving.com and receive a free quote.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe_Caramanna

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1413711

Parking Lot Striping Makes a Good First Impression

Your parking lot is one of the first things that customers, clients, and visitors see when they enter your facility. The color contrast of a freshly striped lot is attractive and gives the impression that the property owner cares about maintenance.

A well-striped parking area guides people around the lot safely. Crosswalks, loading-zone markings, stop bars, and properly marked pickup areas for customers or vehicle boarding, let pedestrians know where they should walk, when to give right-of-way to traffic, and areas to avoid.
To help preserve or improve the flow of traffic on a parking lot, a professional striping contractor will re-stripe or lay out new markings based on the customer's blueprints or their own design.

Maximize Space!

As a property owner you know that your parking lot is very valuable, usually comprising at least half of your square footage. A Professional Striping Contractor focuses on getting as many cars as possible into your lot to maintain cost-effectiveness. Brand new striping and the right layout will help meet this goal.

Re-striping should be done every one to two years; depending on the amount of traffic and wear and tear from weather and other factors. The process is simple, but must be done by a professional striping contractor for the best results.

First, the empty parking lot must be cleaned and checked for any major damage such as cracks, potholes or sunken areas. A good striping contractor will also check for water damage. Next, chalk lines will be used to ensure the final painted lines will be clean and straight.

The lines have to be as bright as possible. Not only for people who will be parking, but striping also serves to direct lot traffic to ensure safety of drivers and pedestrians. Drivers must easily see where they are supposed to go at all times. Also, having bright yellow speed bumps on your lot, makes it safer for pedestrians as well as drivers.

Generally, the number of parking spaces on the lot is used to determine how many handicapped spaces are required by law. Proper signs must also be displayed on the parking lot as well. Crosswalks, loading zones, and pick-up and drop-off areas should be bright and clear.

A professional striping contractor uses high quality paint and a walk behind style striping machine. The quality of the paint ensures greater life expectancy of the clean look and the striping machine gets the painted lines to be approximately 6 millimeters when dry.

That brings us to the final stage of striping. Barricades are used to keep other drivers from entering the parking lot until it is completely dry. The lines cannot be driven on until the paint has had time to fully dry (at-least 30 minutes).

Striping is a great way to keep a parking lot looking new and professional. Customers always appreciate a well designed and striped parking area. It's the first thing they see when visiting your property, so you want to create a positive overall first impression.

Patriot Striping, Inc. is a full service parking lot Contractor. We are dedicated to bringing our customers unparalleled service, and quality!We understand how difficult it can be to find a Striping Contractor in Santa Clarita that is reliable, prompt, and responsive to their customers needs. These attributes are what Patriot Striping, Inc. is built on! For More Information: Striping Contractor Santa Clarita [http://stripingcontractorsantaclarita.123nrg.com]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rob_Halvern

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2535136

Why Paving Contractors Choose Asphalt

Among the available materials for paving roads and driveways, asphalt has been the choice of many paving contractor for the many advantages it has over other materials like concrete. There are a lot of asphalt solutions for urban, suburban or rural roads that can greatly be useful in coping with the stresses of heavy traffic.

The advantage of asphalt starts from its being cost-efficient. It is usually about 30 to 40 percent cheaper than concrete. Cost is an important factor in any project, of course for a project to push through the total costing must fit within the client's budget.

Next, the laying of asphalt only takes 1 to 2 days to complete whereas concrete takes several days longer. There is also a big difference in the time of usability of asphalt and concrete. Asphalt paving can already be used after 2 to 4 days depending on the time of year when the paving is laid, for example it cures or hardens faster in the Spring and Fall and takes longer in the Summer as the summer heat causes it to melt, while concrete paving may only be used after 7 days after it is placed. Concrete may takes less time to harden if a high early mix which is quite expensive.

General road maintenance is important to lengthen the life of the road structure that is why paving contractors prefer asphalt over concrete. When repair and maintenance is needed, asphalt can be easily opened and can be placed back quickly thereby the flow of traffic is not affected. It is also significantly cheaper in contrast to the cost of the material used in concrete which is higher.

When it comes to spalling, asphalt unlike concrete does not flake on the surface. The flaking of the concrete is primarily caused by the improper setting up of the material, too much water that is mixed in the concrete and the salt that is added to it.

Cracking is also a big issue for paving contractors. While concrete needs central joints to prevent it from cracking, asphalt is highly flexible which means that the pavement is less likely to split up or break. Also, asphalt is 100% recyclable thus using it instead of concrete may preserve non-renewable natural resources.

Noise both on the inside and outside of the vehicle can be greatly reduced when asphalt is used for paving. In fact, among all the traditional road surfaces asphalt roads have been proven to have the lowest noise level. What's more the recent development of porous asphalts has reduced the noise level even further.

Paving contractors has favored the use of asphalt for the past years for so many reasons which include like its higher level of skid resistance and versatility that have all been proven to contribute to the safety of the our roads. And with the continuing improvements in asphalt paving, it will remain the material of choice of many paving contractors for the years to come.

Paving Contractor [http://houston-asphalt-paving.com/]. Please visit our website for more information [http://houston-asphalt-paving.com/].

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Saima_B

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7993891

Choose an Asphalt Paving Company With Proven Experience

If you have asphalt paving needs, make sure you are working with a quality contractor who is familiar with the type of project you have. Whether it's a parking lot for your business or your home's driveway, consider the company's experience, references, and policies when making your decision.

Experience

Companies with significant years of experience in asphalt paving will know the way to handle the asphalt for your specific location, the weather conditions, and your project. Services may include paving, sealcoating, and resurfacing, so select a company that has a history of providing the particular service you require. Most reputable firms will want to visit the site to actually see the project area in order to assess the soil quality, grading, and other physical characteristics of the area that may impact the cost and time required to complete the project. In the case of sealcoating or resurfacing, they will want to see the number of cracks and repairs needed.

Besides looking at the number of years they have been in business, also check if they have been in the specific area for some time. You'll want a company that is familiar with the temperature and other weather trends in the specific area so they can better predict the amount of time needed for a project.

References

A quality asphalt paving company will provide you with references from previous jobs. You should ask for at least three, making sure the jobs are similar to the one you are planning. When talking with references, consider the following questions:

- What kind of project was done?

- What time of year was it? Do you think that was a good time for the job?

- Did they complete the job on time and on budget? If not, were there good reasons, such as weather delays?

- Do you believe the cost was worth the quality of work?

- Would you call on this company for a similar project?
Policies

Many asphalt paving companies will be glad to give you a free estimate on your project. Find out the factors that affect the estimate so that you can be prepared for an increase (or decrease) in the final project cost. You will need to know their policy for payment, such as partial payment before, during, and at the completion of the project. Also find out if they offer any kind of satisfaction guarantee for all or part of the purchase price.

Take the time to choose a quality, experienced firm for your next asphalt paving project.

When looking for high quality asphalt pavig, NJ residents visit http://mcfarlanepaving.com/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Stratton

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8881991

Parking Lot Striping and Maintenance Increases Customer Safety

In business, it is important to always put your best foot forward, and that step can start with fresh parking lot striping. Fresh paint provides a good first impression for arriving customers. Faded and cracked lines, potholes, and crumbling chocks are not only an eyesore, but can also be a safety hazard as well. To ensure customers can park their cars with ease and navigate the car park without any confusion, regular maintenance is crucial.

Clear parking lot striping will not only help visitors navigate easily, but well-planned spacing can also help maximize a small area, squeezing in extra spots for cars so that you don't unintentionally lose business. Most car parks are also required by local regulations to meet certain codes which include a specific number of designated handicap spaces for disabled individuals (how many will depend on the location and size of the area). These will require an extra wide border to be clearly marked, allowing for room to remove wheelchairs or other necessary mobility devices. Codes may also require specific stenciling and marked fire lanes.

If the area is jointly operated by several businesses, it can be helpful to designate specific spots directly in front of doors exclusively to one shop. This is particularly useful for quick-stop stores located next to businesses with longer transactions such as restaurants or movie theaters. Keeping a few spaces free and marked for fifteen minutes or less is another way to keep traffic flowing, turning away fewer customers during peak periods. Spaces can be stencil-painted and bordered in a different color to distinguish it from others.

Proper parking lot striping is also a valuable safety tool that can help you cut back on collisions, slip and falls, or other potential hazards. In addition to keeping the paint fresh and direction arrows clear to improve traffic flow, consider re-paving the entire car park if it is extremely damaged. Large holes and cracks can not only damage vehicles, but people can fall and hurt themselves. And if it happened on your property, you may have a lawsuit on your hands. Smashed chocks are another common problem that is often overlooked. Chocks are the bumpers located between spaces or in front of sidewalks to prevent vehicles from moving too far. Over time, the constant stress from car bumps, or even just a single hard hit can result in them cracking and shifting. The rubble left behind can be dangerous to pedestrians and cyclists.

Parking lot striping professionals generally offer several other benefits in addition to their painting skills. Included in their services are often a cleaning of the area using power washing to lift and blast away long-standing grime, a basic warranty covering unexpected fading or stains for the first few months or longer, and help re-planning the area if needed. Most paints are fast-drying, so you won't have to worry about closing off the area for long. Always choose a company that is licensed, experienced, and fully insured so that you will receive quality work that you can depend on.

For dependable parking lot maintenance there is a local company you can contact. For information about their services, go to www.articlesrx.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Stratton

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6657078

Is Your Parking Lot ADA Compliant?

Accessible parking spaces to be 9’-0” wide with adjacent 5’-0” wide aisle on passenger side. Perimeter of access aisle to be painted blue. Within border hatched lines at 36” on center. “NO PARKING” to be painted in each access aisle in 12” high letters.

Source: http://ada.ashdownarch.com/?p=78

If your parking lot is not, or if you're not sure, give Vaca Vet Striping a call! 707.592.8331 

We specialize in striping for shopping centers, business complexes, apartments, and private roadways. Whether you have a small job of just two parking stalls or a multi-acre parking facility, V.V.S. will provide professional and timely work.

Must-Know Strategies Before Choosing the Best Asphalt Paving Company

Asphalt paving requires employing specially skilled labor. Some employ asphalt paving contractors to repave their driveway while others hire contractors to mend their business sidewalk or parking lot. The needs are different every time. So before choosing an asphalt paving company, you need to carefully consider your needs and requirements along with your tastes, preferences and budget.

Normally, people will call a contractor and ask them for an initial assessment followed by an affordable quote. After going through all the assessments sheets, they usually hire the cheapest one. Though it may work for some individuals, yet most of them suffer in the long run. If you are someone who is more into quality and always appreciated skilled workmanship, then it is definitely not for you. Rather, you can do some comparison shopping, interview the shortlisted contractors, scan their portfolio in great details, take some recommendation from friends and acquaintances, and then decide on the one that best fits your requirements.

Choosing a service is not a simple task for all and sundry. On the other hand, Yet again, there are people who have come up with some quick and convenient strategies.

Perform a comprehensive research: Make sure you ask for recommendations from friends and family members on the provider. If they have hired him before, ask them about the quality of their work. You should also make a personal visit to the company and make sure they have a good standing in the market. At the same time, ensure that their insurance is in good standing in the eyes of law.

Communicate with the manager: You should take an appointment and meet the person in charge to discuss the project in further details. You can ask him the estimated time for the completion of the project, along with other vital details like cost and quality.

Inquire about an all-inclusive service: For simplicity and convenience, you would of course want one company to take care of all driveways and parking lots instead of individually assigning the job to different contractors. Make sure you communicate over this matter in further details. Such services also ensure that the work of consistent throughout.

Use the best materials for an excellent outcome: To ensure that the project meets the desired outcome, this job should be best left on the contractor. He knows more about paving materials than you do. But at the same time, take note of the fact whether they are using the best quality materials that they promised in the contract.

With all the helpful points mentioned above, I'm sure you will have no difficulty in finding the right asphalt paving company that best suits your needs.

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 Crack Sealing Atlanta and construction in general. To learn more please visit our site at http://www.pksasphaltpavingatlanta.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peyton_Stallings

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5760612

The Strong Foundation For Any Pavement - Asphalt Paving

Most homes have driveways which would require durable pavement. At home, the residential infrastructures which include the drive way pavement can enhance the security, beauty and aesthetic appeal of the whole property. Many pavement contractors offer different kinds of paving services. These services include construction of driveways, parking areas, cubs as well as patching services.

Most homes are never complete without driveways. In America where most people are driving their own vehicles, the residential area requires a specific path for the cars or vans. Because of this necessity, paving had become an essential requirement under home construction. You can never ignore the need to pave your driveway.

Paving had made its importance be recognized in all sectors, be it residential, commercial or industrial. At home, the residential infrastructures which include the drive way pavement can enhance the security, beauty and aesthetic appeal of the whole property. It may not occur to you but then - the pavement contribute to the beautification of the building, not to mention the additional value. As driveways are usually found in the frontal area of most buildings, you will realize that aside from providing a space where the vehicle runs, this sort of pavement adds charm to the whole structure.

To accomplish the herculean task of rendering professional paving services, many contractors are now in this business. Many pavement contractors offer different kinds of paving services. These services include construction of driveways, parking areas, cubs as well as patching services.

On drive way foundation

Construction of drive ways is a very significant activity that is performed in residential, commercial and industrial establishments. Professional contractors will ensure that they have created beautiful, impressive, sturdy and rock solid pavements. These firms build the area with concrete or stone or asphalt and other materials. The choice of materials can be a decision of the building owner but in many cases, there are suggestions that the asphalt paving is more beneficial. Aside from the actual construction, these professionals also render cleaning, maintenance and repair services.

Building of parking areas and lots

A bigger contract for these professional asphalt or concrete pavers can involve huge parking areas and parking lots. As these areas will be used for more heavy duty activities, these are expected to be ultra sturdy. Thus, your efficient contractor is obligated to use only the finest and highest quality materials. The goal is for the longevity of the parking area and this can only be done by reliable contracting companies.

Curb construction and repair

Your curb can affect the look of your residence or commercial establishment. Damaged curb can be an eyesore that will repel customers for commercial establishment customers. The effect is the same for residential buildings - where people will hardly appreciate the beauty and façade of your home when you curb is damaged.

Patching Services

Another service rendered by the paving contractors is patching service. These patching services can be construction or repair of parks, speed bumps, curbs and even parking areas, driveways and walkways. Topnotch professional paving service providers can offer high quality repairs and patching techniques that can restore the durability and quality of the park, bump, curb, parking area, walkway and driveway.

Look around your property and check if there are any pavements that need repair. Or perhaps, there is a sparse area to be paved and done with. And before you accomplish the contract, be sure that you have evaluated the kind of pavement that is needed. And have you ever compared asphalt paving to other materials? Remember that for many property owners who ever had used asphalt paving attest to the durability, beauty and cost effectiveness of this material.

Sunrise Asphalt is a source of Tucson Asphalt Paving Contractors; the company provides professional and proper paving of driveways and parking spaces. To learn more of the firm's services, visit http://www.sunriseasphaltaz.com/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rhodes_Huff

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7375901

Parking Lot Striping - Your Big Welcome Mat

Chances are if it's concrete, asphalt or pavement, it's going to be painted. Not paint as in Van Gogh or Michelangelo, but rather lines, signs, and arrows. Parking lot striping and painting is an extremely important part of any paving or asphalting process, especially in the case of retail and professional parking lots. A parking area is much like a giant "welcome" mat for a business, often being the first thing potential customers and clients see on their way into the building.

Worn out or messy parking lot striping is all together uninviting, not to mention inefficient. A parking lot without lines or signage is one that is not properly utilized, in most cases. Allowing patrons and clients to park wherever, without designated stalls, can create problems, especially if the parking lot is often busy and inundated with cars. At a minimum, parking lot striping should be tended to whenever the pavement or asphalt below it undergoes maintenance.

Parking lot striping, although simple in nature, is actually quite a complex production. Measurements must be taken in advance, followed by a plan that maximizes the usefulness of a given area. After the plan is conceived, measurements need to be taken again, this time to lay out chalk lines where the paint is to go. Of course, the above method is a bit of an oversimplification, as the actual process can be quite time-consuming if done right. To be blunt, striping is more than likely something best left to the professionals, especially in the case of larger, more involved parking lots and areas.

A professional parking lot striping crew will have all the necessary tools and equipment to get the job done right. We're not talking about a couple of 25' tape measures, a chalk line and a few cans of spray paint. The equipment used today is much more complicated than that, producing much better results. With that being said, it is important for those looking for a striping contractor to be aware of low bids. Those bids coming in well below the rest can oftentimes be DIYers (do it yourselfers), armed with the aforementioned tape measure and spray paint.

Going with an operation such as this, you often get what you pay for: misspelled words, overspray, crooked or incomplete lines, and the overall appearance of an unprofessional job. Knowing this, it is always a great idea to ask for references, as well as examples of previous work, to determine whether the price is worth the work. A little investigating up front can help save a big headache in the end.

We are a full service commercial Parking Lot maintenance company located in Daytona Beach, FL. We are centrally located on the east coast of Florida allowing us to provide seal coating services, crack sealing services, line striping, parking lot marking, ADA compliant parking lot products such as wheel stops, detectable warning mats, speed bumps, warning signs & rubber curbs to Daytona Beach, Port Orange, New Smyrna Beach, Deland, Deltona, Palm Coast, Ormond Beach - Volusia County - Flagler County. For more info about parking lot striping or pavement crack sealing services & parking lot repair, please call 386-868-2704 or visit Parkin Markin http://www.AsphaltSealCoatingPro.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Greg_Beaty

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2803867

Between Asphalt And Concrete, Why Are You Choosing Asphalt Paving?

Paving experts are choosing asphalt for the pavement job because of its numerous advantages. Asphalt actually is being the chosen material in lieu of the concrete or cement in residential, commercial and industrial set-up. This is being preferred for two reasons - cost effectiveness and durability. More than being cost-effective, asphalt is more time effective than cement. By this we mean that the asphalt material is easier to prepare and dry. Thus any paving or mere repair can be easily accomplished thus making the driveway easily useable.

Paving experts have very important roles in the beautification of the exterior part of your home. The value and beauty of a house does not only come from what you see inside. There are a lot of things that can be attributed to your house exterior. These are the backyard, the garden, the pool (if there is one), the lawn and of course, the pavement and the driveway. The outdoors adds value to the house and you cannot disregard the importance of having a well-paved driveway to the appearance of your home's exterior.

For paving, there are two usual choices, the asphalt and the concrete. You will find that there used to be more people going for concrete pavement. However, in the present, more and more architects, engineers and home designers go for the asphalt pavement due to its numerous advantages. Asphalt actually is now being the chosen material in lieu of the concrete or cement in residential, commercial and industrial set-up. This is being preferred for two reasons cost effectiveness and durability.

You might have pinpointed these two big reasons for the choice. To understand better the individual choice for asphalt, it is paramount that we give the details of the advantages. More than being cost-effective, asphalt is more time effective than cement. By this we mean that the asphalt material is easier to prepare and it is easier to dry. Thus any paving or mere repair can be easily accomplished thus making the driveway easily useable.

Asphalting is more cost-effective in its initial cost as well as its maintenance cost. Starting with the paving job is less expensive than using cement. Any construction job needs to be maintained. And the cost of maintaining this is cheaper than concrete maintenance. With a hole or a crack, application of asphalt in the damaged parts is cheaper. And again, as you do the repair, the advantage of time-effectiveness will come in. The ease in drying makes the repaired driveway useable at once.

Another advantage credited to asphalt is its flexibility and pliability which makes the material easy to mould. Because of the ease in its use, cost-effectiveness will come in. You will require less labor in the construction and restoration of any asphalted pavement and driveway.

Now we have the durability advantage. In comparison to the concrete paving, the cement easily cracks thus will require more frequent sealing. In as much that damages easily occur on concrete paved areas, the cost effectiveness of cement goes down. This further gives you the ideal that concrete pavement is less prone to wear and tear. More support to the durability of asphalt is its weather-resistant feature. The asphalt is more adaptable to any climate change. For the cement, drastic changes in weather can result to susceptibility to cracks and other damages.

In the past, concrete paved outdoor area is the common choice of many homeowners, business establishment offices and industrial work area. With the frequent use of asphalt in paving, the architects and engineers had proved that asphalt material is more beneficial cost and durability wise.

Sunrise Asphalt is a source of Tucson Asphalt Paving Contractors; the company provides professional and proper paving of driveways and parking spaces. To learn more of the firm's services, visit http://www.sunriseasphaltaz.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rhodes_Huff

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7375898