The Importance of Parking Lot Line Painting and Pavement Marking

In business today it's important to be professional. This includes the upkeep of property maintenance inside and outside of the business. Parking lot line painting is one of the most important aspects of external property maintenance and this article explains three excellent reasons why.

1) Appearance

The parking lot of a business acts as a welcome mat for customers and can often act as a first impression to new clients. If the parking lot pavement markings are worn and barely visible it may give the impression to some clients that the owners are irresponsible or that they don't care about the way their property looks. Parking lots simply look better with a fresh coat of high grade traffic paint on the stall lines, handicap symbols, arrows, speed bumps and any other pavement markings the lot might have. When line painting is done it allows that mat to say "welcome" again.

2) Parking Organization

If there is no visible lines to indicate parking spaces in a parking lot, people will park anywhere and everywhere they can fit their vehicle. This is not good since it increases the chance of people getting boxed in and unable to get out of the lot. When parked vehicles are in disarray it can also increase the chance of dings and scratches to vehicles if navigation around the lot is tight and difficult. Parking stalls and drive lanes have regulated sizes for these reasons and a nicely painted lot keeps the parked traffic organized and moving vehicles can be driven through the area safely and easily.

3) Space Maximization

I can't count the number of times I've seen 20 vehicles in a "full" parking lot that could easily fit 24 or 25 automobiles if it had been given the correct line painting job done. It doesn't seem like much but let's say it's a restaurant that averages $50.00 per bill. That adds up to about $200.00 - $250.00 in revenue. This to me would be the most frustrating parking problem for the business owner since most of the time if people can't park at the establishment, they don't shop there either. Painting proper stall lines allows optimal space maximization that fits as many vehicles as the parking lot can safely manage.

These are three basic problems that can be easily avoided if the correct pavement markings are applied to the lot. As long as parking lot line painting is done by professionals it can be one of the quickest and effective aspects of external property maintenance.

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Tips For Choosing Residential Asphalt Services

Improving your home adds to its beauty and value. When you are considering having work done at your home, it is always best to invest some time making the right choices about contractors and the quality of work they can provide for you. Choosing qualified asphalt services for your residential needs is important.

You may have in mind a long driveway to your house. Maybe you have repairs that need to be made to your existing drive. No matter what kind of paving services you require, finding someone you can count on for providing you with excellent services and quality work is essential. The company that can offer you references from previous customers is a good way to locate an established, reputable company.

Learning more about the company you may hire for paving work is important to make informed choices. Ask about the company's hiring process and if their employees are trained to use the various machines necessary in laying asphalt. You certainly do not want a drive way that is going to need repairs in a few months after it is put down.

Many homeowners have in mind the drive or parking area they want at their homes. However, bringing those ideas to life takes hiring someone with experience and the ability to work with you about your ideas. Finding out how long a company has been in business is important. The professionals that have been paving for more years most likely has more to offer you from in experience.

Job bids are a part of the hiring process for quality paving services. Selecting the first crew you find is not the way to save money or get professional results. Meeting with at least three contractors on your property for bids is necessary to get the best estimates for making a comparison. Be sure you take bids only from the professional that has visited the site and looked at the job you need done.

When getting estimates, make sure you and the contractors are clear on the thickness of pavement you would like to have. This affects your cost. At the same time, being sure all your bids are for the same kind of mix and the same amount of it is important for making accurate comparisons.

Trustworthy asphalt contractors companies will give you a written guarantee for their services up front. You should also look for the professionals that carry insurance. Taking time to make a good choice is necessary for being happy with your results.

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Asphalt Paving Driveway Maintenance Tips

Asphalt paving or Hot Mix Asphalt is typically what one thinks of when installing driveways of new homes. It is by far one of the least expensive methods for paving a surface in new home construction sites. Properly installed asphalt paved driveways have a life expectancy of about thirty or more years.

These asphalt paved driveways consist of rock particles, sand, and asphalt cement, which make it flexible and durable at the same time. New asphalt is by far the most flexible because it still retains many of the lighter hydrocarbon oils that make up its DNA structure. Crushed gravel makes up the foundation on which the asphalt is laid, to promote stability of the asphalt structure. By laying five to eight inches of gravel beneath the asphalt you are ensuring a greater life expectancy for your asphalt driveway. Also by having your asphalt paving company install your asphalt finish at least one foot before the asphalt covers the gravel, you are allowing your asphalt driveway to not crack when visitors drive to the edge of the finished surface. This will give greater flexibility and allow your asphalt driveway to look as nice as it can for as long as possible. The next step is to seal your asphalt driveway after about six to nine months.

The new asphalt driveway must cure out over that time frame. If sealed to quickly, the hydrocarbon oils that give the asphalt paving its flexibility will cause it to be too flexible, thus, allowing greater marks to exist over time. When it is time to seal your asphalt paved driveway, remember to put at least two coats of high quality seal coat over the entire driveway. This is to be repeated every three to five years for the maximum life expectancy of your asphalt paved driveway. By being patient and following this advice, your asphalt paved driveway will be around for many years to come. Take good care of it and it will definitely add character to your home. Asphalt paving or Hot Mix Asphalt is and will always be the best alternative for those seeking to pave surfaces in a flexible manner.

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Advantages of Asphalt Paving Over Concrete

Today, Asphalt has become a synonym to paving and is a widely installed form of paving. It is preferred both in the commercial as well as industrial sectors for its cost-effective and durability. It is chosen over other forms of paving like concrete by property owners and business owners alike.

A comparative study of the two forms of paving mentioned above gives a better idea about the right kind of material for driveways, parking lots, pavements, walkways and other property peripheries.

Some of the advantages of asphalt paving over its concrete counterpart are mentioned below:

Time-effective The most important factor that supports Asphalt paving is its time-effective. It is the easiest paying material to prepare and also dries up quicker than concrete. Hence, potholes, damaged parking lots and driveways are mended easily with asphalt in lesser time.

Initial Cost Although, the long-time cost of concrete is lesser than Asphalt paving, Asphalt paving has less initial cost. It is economical and can easily used to repair and restore damages. Its up front costs are quite less; hence, the long-term maintenance costs of asphalt are overlooked.

Maintenance Cost The maintenance cost for asphalt is much less than concrete. Over a period of time, the cost ratio for asphalt is definitely more than concrete, but its one-time cost is less than concrete.

Wear and Tear Concrete is more prone to cracks and require a lot of seals and maintenance in the long run. They develop cracks and fissures easily than in asphalt paving. Hence, asphalt is comparatively less prone to wear and tear in quick time.

Flexibility Asphalt is an extremely flexible paving material and can be mould and used for any kind of paving and construction work. It is widely used in both commercial and residential sectors for construction and restoration work.

Weather Resistance Another important factor favoring the installation of asphalt paving is its long durability and weather resistance. It is resistant to easy wear and tear due to climatic change.

Thus, it becomes clear that the role of paving expert in our lives can not be avoided. One can make his or her home exterior beautiful by choosing experienced Paving contractors.

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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.

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After Paving, Sealcoating Asphalt Is Vital for Both Warm and Cold Climates

Sealcoating can add years of life to asphalt. This is something that businesses and residents alike should consider, especially when looking to have a first-time driveway or parking lot laid down at home or for a small business. Because asphalt is a petroleum-based product, other forms of petroleum, such as gasoline or oil, will react with asphalt by breaking down the components at a biochemical level. This makes sealcoating one of the most important parts of having a properly paved driveway or parking place. Sealcoating will help prevent oil and petroleum from breaking down the asphalt, ultimately adding years of life to the pavement. Subsequently, annual sealcoating can only extend the longevity of the driveway or parking area.

But vehicle traffic is not the only thing to consider when paving your driveway or parking lot. Weather is a big contributor to how asphalt breaks down over time. Oxidation, in particular, occurs when oxygen reacts with the asphalt. Because oxidation occurs as soon as the process of paving begins, oxidation is ultimately impossible to avoid. This is one of the reasons why proper protection is crucial for the concrete: proper sealing and annual upkeep will help slow the process of oxidation.

The oxidation causes the molecules to shift, eventually making the pavement stiffer. When pavement stiffens, it then becomes brittle and is more likely to crack and fail. Introducing a proper sealcoat to the pavement will drastically reduce the oxidation process, allowing the pavement to retain its elasticity for a longer period.

During the winter months, water will seep through the cracks during a heavy rain or snowfall. When this occurs, any change in temperature will cause the water in the pavement to freeze over and expand. This expansion will then cause the pavement to crack. A proper sealant applied over the driveway or parking lot can help to deter this problem.

As for warmer climates, sunlight and heat will dry out the concrete, making it brittle. When asphalt is first laid down, it has a dense black color. When years of weather erodes the concrete, it becomes a lighter grey color, signifying that it has become more brittle. A dark-colored road is the sign of a well-kept, newly treated paving job.

To conclude, areas that experience extreme cold during the winter followed by intense heat during the summer will experience a drastic deterioration of the roadways, driveways, and parking lots. Business owners who are looking to have a newly paved parking lot should consider what proper upkeep is essential for extending the life of the lots. The same is true for homeowners who wish to invest in the life and quality of their home. A proper sealcoating job will add many years to the life of the asphalt.

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Resurfacing or Removal and Replacement?

When the time comes to repave your driveway, the big decision is whether to resurface (overlay) or remove and replace the asphalt.

A typical resurface would include installing butt joints (cutting out asphalt where it butts up to other surfaces such as garage floors, aprons, sidewalks & curbs), the application of primer over the existing asphalt (this bonds the new asphalt to the old) and the installation of 1½” compacted surface asphalt. Resurfacing is less expensive than removal, but is prone to reflective cracking and drainage problems if your existing grade is marginal.

Removal and replacement would include removal of the existing asphalt, adding gravel to the base to obtain the correct grade, compaction of gravel and the installation of 2” compacted surface asphalt. While removals are more expensive, they should provide ideal drainage and reflective cracking is not an issue.

Resurfacing can be a viable option if removal doesn't fit into your budget; just keep in mind that when those first reflective cracks appear, it’s important that they be filled. If you are looking for a long term solution – it is usually more cost effective to opt for the more expensive removal and replacement.

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Why Have An Asphalt Driveway In Your Property

The look of your driveway has an effect on the overall appeal of your house. It works as a focal point as passersby and visitors come towards your house. An inviting driveway also adds to the value of your home. The most common material utilized in residential driveways is hot mix asphalt, which is an engineered combination of aggregate and liquid asphalt cement.

Benefits of using asphalt

Asphalt is a recommended material for driveways because they are even, long lasting, and safe. They can also deal with any load, from sedans to even trucks for those who have them. Asphalt pavement can be custom-made to reduce noise, to minimize splash and spray during the wet seasons, and even to help treat rain water. It can also stand up to freezing and thawing. And in winter, you don't have to worry about salting your driveway because asphalt is unaffected by salt.

Best time to have your driveway paved

Temperature is one of the primary considerations when paving a driveway because low temperatures and cold air can considerably affect how quickly the mix cools and thus extend the timeframe the contractor may need to complete the task. Paving your driveway during the cold season will leave you with a driveway that looks uneven.

How to choose an asphalt paving company

Avoid itinerant contractors - Be vigilant during the spring and summer months since there are several paving companies who go door-to-door offering affordable deals on asphalt work. Some of these offers are a sham. Some of them require money upfront but provide shoddy quality of work or one that deteriorates prematurely.

Obtain several estimates - Prices differ among paving companies. In addition, they may vary when it comes to quality. Get quotes from at least three contractors, and make sure that they are providing estimates for the same specifications.

Ascertain compliance to local requirements - Determine if the paving contractor you would like to hire has the required license to operate. To avoid potential headaches later on, make sure to use a paving contractor who is adequately insured and bonded.

Obtain references - Ask for contact details of past customers so you can communicate with them directly. Past customers can give you information that the company may not readily provide, like how respectful the contractor's workers were and if the project was accomplished within the agreed time and budget.

Get a contract - Insist on getting a contract for the work. The contract ought to be thorough and must contain all guarantees made by the paving company.

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Why Sealcoating Is Important To Your Asphalt

Your driveway or parking lot is a significant investment in your property. To beautify you establishment and protect your investment as long as possible, you want to protect your asphalt from the damaging effects of certain natural elements including moisture and ultraviolet oxidation. Natural and man-made elements can cause cracks half way into the asphalt, little as 5 years. Small cracks act as miniature storm drains after a good rain and cause raveling between the asphalt over time. Larger cracks and potholes can appear within the base as early as 8-10 years unless certain precautions are taken. Protecting asphalt with sealcoating basically has the same benefits as sun block has to protect your skin, or varnish on wood.

What causes asphalt to break down? Standard asphalt is very susceptible to naturaland man made elements such as sun, wind, rain, snow, frost and ice. These elements cause oxidation to the pavement, drying out the asphalt. Man made elements such as fuel, oil, antifreeze, and salts break down the oils and cohesive properties in the asphalt.

As new asphalt age's small open cracks are formed between the asphalt, from oxidation and rain. These small cracks permit water, salt, fuel, oil, and ultraviolet rays to penetrate into the base leading to greater damage, unless repaired properly. Water is said to be the most damaging agent to asphalt. This leads to larger cracks, eventually collapsing into the eroded voids, causing potholes. Alligator cracks and potholes should be cut with a saw, and replace before sealing asphalt.

What are the benefits of sealcoating? Sealcoating protects your investment, extending the life of your asphalt, saving you money in the long run. Asphalt sealer beautifies and enhances your driveway or parking lot, giving it a dark black color to the pavement making it look and wear like new. A dark black parking lot offers a positive image of how clean a company, or residential home is.

-Asphalt Sealer slows down oxidation and water penetration, blocking out natural elements such as, sun, wind, rain, snow, frost, and ice.

-Asphalt sealer resist harmful man made element spills such as fuel, antifreeze, oil, and salt. Find a sealer that is made from a coal tar emulsion that isn't soluble in oil or gas.

-Asphalt sealer fills small voids in asphalt reducing exposure to oxygen and water and extending pavement life.

How often should you sealcoat Asphalt? You should sealcoat your new asphalt as soon as it begins to turn grey or 90 days after installation. If you have already sealcoated your asphalt in the past, it is recommended to re-apply sealer every 3 to 4 years depending on the wear of the previous applications. If you sealcoat too much voids will be created in the sealer causing cracking later on. You need to let the old sealer wear off before applying new sealer. Talk to your local contractor before making any serious decisions.

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Benefits of Choosing Asphalt Paving for Your Driveway

Driveways are an important part of any home. They enhance value by providing off-street parking and, if well-constructed, enhance the home's curb appeal. Additionally, they provide a place for basketball games, roller skating and other games. Most homes use either concrete or asphalt for their driveways because these materials are relatively durable and cost-effective. Of these options, asphalt paving is the more cost-effective and durable eco-conscious choice for driveways.

Durability is one of the main arguments for not choosing concrete. The difference in the two materials is a result of the ways in which they are made. Concrete is made of water, cement and an aggregate like crushed rock or sand. Cement binds the mixture, which dries into a stiff mass that is susceptible to cracks if the underlying surface is not smooth. Alternatively, asphalt paving is flexible to accommodate surface imperfections while remaining extremely hard and durable. This material is made using a binder of a crude oil derivative called bitumen, which binds the aggregate. The mixture is applied hot and pressed into place. In addition to being less likely to crack, asphalt paving is less subject to flaking or spalling caused by poor installation or the application of salts used to melt ice during the winter. It's also important to note that concrete is more susceptible to staining and weathering.

Lower ownership costs are another reason to opt for asphalt paving. The material costs less to install and maintain over the life of the driveway. Installation takes one to two days and the driveway is ready for use about two days after completion. Maintaining your surface is also cheaper and easier. Sealant applications should be made every three to five years to prolong the life of your driveway.  With proper maintenance and depending on where you live, your surface can last thirty years or longer. On the other hand, concrete takes longer to install and can take up to a week to be ready for use. Costs with concrete can also add up if the homeowner wants to create a custom color, pattern or finish.

Asphalt paving is also a better choice for eco-conscious homeowners, as the product is 100 percent recyclable. Approximately 80 percent of this material is recycled when removed, more frequently than paper and plastic. Additionally, the aggregate can be made from recycled tire rubber, glass, foundry sand, slag and pig manure, pavement and shingles. Use of these materials is estimated to save hundreds of millions of cubic yards of landfill space each year. Further, using reclaimed products reduces the need for virgin binder to be used and allows the material to be applied at a lower temperature, which reduces energy demands and emissions.

Many homeowners take their driveways for granted, especially if their home came built with one already in place. However, homeowners should consider the many benefits of asphalt when installing a driveway themselves.

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