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.

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Do You Need a Permit for Parking Lot Resurfacing, Resealing or Restriping?

Hiring a professional paving company to resurface, re-seal or re-stripe your facilities parking lot makes good financial sense. Not only will you be assured that the materials used are of the highest quality and that the job is completed to your requirements, but also that you are in compliance with local parking lot codes and laws.

Nothing makes your business stand out more than a newly striped parking lot. But, nothing is worse than having a project completed and finding out you needed a permit for the work and now you're facing a hefty fine. An important thing to keep in mind is that in most areas of Florida, permits are required to do most asphalt work.

A paving contractor with years of experience, and the latest equipment available to get the job done right the first time in a timely, cost-effective manner can reduce a property manager or owners stress levels. Researching specific codes and applying for construction permits can be an arduous process for business owner. Partnering with a paving contractor that is familiar with your property, the local permit requirements and one that utilizes the highest quality materials is ideal.

Licensed contractors have invested a lot of money to be licensed and insured, which can give you peace of mind. Hiring a fly-by-night company is a costly mistake. Be sure to check references for any paving company you plan on hiring, make sure the paving company is insured, and be certain to ask them if they are familiar with the local and state requirements regarding permits and other regulations. Plus, hiring an unlicensed contractor is against the law.

As your licensed paving contractor will know, each city can have different requirements, permit needs and fees. Take for instance the City of Altamonte Springs, Florida. If a commercial facility that wants to resurface and/or re-seal their parking lot must get a permit from Building/Life Safety Services. Re-striping, without resurfacing or re-sealing, also requires a permit. The new striping must exactly match the old striping. However, if the old striping did not meet the current code requirements, the new striping will have to be modified to meet code. The permit review will identify whether any changes will have to be made to the current striping to meet code.

A qualified, full service asphalt paving contractor will have the resources to effectively, efficiently and economically provide various services to you. Before they start any job, your paving contractor should become familiar with the specific conditions of your property to prevent costly surprises. A written proposal should include more than a price; it should include a plan to meet your needs and to satisfy building and safety codes.

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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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How to Protect Your Driveway

Driveway sealing is an easy and cost effective way to protect and prolong the life of your driveway. Asphalt surfaces are particularly susceptible to wear and tear, both from weather and from automobile traffic, and the grade of asphalt commonly used on driveways is even more so. Driveway sealing at regular intervals gives your driveway the added protection it needs to last longer and resist deterioration.

Needs Regular Upkeep
If you’re not sure on this point, consider the constant upkeep the asphalt roads in your community need in order to stay in good shape. Add to that the fact that the asphalt used on roads is generally a higher grade and made to withstand a higher level of abuse than the asphalt typically used in driveway applications, and you can see why it’s important to keep up on regular maintenance, including asphalt sealing, in order to fend off major projects such as repaving a crumbling asphalt surface.

The Benefits
Sealing your driveway has many benefits when it comes to preserving your concrete driveway. First and foremost, a properly applied driveway sealer repels water, perhaps the single most harmful agent when it comes to deteriorating asphalt surfaces. Concrete has a natural tendency to crack if water is allowed to permeate it, and this tendency is only increased by the weight of cars regularly driving over it. Once those cracks appear, water further damages it, especially in cold climates where it expands and contracts with freezing temperatures.

Other enemies of your driveway include sunlight and oxygen, both of which hasten corrosion. By regularly applying a quality driveway sealer to your concrete you can prevent water, sunlight, and air from permeating your asphalt and prevent these problems. As an added benefit, driveway sealing also repels oil spills and leaks and makes it much easier for you to sweep and clean your driveway surface.

When to Apply
As a general rule you should seal your driveway every 1 to 3 years. More specifically, if you can see the color of the individual stones that make up your asphalt surface, you know it’s time to seal it up. A few rules apply before you seal, however. For starters, never seal a new asphalt driveway. Asphalt needs a minimum of six months for the oils in it to evaporate. The less oil, the harder the driveway, which is the goal. If you apply driveway sealer before your asphalt has time to cure, it won’t achieve the necessary hardness and all your work will be for naught. Other things to consider are the outside temperature, which must be fifty degrees or higher for the sealer to adhere properly, and the weather. Ideally you want your sealer to be on your driveway for at least 48 hours before any rain comes down on it.

Talk to a Professional
Driveway sealing is an important aspect of asphalt driveway maintenance, however it’s not the only thing you need to keep up on. If your driveway has pre-existing cracks, potholes or other signs of wear, it’s vital that you fix those problems before you apply a sealant. That being the case, your best bet is to contact a professional that won’t only apply your sealant, but who will also evaluate your driveway for other maintenance needs that need to be addressed before you perform this necessary task.

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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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Protecting and Prolonging the Life of Pavement

The surprisingly reasonable installation cost of asphalt pavement as opposed to concrete puts property owners in a position to spread out maintenance cost over a twenty or thirty year time frame.

Over time most roadways and driveways need asphalt maintenance to keep them in usable condition. The biggest enemies to pavement are water and the sun. Cracks in driveways can allow water to enter the road base layer and begin to wash away the compacted base that provides the foundation for the driving surface. If asphalt pavement is neglected too long, the water damage eventually leads to pot holes and large areas of road failure. Keeping the water out of the base is the primary function of Sealcoating and pavement maintenance.

Sealcoating is the process in which a new protective and durable layer of slurry sealcoat material is sprayed or squeegee on top of existing pavement. Slurry Sealcoat has aggregate embedded into the asphalt mix to provide a new wearing surface for the driveway or parking lot. This process serves the purpose of sealing small cracks and adding a barrier coat to protect the pavement surface from the elements that destroy pavement. Paving contractors need to have the specialized equipment and materials necessary to perform this service correctly.

If pavement maintenance is put on the back burner for too long, the condition of the roadway can get to a point where it seems beyond repair. It is vital for asphalt maintenance to recur on a regular basis to ensure the overall reliability of a street, parking lot, or drive way. Some cities and counties around the country keep an asphalt paving company on retainer for seal coating and other routine maintenance activities. Professional pavement maintenance contractors are the best option for corporate driveways and shopping center parking lots, etc. Check for these few items when choosing a contractor. Choose a contractor that has a good reputation and has also been in the business for many years. Choose a paving contractor that has exclusive rights to materials in your area, these asphalt contractors have worked hard to earn their authorized material contractor status.

Regular pavement maintenance is a necessary evil for any privately owned paved road or street made from asphalt. Keeping in contact with a local asphalt paving company and scheduling regular Sealcoating applications to your shopping center can be the best way to protect a large investment property and it ensure the asphalt driveway can best service patrons and attract new businesses.

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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 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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Crack Sealing Asphalt Pavement

Maintaining a commercial facilities parking lot is important to the safety of your buildings' visitors and important to the overall appearance of your business. No one wants to pick their way through a pothole filled parking lot to go shopping. Businesses with weeds growing through the asphalt, standing water or crumbling pavement appear to be un-kept and mismanaged. Your parking lot is the first impression your customers get when it comes to your business. It's important to properly maintain the area by sealing cracks and making asphalt repairs as needed.

Why Does Asphalt Crack?

There are several reasons for cracks in the asphalt. First, asphalt cracks are more prevalent in dry weather. When the ground under the asphalt dries, it can cause the asphalt to pull apart and cracks can occur in your asphalt pavement.

Trees are also a cause of some asphalt cracks. Overtime, the roots of the trees will grow under the asphalt as they seek out moisture. It's normally moist under asphalt, so they are attracted to this area. As the root removes the moisture, the pavement can separate as in the first example. Also, roots can cause bulges in the asphalt pavement if they grow in an upward fashion. To avoid this from happening, the planning of landscape area and trees should be in conjunction with the planning and paving of your parking area.

Applying Crack Sealer

Ask your paving company to take a look at any cracks you have in your parking lot. Sometimes, after a little rain the cracks may close a bit and become almost unnoticeable; however, if this isn't the cause, your paving contractor can apply a crack sealer. A crack sealer should be applied to cracks before sealcoating to prevent them from growing and further damaging your asphalt parking lot.

To keep your asphalt parking lot and driveway in pristine condition, asphalt cracks should be filled and asphalt repairs be made very year. Additionally, your parking lot should be seal coated every two to three years. Sealcoating will help protect the asphalt from the harmful effects of the weather as well the damaging effects of petroleum-based products like gasoline and oil.

As we just discussed, if asphalt is not property seal coated or, not sealed at all, cracks can start forming in the asphalt. If the cracks are not managed and filled every year, this can then lead to potholes making it necessary to perform an asphalt repair.

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