Why Fix Asphalt and Concrete Potholes on Your Property?

Every property owner should know that any unfixed concrete or asphalt pothole is a liability on their property. Not only is it dangerous to you as the house resident, but also to the pedestrians who may be walking along your pavements. In the event that they tripped and got hurt, they could sue you for any damages incurred. It is therefore important that you correct any signs of pothole development as soon as you notice them.

Though asphalt and concrete are durable construction materials, with time they do get damaged by ultraviolet rays and storm water. To prevent further damage on your parking area, it’s good to consult a contractor to seal coat it for you. This also prolongs its life span. If you need to have your potholes repaired, always engage a professional in that line for best results.

• As a property owner, you need to know that it’s your responsibility to ensure your house or ground is safe for you or other people who may use your driveways. Uneven asphalt paving or potholes, if left unrepaired, could bring about these outcomes:
• Tripping hazard to you as the resident and to other pedestrians using the pavement or the driveway.
• As the owner of the property, if a pedestrian is injured and you get sued, you face the possibility of losing your money to settle any forthcoming legal obligations.
• If the damage is left unrepaired for too long, it will only add on to your repair cost.

Fast response to damaged asphalt driveways or concrete potholes restores safety and ensures the cracks do not get any bigger. Here are some considerations you should make during the repairing process:

1. Always work with a professional
You can only be guaranteed of a quality job and good results if it is done by a professional contractor with previous experience of similar repairs. Always ask them to show you where they previously worked and if you are impressed, then you can go ahead and hire them. You can also talk to their previous clients on how their repairs were done.

2. Important issues to discuss with your contractor
You and your contractor should agree on the accurate measurement of the area that requires repair. Ensure every part that has signs of damage is covered so that you solve the issue once and for all. The contractor should submit to you a written proposal detailing the scope of work that will be done. You should also agree on an estimate cost and the amount of time it will take to finish the work.

3. Repair hours
Convenience is very important when you are doing repairs. If it is an industrial place, the repairs need not interfere with the running of businesses, such that it can be done overnight when operations are closed. If it is a residential place, notify them about when the repairs will be done.

4. Evaluate the construction process
If the place has tenants who have cars and will require using the parking area that is being repaired, it may call for your contractor to carry out the repairs in sections. This will leave some parking allowance for use and thus further ease your construction process.

5. During the construction
When the construction process kicks off, your contractor needs to mark around the repair area using construction tape. This step ensures no traffic or pedestrians walk into the repair area.

6. After the construction
When all the repairs are complete, lot stripping your driveways will bring out a fresh and new look to it.

Article Source: http://www.asphaltadvisor.com/2015/12/why-fix-asphalt-and-concrete-potholes.html

Will I See the Asphalt Repairs When They’re Done?

One of the most common questions that I'm asked is, “Will I see the repairs when they're done?” My answer is always the same - yes. It's impossible to match old asphalt using new asphalt, even with infrared repairs. How well a repair blends with the surrounding asphalt depends on one main factor, how many times the surrounding asphalt has been sealed. Each time you sealcoat your asphalt, the voids between the aggregate get filled in a little more. The more times a driveway has been sealed, the less texture it has, leaving little chance it will match up with new asphalt that has more texture. Just imagine your old driveway next to a new driveway, that's the difference you will see.

A follow up question I hear a lot is, “Won't it blend in after I sealcoat?” It will blend better with a sealcoat (same color), but the textures will still be different and the repairs will be visible. Asphalt surfaces that have only been sealed a few times can eventually blend in pretty well with a few sealcoats, over a few years. If a new driveway is what you're looking for, you’ll need a paving company that can give you a new driveway. Infrared repairs are a nice option if a large portion of your asphalt is in good shape and you can accept that the repairs will not be invisible.

Article Source: http://www.asphaltadvisor.com/2013/07/will-i-see-asphalt-repairs-when-theyre.html

8 Benefits of Restriping Your Parking Lot

Parking lot lines are an essential part of a structured, organized parking lot. Over time these lines fade, which is why you have to restripe them every so often. Fading is caused by the amount of traffic your parking lot gets, environmental conditions such as sun exposure and weather, and the quality of the paint. For this reason, paving experts suggest that you should restripe your lines every 18 – 24 months.

Are your parking lot lines fading? Are you tempted to hold off on restriping until next year? These 8 benefits of restriping your parking lot may change your mind.

8 Benefits of Restriping Your Parking Lot

1. Appearance
One of the benefits of restriping is purely aesthetic – a restriped parking lot with vibrantly colored lines will improve the curb appeal of your business. It’s an easy way to give your business a facelift that everyone passing by will notice.

2. Organization
A well-striped parking lot is a well-organized parking lot. Residents or customers know where the driving lanes are and where the authorized parking spots are. Parking lot stripes provide guidance just like the stripes on the road.

3. Customer Satisfaction
Your parking lot is part of the service that you offer to customers, just like the features inside your building. By restriping your parking lot you are telling customers that their experience at your establishment matters and you want to provide them with the best customer service.

4. ADA Compliance
The Americans with Disabilities Act has certain guidelines for parking lot stripes. Depending on the number of parking spaces your lot accommodates, it must include a certain number of accessible parking spaces for cars and wider spaces for vans. Restriping can help you clearly designate these spots so you are complying with the law and providing the proper accommodations for your handicapped residents or customers.

5. Maximize Parking Space
Are you getting the most out of your parking lot space? If you’re not currently satisfied with your parking lot, a restriping company can help evaluate the space and suggest changes.

6. An Economical Update
All businesses owners look for ways to make their business more attractive to customers. Restriping is an inexpensive way to get an instant improvement.

7. Reducing Liability
Faded lines can be hard for some customers to see, which could result in accidents where you are at fault. These lines communicate crucial information such as where pedestrians can walk, who has the right of way, what areas to avoid, and where vehicles must stop. Faded lines can cause confusion and accidents. Visible, well-defined lines will lower your risk of these liabilities.

8. Compliance with Fire Codes
Fire codes require a designated fire lane in case of emergency, and this lane should be marked with the appropriate signs, curb markings, or pavement markings. Restriping can also ensure your compliance with fire codes.

As you can see, there are many benefits of restriping your parking lot, from aesthetics and customer service to reducing liabilities and complying with laws. If your parking lot lines are fading, it’s time to add restriping to your parking lot maintenance plan.

Article Source: https://www.integritypavingtexas.com/blog/8-benefits-of-restriping-your-parking-lot/

5 Benefits of Sealcoating Asphalt Pavement

Here's why that driveway sealer project shouldn't be at the bottom of your to-do list.

For new homeowners who aren't familiar, sealcoat (or pavement sealer) is a liquid coating mixture that's usually applied to asphalt-based pavement. When moving into your new house, fixing the driveway might not be high on your list of priorities. In fact, you might even be asking yourself: Is sealcoating really necessary for my home?

If you’ve made an investment by purchasing a house, you want to take great care of it, right? You spend hours picking the perfect colors to match your sheets, and every Sunday you bring out the vacuum to suck dirt and debris. You might even spend money trimming your trees and bushes to keep them looking lovely.

When you think about it, your driveway takes up much of your front yard. A cracked, dirty, and faded driveway just doesn’t match with clean, polished cars. Here are some reasons why you should invest in a sealcoat for your driveway.

1. Maintain its Appearance
Your driveway takes up space. It’s where cars are parked and where children play during the sweltering summer months. If it isn’t well-maintained, it can have a detrimental effect on your house’s appearance. Asphalt driveways are prone to cracking, fading, and other signs of distress. It doesn’t look good to anyone! Cracks in the asphalt can even lead to accidents.

A sealcoat sits on top of a driveway and acts as a barrier for it. Its deep black color looks regal and strong. The coat prevents water, car fluids, water, the sun, salt, and other chemicals from warping the color or eating away at the driveway. And a sealcoat will prevent weeds from growing in the asphalt. That means no more getting down on hands and knees just to clean those irritating weeds!

New sealcoat, when applied, looks bold and dark. It improves the appearance of both new and old asphalt, adding a pop of vibrancy to your house that you may not have expected.

2. Prevent Cracks
Sometimes, your new home comes with cracks in the pavement. You might be inclined to think, “Well, the previous owner seemed just fine with these cracks. The driveway looks good enough.” Don’t settle for mediocrity—you deserve the best!

Water that seeps into the base material can cause small cracks to widen. Sealcoating your driveway properly will prevent that. Any minor cracks and rough patches can be smoothed over, and if there's any dirt on your driveway, the rain can easily wash it away. That's because sealcoat is a non-porous, smooth surface.

3. Protect the Asphalt
The sun can burn our skin, but did you know it can also harm your driveway? Surface voids on asphalt can absorb oxygen and UV rays. The radiation from the sun can warp the asphalt and cause the color to fade quickly. On top of that, pockets of surface void allow oil or gas to penetrate.

Chemical spills can also worsen your driveway's condition. With a thick layer of sealcoat, you'll be able to prevent (or at the very least, minimize) the harmful effects of spills and the sun. By lowering the rate of water absorption (the water will run right off), sealcoating minimizes the risks of damage due to water, snow, and freezing. There are many things that can destroy your driveway: gas, diesel fuel, salt, chemicals, oil, and ice. It's better to prevent these from attacking your driveway so that you won't have to risk costly damage control.

4. It's Strong
Sealcoat helps attract heat from sunlight and becomes more pliable when hot. Instead of the asphalt cracking at high temperatures, the sealcoat will mold to shape. If you have guests over, the asphalt won’t waver under the combined weight of the cars. That’s because the sealcoat will be there to protect it.

5. It Saves Money
Sealcoating can be done as a weekend DIY project, or you can hire someone to do it for you. A DIY sealcoat project should cost about $50 to $200. It all depends on the size of your driveway. On the other hand, hiring a professional is probably safer. It would cost about $200 to $500. If you choose to hire a company or a person, you can be assured that they'll be more familiar with good products. Different products work better in certain areas (because of the temperature and climate), and a professional will know which sealants are best avoided.

Whether you choose to do it yourself or hire someone else, sealcoating your driveway is far cheaper than spending hundreds of dollars trying to repair or even replace your driveway's asphalt!

If you allow moisture to seep into the driveway, you might not notice at first. But after weeks, the quickened deterioration will begin to show as your asphalt becomes more and more distressed. It’s much easier to prevent the issues instead of scrambling to find someone who can quickly fix the asphalt! Just make sure that you wait 90 days after setting a new asphalt driveway to apply the sealcoat.

Article Source: https://housetipster.com/housetips/1151/5-benefits-of-sealcoating-asphalt-pavement

Driveway Sealers Provide For A Long Lasting Driveway

For the proper maintenance of an asphalt driveway, you should include the application of an asphalt sealer. There are various kinds of sealers available on the market today and it can either be applied professionally or completed by the homeowner. Regular maintenance by adding a sealant to the asphalt driveway is done every three to four years to keep the roadway looking great.

By sealing the asphalt driveway with a protective covering you go a long way toward preventing the material from deteriorating. The ultraviolet rays coming from the sun, leaked oils and grease, and road salts are all elements that can deteriorate the driveway. When all of these elements are combined, the binder material of the asphalt will surely deteriorate and its aggregate layer is going to be exposed to the natural elements. There are several types of driveway sealers but getting the right one for your situation is actually an easy task.

Sealers are of two basic varieties, the coal tar, and the asphalt. The products are contained in an emulsion material which is generally oil-based. Sealers can also contain polymers, sand, latex, clay and other additives that are necessary to fill in the cracks and provide further protection against the harmful sun rays, oils, and salt that come in contact in the surface of the driveway. The applications based on coal tar are actually produced from a by-product of the process of coal production and they are known to be the tougher application. Products made of coal tar will give off more toxic odors and they are not environmentally friendly like the products based on asphalt. The emulsion will bond with the asphalt driveway so that it gives protection. A majority of stains like oil and grease can also be removed easily if the driveway is sealed. A lot of asphalt-based sealing products do have some coal tar but generally, they are friendlier to the environment and slightly much easier to apply.

These do it yourself products can be purchased in all hardware stores, home improvement shops and a lot of retail stores. These products can be easily applied by using a roller and squeegee. This can also be done in just one day. The available asphalt sealers for professional pavement sealing business are generally of higher quality and of longer life. A homeowner has to make up his mind on when and how the driveway should be protected. This is something that should be done regularly.

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

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Things to Consider Before Hiring An Asphalt Paving Company

The use of asphalt demands specific methods as well as tools. So when it's time for you to repave your driveway, the sidewalk of your business or even a parking lot, you have to pick an asphalt paving company that provides the absolute best service for your needs.

For a number of individuals, choosing an asphalt paving company appears like an easy thing to do. Usually, you only contact several companies over the phone, get a quotation, and then pick the cheapest one. Though this method may be acceptable for many, it's certainly not for someone who is after quality results, or if the work carried out is worth every penny spent. There are numerous points you need to consider before you pick a paving company for your project.

Listed here are several recommendations when choosing a good asphalt paving company

The first thing you want to do is to actually gather info about the outfit. Check the company's background, the number of years they have been in business, as well as feedbacks of their former tasks or jobs. It's similarly essential to find out if the company's license and insurance coverage are legal as well as in good standing. Ensure that the company is connected well for your own protection.

An additional important suggestion is to talk to the individual in charge, or ideally the manager of the company. You would want to speak with them with regards to information about the prospective job like the steps they will undertake when it comes to paving, how long the process will be, and other vital issues that you'd like talk about. This is your chance to obtain information concerning the business and it will make you determine whether this company satisfies your expectations.

Ask for an estimate before starting the task. Almost all businesses will undoubtedly support you with this particular demand. It will most likely help you to know if the budget you allotted for this certain project is good enough.

Ask the company if they provide an all-inclusive service. You won't want to use one company with regard to sidewalks and a totally different one for your driveways or parking lots. With regards to convenience, choose an outfit that can take care of all your needs.

It is extremely necessary to take into consideration the expertise of the asphalt paving company before hiring them. A legit contractor certainly has past projects that they will show off. You can attempt requesting some people who might have been former customers, or have worked with said contractor about how good the end result of their work is.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Jay_A._Stone/909343

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Do You Know The Advantages of Sealcoating?

With warm weather, comes maintenance and repairs to parking lots and driveways. Sealcoating your parking lot or driveway is an easy way to extend the life of asphalt and improve the curb appeal of your property - saving you money in the long run. If sealcoating is avoided, a crack can start forming in the asphalt, which then leads to potholes.

Some benefits of sealcoating asphalt include:

• Reduces long term repair costs
• Accelerates melting of snow and ice on the pavement surface
• Protects your pavement from oxidation, oil and chemical spills
• Protects against water penetration, rain, frost and snow damage
• Enhances the appearance of your building and landscape
• Prolongs pavement life, safeguarding your investment

Article Source: https://www.wolfpaving.com/advantages-of-sealcoating

Crack Sealing and Pavement Repair

http://vacavetstriping.com/

Pavement cracks need to be filled and/or sealed to prevent water from entering sub-grade layers. Special rubberized materials are applied to the cracks, which seals the pavement and helps to prolong its life.

Application of pavement crack treatments consist of three basic steps:

• Cleaning the cracks
• Cutting the reservoir if needed
• Installing the material

Sealing treatments are used for pavements that primarly have working cracks greater than 1/8 inch. Sealing treatments consist of creating a widened reservoir to provide proper geometry and placement of flexible material that can accommodate the expected movements.

- Sealcoating, crack sealing, striping and pavement repair. We do it all.

- Filling Asphalt Cracks in your asphalt driveway or parking lot surface will be a very important part of extending the life of your asphalt surface.

- The forces of nature do their best to break down the surface, creating cracks and potholes, which decreases the life of your driveway or parking lot. We specialize in maintenance and repair to help you extend the life of your asphalt.

Call Vaca Vet Striping at 707-592-8331 for an estimate

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 for 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 are 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 themselves, 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.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/M_McHale/676160

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Happy 4th of July!

"May we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right." 

Peter Marshall