How Its Made - Asphalt Paving

How Its Made - Asphalt Paving

Credit : Discovery Channel

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 Paving Your Driveway and Parking Lot with Asphalt: Why Consider It For Your Home or Business

If you are a new homeowner, property manager or business owner, or just aren’t satisfied with you’re the current status of your driveway or parking lot, consider the many benefits:

1. Asphalt paved driveways and parking lots increase the value of your property.

2. Customers really appreciate a well-paved parking lot, for its ease.

3. A well-paved driveway adds to the curb appeal of your home or business and is aesthetically pleasing.

4. Asphalt provides a smoother and safer playing surface for children.

5. Asphalt, as opposed to dirt or pebble driveways, is cleaner and eliminates tracking mud into your home or business.

6. The need to continually fill in sunken areas and/or tire tracks is eliminated.

7. Snow and ice melt quickly on dark colored asphalt.

8. More economical as it typically costs less than other options such as concrete for driveways and parking lots.

Article Source: https://sgasphalt.com/8-benefits-paving-driveway-parking-lot-asphalt-consider-home-business

Why You Sealcoat Your Asphalt Driveway

Do you own a commercial property with an asphalt parking lot or a private residence with an asphalt driveway? If you do own or manage some type of asphalt pavement you will need to take proper care of the surface. In the long run, it will save you time and money. While taking proper care of the pavement does have some cost associated with it, it is not near the cost of having to later fix any damage that has already occurred to the asphalt. If you notice that you already have potholes or large cracks starting to appear, it is in your best interest to address the issues as soon as possible.

The first step in maintaining an asphalt pavement is crack sealing, crack sealing prevents water from entering the pavements sub-base through cracks in the asphalt surface. If these cracks are left untreated they will eventually turn into potholes and destroy the asphalt surface and the base beneath the asphalt. Once you allow this to happen there is no maintaining the asphalt, you are now looking at having to replace the pavement. It is important to clean the cracks thoroughly before filling them. You will need to clean out any and all debris. This will help ensure the material adheres to the surface correctly. Once all of the cracks are completely cleaned and filled with the asphalt fill material, water will no longer be able to enter beneath the pavement down to the sub-base material. By using this technique you have increased the lifespan of your asphalt pavement in the most beneficial and cost-effective way.

Sealcoating your parking lot is definitely a great way to protect your asphalt surface as well. Sealcoating your asphalt will help protect against the suns ultraviolet rays and also keep any water from entering small cracks in the pavement. The asphalt sealcoating material needs to be mixed to the manufactures specifications. The sealcoat material needs to be applied in two coats. The first coat of sealer should be applied with a squeegee to push the sealer into the cracks of the pavement. The next coat may be applied using a spray technique. The spray of the sealcoat ensures a uniform coat over the entire asphalt surface. Be sure to allow the proper drying time of the sealcoat before using the asphalt pavement. Sealcoating of the asphalt surface should be done as necessary to help ensure the lifespan of your asphalt surface.

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Repair or Replace? What To Do About Your Aging Asphalt Parking Lot

Nothing lasts forever, and asphalt is no exception. There comes a time with every parking lot where you need to ask whether it’s time to repair it, or replace it altogether.

A properly paved asphalt lot can last 20 – 30 years, but the lifespan and condition of any lot depend on many factors. Let’s take a look at the various kinds of damage and repairs, and when you should replace a lot entirely.

The Types of Asphalt Damage

Cracking
Cracking can take many forms, including shrinkage, widening, edge cracks, slippage, alligator cracks, and reflection. Cracks are caused by many different factors, such as water penetration, oxidation from the sun, freezing, and thawing, and poor initial construction. Even the most minor cracks should be sealed as soon as possible, as small cracks can grow into bigger problems. Water or other debris can settle inside, causing the crack to grow, softening the base, and further threatening the integrity of the pavement. Larger cracks may be a warning sign of deeper issues.

Rutting
Rutting is when the pavement shows depressions, or grooves, from wear and tear caused by wheel loads. Ruts can be dangerous, leading to vehicles hydroplaning (from ponded water) that can result in loss of driver control. They can also be a result of deeper sub-soil or design problems, and lead to further deterioration. Ruts less than ⅓ inch deep can generally be left as is, but deeper ruts should be leveled and resurfaced.

When It’s Time To Repair

Crack Sealing
Crack sealing is exactly what it sounds like – filling small cracks to prevent further damage. Cracks that are straight or less than a quarter-inch wide can easily be repaired with a liquid filler. Before sealcoating or resurfacing, all cracks and existing damage must be repaired, so crack sealing is the first step towards further repair and necessary ongoing maintenance responsibility. A yearly schedule of crack sealing is best to prolong the life of your lot.

Seal Coating
After you’ve filled any cracks, you can apply a layer of sealcoating. Sealant keeps the lot looking new and prevents corrosion from a variety of elements, including water, oxidation, UV rays, and oil and gas spills. The ideal time to seal asphalt pavement is when deterioration is first discovered. A new asphalt lot should not be sealed until it is at least 6 months old, and should be resealed every 2 – 4 years, depending on weather and amount of traffic.

Resurfacing (aka overlaying)
Resurfacing, also known as overlaying, adds a new layer of asphalt, generally 1.5 – 2 inches in depth, on top of the older one. If done right, a new layer of asphalt can add 8 – 15 years to your current lot and costs less than a full replacement. All cracks and damage to the old layer need to be repaired before resurfacing, as un-repaired cracks will undermine the new layer. Resurfacing in cold weather can lead to premature deterioration, so the rule of thumb is to pave when temperatures are 50° F and above. Just because a lot is showing serious wear and tear and cracking, that doesn’t mean it needs to be replaced. Resurfacing is a great option to improve the condition of your lot without spending a lot of money.

Mill and Resurface
Resurfacing sometimes is not an option due to existing drainage patterns. When this is an issue milling and resurfacing may be a viable choice. Milling the surface involves the removal of the top layer of asphalt (usually 1” to 1.5”). Once the asphalt is removed, it is then replaced with a new layer of asphalt. Though this is one of the more expensive repairs, the quality of the final product and the service life can rival that of a new parking lot.

When It’s Time to Replace
Sometimes, a parking lot is beyond the point where even resurfacing will help. The answer to whether you should repair or replace essentially comes down to the condition of the lot’s base. Resurfacing is only as good as the surface it is layered on top of. If your parking lot is failing due to an underlying design, structural, sub-soil, or construction issue, none of the resurfacing options listed above will solve the problem in the long term. Though the parking lot will initially look better, the “repair” will be short-lived.

If a parking lot is approaching 20 years of age, or if 25-35% of the total surface area is in need of removal due to significant damage, it is generally more economical and effective to completely reconstruct the parking lot. With proper maintenance, your new lot can last another 20 – 30 years.

Proper evaluation and recommendations are critical to avoid any financial missteps in getting your parking lot back on-line.

Article Source: https://www.gleassociates.com/repair-or-replace-what-to-do-about-your-aging-asphalt-parking-lot/

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

The Benefits of Proper Parking Lot Maintenance

If you own a business, you can't afford to ignore proper parking lot maintenance. Sure, it might not be the first thing you think of. But it makes sense when you think about it. 

After all, your parking lot is the first physical aspect of your business that customers come into contact with. Shouldn't it paint a flattering picture? 

Likewise, if you don't keep up with regular maintenance, you're actually putting your customers in danger. Potholes, for instance, can ruin vehicles or cause customers to trip and get hurt. 

There's also the matter of safety to consider. But these are just the tips of the iceberg. To learn more about the benefits of parking lot maintenance, make sure to watch this video.

3 Types of Damage Asphalt Sealing Prevents

Asphalt sealing is an important part of maintaining a driveway or parking lot made of this material. It should be performed every two to three years to protect the pavement from developing damage that could shorten its life span. If you miss this maintenance, you could develop one or more of the issues below.

What Can Happen When You Skip Asphalt Sealing

1. Freeze-Thaw Expansion & Fracturing
The winter can be absolutely brutal on asphalt, particularly due to the freeze-thaw cycle. This occurs when water seeps down into the pavement, freezes, and expands — resulting in cracks. As the water thaws, it will then creep even deeper into the material, repeating this process and leading to numerous fractures. Asphalt sealing prevents this by covering any small cracks in the material and keeping water out year-round.

2. Sun Drying
asphalt sealing cookeville tnWhen the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays beat down on asphalt, they damage it in a way similar to how they affect your skin. The chemical bonds in the pavement begin to deteriorate, leading to cracks and other damage on the surface. Asphalt sealing prevents this by covering the blacktop in anti-oxidation additives and other aggregates that act as a barrier.

3. Surface Softening
Since asphalt pavement is predominantly used by vehicles, it will most likely experience some auto fluid spills. When oil, gas, and similar liquids fall onto the surface, they will be absorbed by the asphalt and cause it to soften. While these spills can be easily cleaned up in most cases, overtime they can result in cracks or a deterioration of the aggregates comprising the blacktop.

Article Source: https://nearsay.com/c/516510/215844/3-types-of-damage-asphalt-sealing-prevents

4 Most Common Forms of Asphalt Distress

Find out what the 4 most common forms of asphalt distress are. This video explains how these distresses are caused and what can be done to protect or repair the asphalt.

https://vacavetstriping.com/

Vaca Vet Striping has over 30 years experience doing business as ACE Paving Company, with a General Engineering Class A Contractor’s License #389714. We strive to provide quality work and great service at an affordable cost. Vaca Vet Striping service area is Solano, Napa, Yolo, and Sacramento counties.

Asphalt or Concrete?

Asphalt or Concrete? This is a segment that was aired on the HomeWoRx television show with Gary Sullivan on network TV in Cincinnati, Ohio. Hear the pros and cons of installing an asphalt or concrete driveway.

Vaca Vet Striping has got you covered. We have over 30 years experience doing business as ACE Paving Company, with a General Engineering Class A Contractor’s License #389714. We strive to provide quality work and great service at an affordable cost. Vaca Vet Striping service area is Solano, Napa, Yolo, and Sacramento counties.

https://vacavetstriping.com/

Four Areas of Asphalt Maintenance

When looking at asphalt maintenance it can be divided into four areas. The primary cause of asphalt failing is the penetration of water into the asphalt base. Over time, it will become brittle and dry with the aggregate beginning to wear away and cause cracks that will let water penetrate into the base of the pavement. When the water seeps into the crack it causes the base material to move and settle. This leads to the surface cracking in a pattern that is grid-like When the payment has reached this stage there are only two options, which replace the old asphalt or patch repair it.

Patch repair

It deals with areas that are isolated. Using a backhoe and saw-cutting the pavement is removed. They can also use a grinding machine. Once the old asphalt is removed, it is replaced with new asphalt. The removal method determines the amount that is removed. The removal depth should be equal to one point five times the original thickness of the asphalt. You may also have to replace the base-rock to match the adjacent areas to allow for base support that is uniform. The amount of removal should be extended twelve inches past the area that failed.

Asphalt overlay

This asphalt maintenance is affordable and provides a new wearing surface. When dealing with asphalt overlay there is a certain factor you need to be aware of, which include:

• Overlay thickness-it should be a maximum of two point five inches with a minimum of one point five inches
• Smooth transitions-when you are considering where to grind the existing pavement down remember not to grind down the overlay section to match the existing structure. If you do this could weaken the strength of the overlay. They will grind the existing payment down to where they meet flush together to prevent this.

Inlay and pulverize in place

Both of these areas of asphalt maintenance are accomplished using a milling machine. During the process of inlay, it removes a depth of the existing asphalt, which is many times a previous overlay. This will let the contractors put the asphalt back to the pre-inlay elevation. The method of pulverize-in-place will reduce all of the asphalt to particles that are base-rock size.

Seal coating

This is an important part of extending the life of the asphalt and it should not be overlooked. Seal coating is a mixture of mineral fibers, emulsified asphalt, and water along with other admixtures. This will seal the top layer of asphalt to prevent water from penetrating the pavement surface and protecting the top layer from wear from sun exposure and oxidation. It is what gives the asphalt its even black surface.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Lora_Davis/2146280

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6 Reasons To Get Your Parking Lot Re-Striped

Asphalt pavements and parking lots should be line striped as soon as they are completed. Asphalt striping involves the application of lines or markers on any asphalt surface for various reasons. The main reason for asphalt striping is to mark designated lanes on roadways. Asphalt striping is also used to mark entrances, crosswalks, and other safety features on pavements. Parking lot striping is very important to divide the parking lot into various parking spots. The most recommendable line striping technique is thermo striping. This is where the asphalt surface is marked or striped using molten thermoplastic. You can also use various paints to stripe your asphalt pavements, roadways, or parking lots. But thermoplastic striping is far much functional and durable than paint marking or striping.

After any asphalt surface is marked or striped, the lines or marks will last for some years before they start fading away. You should make a point of restriping your fading asphalt parking lot or pavement as soon as possible. Line striping is especially important for commercial parking lots, which means that restriping is also very important for your commercial parking lot. Here are several reasons why you need to restripe your commercial parking lot whenever the markers or stripes fade.

Aesthetic And Professional Appeal
A freshly marked or striped asphalt surface is very appealing. Road construction companies use various bright colors to mark an asphalt pavement o parking lot. Your commercial parking lot can be marked using white or yellow stripes. Different colors can be used to designate special parking spots for the disabled. Restriping your asphalt parking lot will enhance the curb appeal in your commercial building. This will project a professional image of your enterprise thereby attracting more customers or clients.

Better Parking Space Management
The main reason for striping an asphalt parking lot is to organize or manage the parking space. The stripes will indicate various parking slots in your commercial parking lot thereby ensuring that all the workers and customers have ample parking space. Restriping your parking lot will help organize the parking spaces in a much more efficient way.

Safety
A well-striped parking lot is safer to use. There are no collisions as vehicles try to find parking areas. You simply park your car in any allocated parking spot. You should make a point of restriping your parking lot to avoid accident-related liabilities.

User Satisfaction
When you designate various parking spots in your commercial parking lot, all users will be happy and satisfied. Remember that your commercial parking lot serves many people including your workers, delivery and supply vehicles, and more importantly your clients. That is why you should request striping services as soon as the stripes in your parking lot start fading.

ADA Compliance
Another major reason for striping and restriping a commercial parking lot is to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). ADA requires the allocation of a specific number of parking spots for the handicapped. You should restripe your commercial parking lot to adhere to these rules and regulations.

Fire Code Compliance
All commercial parking lots should have a designated lane for fire emergencies. This is a legal requirement for safety purposes. It’s one very important reason to restripe your commercial parking lot to ensure fire code compliance.

Article Source: http://pickensconstruction.com/6-reasons-to-get-your-parking-lot-re-striped/

Professionally Seal Coating A Parking Lot

This is a short film of how an old church parking lot was seal coated along with some asphalt repair!

Crack Sealing and Pavement Repair

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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

What's In Asphalt?

A brief introduction to the "recipe" for asphalt pavement.

The World's Most Recycled Material

Of all the ubiquitous things in our environment, roads are probably one of the least noticed. Our roads see tremendous volumes of traffic and withstand considerable variations in weather and climate, and they do it on a pretty tight budget. That’s really only possible because of all the scientists, engineers, contractors, and public works crews keeping up with this simple but incredible material called asphalt.

More Than Just Price - Choosing a Paving Contractor to Install Your Driveway

Paving an asphalt driveway may seem like a simple task to some people. Basically, you just get a couple of companies out of the phone book to give you an estimate and then pick the cheapest one right? Well, not if you're concerned about the craftsmanship or making sure you get what you pay for. This is the number one mistake people make when choosing a contractor. Before you call any company do some research first. Information is readily available 24 hours a day on the web. Stay away from people that knock on your door. You will never ever get a good job from someone telling you he has an extra load of asphalt from a job up the street. These people are called travelers and never deliver on what they promise. There is plenty of info on the web regarding these types of people.

Try to zero in on companies that specialize in residential asphalt drives. Commercial contractors excel in putting down lots of asphalt really fast, but usually, fall short of a homeowner's expectations when it comes to details. Review a company's website, check them against the BBB or other reporting agencies, and compare your notes about your research. When you look at their website, be sure to pay really close attention to the details you find both in the content and in the pictures on the site. You want to see what kind of work they are capable of, and you want to be confident they fully know what they are doing. You'll also be able to make sure they have adequate equipment if they have good pictures. Once you have 1-3 good companies with a clean history and a good reputation now is the time to talk to them and request a bid. Always get a written proposal. This makes sure both parties' expectations are clear and known. It also helps protect you if a legal matter ensues.

When reviewing the bids pay close attention to the entire proposal; including the letterhead that it's composed on. Sloppiness or inadequacies on paper now may be what you'll get on your asphalt driveway too. Be sure that everything you expect from your paving project is included in the scope. Make sure you understand everything that is taking place. Be sure you understand how the job will be scheduled, how thick the driveway will be after the asphalt is compacted, how much rock will be installed prior to paving, and the dimensions or square footage. Signing a contract means you have accepted what is in writing. If something is left out, make sure you get an amended contract.

Before you sign a contract you should take some time and use good judgment to compare the estimates. Price should never be your number one concern. We'll discuss price in a moment. Take an opportunity to ask a contractor for referrals that best match the design of your job. Some companies keep a cheat sheet of their best referrals, but you should insist they provide you with 1-2 jobs nearby that best match your own asphalt driveway. You want this because you should be inclined to physically investigate what kind of work they do. Ask about jobs they might be doing in the area so you can personally witness them while in action.

How do you know what to look for when looking at a referral driveway that a company has already completed? Here are a few great tips that will bring you up to an educated level.

· Check all the transitional areas such as sidewalks, garage floors, and streets. These should all be flush, with no bump, and should have the proper thickness. Without these details, you will see water problems, or unraveling of the asphalt. These symptoms only get worse as time goes on.

· Streaking or pockmarks are a good indicator of a thin surface. This happens when there is not enough material to encapsulate the larger stones while paving. The larger stones will tumble and cause imperfections in the surface, or "mat".

· Seams and joints should be flush with each other, and barely visible (if at all) to an untrained eye. Seams and joints that are severely visible or are not evenly matched will fail prematurely.

· Exposed edges of the perimeter should be properly constructed. This is where most companies sink or swim. You should pay most of your attention here. Stand back and carefully look at the edges from a distant point of view. You should observe several aspects: The edges should be either in a perfectly straight line or consistently "flowing" with the turns. The edges should be properly shaped, beveled, or tamped in a consistent looking 60-degree angle. The edges should be compacted properly without looking "squashed" from the top. Without these characteristics, you will have problems later and it just doesn't look as good as it should.

· If you look at the job after a rainstorm, be sure there is no considerable ponding or puddling of water. If you do see water spots you can quickly deduce if they are too deep by measuring them with a coin placed flat in the water. The water should not be deeper than the coin.

· Last but not least, if the driveway was paved recently look for trash or debris left behind. This will indicate the level of cleanliness the crew is at.

You should really focus on the importance of inspecting past jobs by the company before spending your own money on having your asphalt driveway paved. By printing out this guide you can take it with you to create a checklist to write notes and comparisons on. Once you have done this, talk to the homeowner and ask how their experience was with the firm. If you are diligent about researching your contractors prior to hiring them, you nearly eliminate the chance of getting a bad asphalt driveway. It's your money, be sure it's well spent.

Certainly, ask your contractor about asphalt prices. Since early 2008 prices have gone up and down every month (typically up). Most paving contractors will not absorb a price increase. You and your contractor need to be in agreement with what will happen in the case of rising material costs.

Since we are on the topic of price now, let's explore a few matters. There are a few ways of eliminating contractors before price. Be sure they are completely aware of your expectations. Have they presented you with a solution that gives you the absolute best return on investment? Does their reputation meet what you are looking for? If you have done your homework and still are lucky enough to have several contractors to choose from, price now becomes an important focus. Ask about available discounts. Typically, discounts are usually for cash payment, multiple jobs are done at once (i.e. neighbor also needs a driveway), senior citizen, or repeat work. Also, inquire about getting free or discounted maintenance packages once they have completed your driveway. Ask about including other options such as crack barrier or curbing at a lesser amount. Before asking a contractor to directly drop his price, be aware of several things. If you have found a very good contractor, chances are they are very passionate about their work and may feel a bit insulted if asked to match another company's price. If you ask them to match a price and they feel as though their competition is as good as they are, a price reduction might be made to try to satisfy you. Be very considerate when asking for a direct reduction. These days it's very expensive and stressful to operate a successful paving operation. The last thing you want to do is cause your contractor stress that may influence how your driveway is constructed.

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

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5 Reasons to Repair Your Asphalt Parking Lot

While a small crack or pothole in your asphalt parking lot may not seem like a big deal, think again.

Not only can small asphalt cracks and potholes grow into more expensive repairs, but they can also affect your liability as a business owner.

In this blog post, we will go over the five reasons you should hire an experienced Clarkston asphalt repair contractor at the first sign of damage to your commercial parking lot.

1. Avoid Liability
As a commercial building owner, you need to keep your parking lot well-maintained to avoid being sued. If a customer damages their vehicle or suffers personal injury because of large potholes and cracks in your parking lot, you will be held legally responsible. It is your responsibility to keep your parking lot safe and functional for customers. To repair asphalt potholes, you’ll need to call an asphalt paving contractor.

2. Prevent Potholes and Cracks
Did you know that asphalt expands and contracts with fluctuating temperatures? If you don’t invest in proper asphalt parking lot maintenance, you could end up paying to repair parking lot cracks. Cracks in your parking lot will eventually weaken the structure, making asphalt potholes more likely. Not only are cracks and potholes an eyesore, but they can also decrease the number of usable parking spaces in the lot.

3. Save Money
Making small repairs to your parking lot is less expensive than having to prematurely replace your parking lot. When you invest in parking lot maintenance, you won’t have to worry about your asphalt pavement deteriorating over time. No one wants to pay for parking lot replacement if it can be held off. If you take proper care of your parking lot, there’s no reason it shouldn’t last for up to 20 years.

4. Attract Business
Nothing detracts from the curb appeal of your commercial building more than a crumbling parking lot. If your business depends on being able to bring in new clients or encourage repeat business, you’ll need to focus on setting a good first impression as soon as they pull into the lot. Customers will become frustrated if they aren’t able to find a usable parking space due to potholes. Potential clients might also assume that the condition of the parking lot is representative of how you run the rest of your business.

5. Increase Property Value
If you plan on selling your commercial property in the near future, you’ll want to improve the appearance of your asphalt parking lot. Potential buyers will judge the property as soon as they pull into the parking lot and won’t be impressed by large cracks and potholes. Buyers don’t want to immediately pay for asphalt parking lot replacement after buying a property. In other words, significant parking lot damage decreases the value of your property and makes it harder to sell.

Article Source: https://www.alliedasphalt.com/5-reasons-to-repair-your-asphalt-parking-lot.php

All of the 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

How Often and Why Should You Sealcoat & Crackfill Your Pavement?

The short answer: About 2-3 years depending on some factors.

The 2 most important factors are: Weather & Use.

A lot of homeowners & business owners wait way too long before even considering resealing their lots and driveways. You know you’re in this situation if your lot or driveway looks gray and worn out along with some cracks.

But don’t worry!

An old worn out driveway doesn’t mean you will have to spend thousands to make it look good again. Depending on your expectations!

Sealing too much and too often can cause peeling, flaking or cracking if it builds up.

Some companies may try to convince you to seal every year. We always get customers that say they were told by their previous sealcoat company that they should do it every year, we consider that the worst thing you can do.

For example, sealing every year might sound like a good idea, but in the long run, you’re most likely going to cause irreparable “damage“.

Very often what happens is you start to sandwich layers on top of each other, after about 5 years of doing this you will end up having areas of the sealcoat start to chip off and flake. Once this begins to happen its pretty much impossible to stop it from spreading across areas that are NOT under constant use.

Sealcoating and Crackfilling helps the asphalt on your driveway or parking lot in quite a few ways.

1. It extends your pavements life.
2. Sealing protects the tiniest cracks on the pavement from water.
3. Crackfilling also prevents water from washing out the base layer under the asphalt and from ice forming in between the cracks.
4. Helps prevent the sun from drying out the asphalt.
5. Keeps the pavement looking fresh and new.
6. Prevents high repair costs in the future.

Article Source: https://birminghamsealcoat.com/blog/how-often-and-why-should-you-sealcoat-amp-crackfill-your-pavement

How Do Potholes Work?

There are definitely times when driving does not feel that luxurious, and one of them is something we’ve all experienced once or twice. Pavement is one of the highest value assets owned by a City, County, or DOT. 

It’s essential, and it’s expensive, which means there’s an entire industry surrounding how to design, build, and maintain roadways as safely and cost-effectively as possible. Politicians, government officials, engineers, and contractors drive on the same roads as everyone else, so they all have a vested interest in keeping those roads as pothole-free as possible so that we all can enjoy the luxury of driving on paved streets in safety and comfort.

Thermoplastics Installing by Vaca Vet Striping

http://vacavetstriping.com/

The application of linear striping, arrows, stop bars, and handicap insignias, etc. We use a plasticized material that when heated with adhere permanently to asphalt and concrete surfaces.

We understand the importance of quality asphalt maintenance and the importance of leaving a lasting impression to prospective tenants, home buyers, customers, and the general public.

Vaca Vet Striping has over 30 years of experience doing business as ACE Paving Company, with a General Engineering Class A Contractor’s License #389714. We strive to provide quality work and great service at an affordable cost. Vaca Vet Striping service area is Solano, Napa, Yolo, and Sacramento counties.

How to Keep Asphalt From Deteriorating: Sealcoating Your Paved Driveway or Parking Lot Can Help

When you're spending the money to have your driveway or parking lot professionally paved, you don't want the asphalt to deteriorate any sooner than necessary. Sealcoat the surface to protect your walking and driving areas from wear and tear.

Have you noticed cracks or holes forming in your asphalt driveway or parking lot, thanks to years of car and foot traffic? Or are you laying down new pavement and want to make it last as long as possible? Professional pavers employ a process known as sealcoating to lengthen the life of an asphalt surface. Sealcoating will not only make your driveway or parking lot more durable but will also help it maintain its clean, smooth look in the face of repeated use. Contact a paving contractor in your area to discuss whether sealcoating is right for your new or existing asphalt surface.

How It Works

As tough as it is, asphalt can be damaged by sun exposure, excessive rain, ice, and temperature changes. Years of gasoline and oil drippings from cars can also cause surface deterioration. Not only will deteriorating asphalt fade from a crisp black to an ugly gray, but it can also become rough and crack open-and water accumulating in pavement cracks or holes can lead to further damage. Sealcoating a pavement area approximately 60 days after the initial asphalt application will protect it from weather and car fluid damage in the years ahead, lengthening the overall life of your paving. Driveway sealer is composed of a coal-tar emulsion, sometimes fortified with rubber or silica sand for increased durability. A paving contractor will apply sealer either by brush or by spraying it over the area; the method may depend upon the size of the area to be sealed, or upon the individual contractor's preference.

Repair and Resealing

If you want to seal a driveway or parking lot that is several years old and has already begun to deteriorate, the paving contractor must first repair the damaged asphalt. This may involve filling any holes or cracks in the pavement, as well as smoothing out rough areas. It's also a good idea to clean up any oil stains before applying sealcoating, as once they're sealed in, those stains are permanent. In general, you should apply a new coat of driveway sealer every two to three years. Resealing and minor repairs will almost always be less expensive than having to completely replace the pavement.

Benefits

Having a sealed driveway or parking lot surface has benefits far beyond the money saved on re-paving. For starters, the smooth, sealed finish will be easier to clean than cracked, stained asphalt, enabling you to keep your property looking its best. Even more importantly, sealed pavement is safer to walk and drive on. Large cracks and holes can pose a tripping hazard for individuals of all ages. Meanwhile, brittle, deteriorating asphalt can form potholes, which can prove hazardous to drivers. Properly maintaining your driveway or parking lot area by sealcoating the asphalt will protect both your investment and the individuals who use the space. Contact a parking lot or driveway paving specialist near you to learn more about your sealcoating options.

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

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THE IMPORTANCE OF SEALCOATING A DRIVEWAY

What is the importance of sealcoating a driveway? Sealcoating prolongs the life expectancy of your pavement assets by providing a protective layer to protect it from the weather, traffic, and fuel spillage. The low cost of regular sealcoating can save you money in the long run and a properly maintained and sealed asphalt driveway has an extended lifetime and reduces long-term repair costs.

Your property’s asphalt driveway or pavement is likely one of the biggest investments you have made, and you will naturally want to keep it looking as good as new for as long as possible. Sealcoating is one of the most effective ways to keep your asphalt driveway in the best possible condition for many years.

Your driveway is one of the first things people see when they arrive at your house. Increase your home's curb appeal by taking excellent care of your asphalt driveway.

Vaca Vet Striping Services: Grading & Excavating

http://vacavetstriping.com

If you’re looking to increase your property value and curb appeal by dressing up your driveway, fixing an irritating drainage problem, enhancing the aesthetics via site grading we got you covered!

Vaca Vet Striping has over 30 years experience doing business as ACE Paving Company, with a General Engineering Class A Contractor’s License #389714. We strive to provide quality work and great service at an affordable cost. Vaca Vet Striping service area is Solano, Napa, Yolo, and Sacramento counties.

Pavement Maintenance - Benefits of Asphalt Sealcoating

Asphalt sealcoating is a pavement maintenance tactic utilized to extend the life of pavement surfaces and provide an attractive aesthetic.

Vaca Vet Striping has got you covered. We have over 30 years experience doing business as ACE Paving Company, with a General Engineering Class A Contractor’s License #389714. We strive to provide quality work and great service at an affordable cost. Vaca Vet Striping service area is Solano, Napa, Yolo, and Sacramento counties.

https://vacavetstriping.com/

How to Know When to Seal Coat or Repave Asphalt Pavements

What is the most cost-effective resurfacing solution after repairing cracks, potholes and depressions in asphalt driveways and parking lots

By Jeff Lax

When it comes to old, worn asphalt driveways and parking lots, commercial real estate owners, property managers, and even owners of single-family homes struggle with the same questions: Do we repave or sealcoat after making repairs to cracks, potholes, and depressions? What is the most cost-effective and durable solution?

The industry has debated this issue for decades, and what has been learned is that each option has lasting, dramatic effects and that they actually complement one another. That’s the information pavement maintenance contractors need to convey to their clients who are trying to decide which pavement maintenance option best suits their needs and property.

Sealing

Sealcoating is one of the most important steps to protecting an owner’s investment in an asphalt driveway or parking lot. Sealers consist of emulsions that combine asphalt or refined coal tar with clays, mineral fillers, and water. Once applied, the water evaporates and the emulsion hardens to form a protective coating. It also becomes a beautiful black surface that adds curb appeal, giving a single-family home, multi-family residence, or commercial or industrial property a polished look. Industry experts agree that driveways or parking lots lacking the sealer can generally last only five to six years before the beginning stages of breakdown.

Initial sealing should occur six to 12 months after the asphalt surface is laid to allow the pavement to “cure” so oils can escape and the surface becomes ready for sealer. The initial sealer application forms a barrier to prevent water penetration and to inhibit deterioration of the asphalt binder by oxidation and over-drying.

As unprotected pavement ages, the asphalt binder hardens, losing flexibility and becoming increasingly brittle. Ultraviolet rays from the sun break down the carbon bonds in asphalt, further weakening the pavement. Also, daily and seasonal cycles of heating and cooling cause the pavement to expand and contract. These stresses eventually exceed the pavement’s ability to flex, and cracks form. If water seeps into the cracks and freezes, the cracks expand, allowing more water to penetrate, making the cracks wider and deeper. This cycle leads to accelerated deterioration of the parking lot surface. Early sealcoating can prevent all these preliminary dangers to the life of the asphalt.

Sealer is typically the most cost-effective solution and should be reapplied every two to three years as preventative maintenance. In fact, several government and Asphalt Institute studies have shown that neglected asphalt pavement can cost up to five times as much to repair as asphalt that has had a regular maintenance program, including sealcoating.

Pavement maintenance begins by filling cracks, patching deteriorated areas, and cleaning (and possibly priming) oil-saturated spots on the pavement surface. The asphalt also must be cleaned of dirt and debris before sealer can be applied.

While some homeowners sealcoat their driveways themselves, professional contractors not only apply a high-quality sealer material but also have professional equipment such as crack cleaners and power blowers that often enable them to perform a longer-lasting, high-quality job. Plus, professional contractors can handle other pavement repairs that a homeowner won’t be aware of, so property managers at any level will be best served by hiring a pavement maintenance professional to handle their pavement.

Repaving

Repaving is the only decision for driveways or parking lots that have severe deterioration, deep wide cracks, subsided depressions and numerous potholes.

An asphalt overlay consists of a compacted layer of one-and-a-half to two inches of hot mix asphalt being placed over the existing asphalt, essentially giving the driveway a new surface. Just as with sealcoating, the first task is repair of existing pavement. Areas, where the pavement surface has slumped, indicate failure of the stone foundation supporting the pavement. These areas require digging out existing asphalt, and repair and compaction of the stone base with new material before patching with asphalt mix to prevent trouble spots from returning after repaving. Then an overlay is placed over the old surface. No sealcoating should be added for six months to a year, just as with any newly constructed pavement.

And while an asphalt overlay can begin to deteriorate within five to six years without maintenance, it could last up to 25 years with regular upkeep. The upside to installing an overlay is the pavement has a renewed wearing course, providing a pliable, flexible surface. Also after the overlay, the maintenance program can start over, leading to a virtually brand new drive or lot. However, extreme weather, heavy loads, and shortcuts during construction could lead to premature wear and failure. The downside of repaving is that it is expensive (typically thousands of dollars more than sealing). Plus, if the original asphalt isn’t properly cleaned and prepared, cracks and uneven sections may return, as well as other problems that may not have previously existed such as delamination of the overlay because of poor adhesion to the old pavement.

What’s Better for your customer?

The amount and regularity of repaving will differ from climate to climate, and even when asphalt is maintained properly an asphalt overlay will be needed every 20 to 25 years.

Regardless of whether you repave or repair, sealcoating is one of the most important aspects of any pavement maintenance effort as it protects asphalt from weathering and degradation and extends pavement life. Without sealer, the asphalt could require an overlay in as little as five to six years, costing thousands of dollars. When comparing costs, industry experts believe the best investment a homeowner or commercial property owner can make is a well-tailored maintenance program that includes regular sealcoating.

Article Source: https://www.forconstructionpros.com/pavement-maintenance/preservation-maintenance/sealcoating-equipment-materials/article/10303124/how-to-know-when-to-seal-coat-or-repave-asphalt-pavements#&gid=1&pid=2

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.

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

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6818160

How It's Made: Asphalt Pavers

How It's Made: Asphalt Pavers

How Its Made - Asphalt Paving

They're a common sight on many roads and the bane of motorists' lives, but potholes could soon be a thing of the past thanks to nano-technology.

Researchers in Switzerland have patented a method that repairs stress-induced cracks in asphalt to prevent potholes forming in the first place and could double the life span of roads embedded with the technology.

A precise amount of iron oxide nanoparticles are mixed with bitumen - the sticky, viscous black binder obtained from crude oil and used to keep road material together.

Ever-so slightly heating up this asphalt using a small magnetic field melts the bitumen, allowing it to seep into the minute cracks to 'self-heal'.

Vaca Vet Striping Specializes In Striping For Small Or Large Jobs

https://vacavetstriping.com/

Vaca Vet Striping offers a full range of parking lot and road services, we strive to improve quality through innovation, technology, and our vast experience. Our fleet of service trucks and professional parking lot stripers allows us to perform jobs in a timely manner.

About Our Process
Vaca Vet Striping has the latest equipment and products to ensure the highest quality in painting clean, sharp lines and well defined edges.

Our Striping Services Included

• Parking stall lines
• Directional arrows
• Handicap stalls
• Paths of travel
• No parking
• Fire zones
• Entrance / Exit signage

Information About Commercial Asphalt Driveways

There are several reasons why many commercial property owners are paving their driveways with asphalt rather than concrete. Asphalt pavement comes with many benefits and advantages; especially when it comes to maintenance and repair. Asphalt is much more economical than concrete for this reason and more. On top of its flexibility and easy maintenance aspects, it typically costs less than concrete materials at most hardware and construction stores.

Although concrete paving can last up to 15 or 20 years without needing repairs, asphalt is still a trendier choice for most residential and commercial properties for a number of reasons. Continue reading to catch up on some important information about asphalt paving and why it is more popular than concrete these days.

Asphalt Pavement for Driveways

As mentioned before, concrete can last up to fifteen or twenty years without needing repairs; while asphalt paving may eventually require some upkeep after about five to seven years. There are several reasons why asphalt pavement can weaken or deteriorate. For example, elemental conditions, over-exposure, negligence, cars, and the surrounding natural environment call all have an effect on asphalt pavements. The following influences are common contributors to asphalt damage, potholes, and wear and tear:

• Heavy Trucks, Cars, and Loads
• Substantial Water Saturation
• Constant Exposure to Moisture
• Harsh Storms
• Overgrown Tree Roots
• Poor Foundation
• Tectonic Plates
• And More

It is recommended to place sprinklers and watering hoses far from newly paved asphalt driveways. Also, large or old trees should be removed to protect new asphalt from tree root damage. Even if the tree seems like it will not be a threat, it is safer to remove it before experiencing asphalt damage from underground root systems. As soon as you see a pothole or crack appear, it is suggested to take immediate action to prevent further wear and tear. The sooner an asphalt issue is acknowledged and fixed, the less expensive the repair will cost. You can purchase asphalt fillers and pothole repair kits at local hardware and home good stores; however, it is highly recommended to seek out professional assistance from a licensed and experienced asphalt paving engineer. They can give you the best advice on asphalt maintenance and repair. If you do decide to repair asphalt driveway damages on your own, you can still ask a retail clerk at the store for extra instructions or advice. They too should know plenty of information about the product they are selling.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Sarahbeth_Kluzinski/1326228

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9670899

The 5 Cost-Saving Benefits of Sealcoating your Parking Lot

It takes 7 seconds for people to form a first impression of your business. That doesn’t give you a lot of time to be impressive.

Talk to any real estate agent and they will tell you about the importance of curb appeal when selling a property. The same is true for your business. you might not be looking for someone to buy your business, but you do want to attract customers to buy your products.

As soon as your customers drive up to your location, they’re already forming their first impressions. Sealcoating your paved parking lot is an excellent way to keep up your curb appeal and make a positive impression.

Let’s look at several benefits of sealcoating your parking lot.

1. Water-Resistant
Asphalt is a durable and long-lasting substance. That’s why it is popular for roads, parking lots, driveways, and more.

However, water is a big enemy.

Asphalt is a porous material. This means that moisture can get down inside the asphalt. When it does, this speeds up degradation and deterioration of the pavement.

In the winter months, this is further exacerbated by freezing temperatures. If you remember back to high school science class, water expands as it freezes.

So when the temperature drops, any moisture that is trapped in the asphalt can freeze and expand, causing cracks and damage to the asphalt.

Sealcoating the asphalt will diminish this effect significantly. The sealant protects the asphalt by creating a barrier that water can’t penetrate.

Snow and ice sitting on top of the asphalt can also cause problems. Not only can it be dangerous by causing cars to slide out of control, but also having water sitting on top of it constantly exacerbates the water exposure problem.

Sealcoating helps make snow and ice melt faster — protecting both your pavement and your customers and their vehicles.

2. Oxidation-Resistant
Water isn’t the only danger that asphalt faces. The sun is another element that your asphalt parking lot will face daily that can cause damage.

Asphalt contains a mix of oils that keep it supple and helps it maintain its flexibility. Constant sun exposure can dry out these oils, in essence, “baking” the asphalt. 

At first, as the asphalt dries out it may simply be more prone to cracking. Eventually, the material will become so brittle and weak that it can begin to crumble away.

Obviously, that type of disrepair isn’t the kind of impression you want to make on your customers!

Sealcoating helps slow the evaporation of the oils and keeps the asphalt “hydrated” for a longer period of time.

3. Chemical-Resistant
Asphalt is also exposed to a number of different chemicals. Cars can leak a variety of fluids including oil, gas, antifreeze, brake fluid, and more.

Just like water, these liquids can seep down into the porous asphalt. Depending on the substance they can cause even more damage than plain old water.

When you sealcoat asphalt, the same barrier that inhibits water from getting down into the pavement keeps these other liquids and chemicals out and minimizes the damage they can cause.

4. Replace Asphalt Less Frequently
What do the first three benefits we’ve talked about mean for your parking lot? Simple. You won’t have to repave it as frequently.

Though asphalt is durable and long-lasting, if you want to keep your parking lot in tip-top shape, you’ll need to replace it periodically. Remember, curb appeal is important for your business and a shoddy parking lot doesn’t make a good impression.

But replacing asphalt is an expensive and tedious process.

The weather/temperature has to be just right otherwise the asphalt won’t harden as it should when it cools. Rain can also complicate the installation as water exposure will cause significant problems with the asphalt before it solidifies.

It’s also an inconvenience. Your customers may not be able to use the parking lot while it is being repaved. Depending on your location, that could mean that you’ll have to close your business completely during the installation.

This means not only an expensive maintenance bill but also you’ll miss out on sales — hitting your wallet even harder.

Sealcoating your parking lot is a far less involved project. It won’t take as long and it isn’t as expensive. And it will drastically lengthen the lifespan of your asphalt, cutting down on how often it needs to be replaced.

In short, sealcoating is certainly preferable to the inconvenience of replacing asphalt.

5. Aesthetic Appeal
Aside from repairing cracked or crumbling asphalt, replacing your asphalt has one big benefit. It looks so nice afterward!
Fresh asphalt has that dark, smooth finish that looks so sharp and screams well-maintained. Unfortunately, it begins to fade to an ugly gray over time and with exposure to the elements.

Did you know that sealcoating creates that same dark look? It also helps maintain that look for a longer period of time due to the benefits we’ve already mentioned.

A fresh application of sealcoat will cover small cracks and other imperfections. It also goes on black — just like asphalt. So you get the fresh dark look, without the hassle of installing new asphalt. Simply paint the lines back on your parking lot and it will look brand new!

Find Your Sealcoating Professionals
Ready to breathe new life into your parking lot without going to the expense and hassle of replacing the asphalt? Then it’s time to look into sealcoating.

Article Source: https://www.mdpavingpros.com/the-5-cost-saving-benefits-of-sealcoating-your-parking-lot/

Benefits Of Crack Sealing An Asphalt Parking Lot

Why crack seal an asphalt parking lot:

Cracks in pavements allow moisture to penetrate the surface which causes potholes, cracks and eventually total asphalt failure. Failure to seal cracks results in further cracking and will lead to expensive asphalt replacement.

To prevent water from infiltrating to the base it is recommended that a hot rubberized crack sealant be professionally applied with professional crack sealing equipment. Cold applied crack sealing materials available at Hardware Stores / Home Improvement Chains are designed to be applied to residential driveways and are not capable of giving you the performance or longevity which is standard from hot poured crack sealants.

Hot rubberized crack sealing in asphalt parking lots, roads, shopping centers, HOA Associations and other asphalt surfaces is one of the most cost-effective preventative maintenance processes available. Any effective Pavement Management Plan includes annual hot rubberized crack sealing. Who uses crack sealing?

* Property & Facility Managers

* Homeowner (HOA) Communities

* Shopping Centers

* Apartments & Condominiums

* Office Complexes

* industrial Parks

* Any owners/managers of asphalt parking lots

It is important to begin a crack sealing program at the first sign of crack developing which can be anywhere from 2-5 years after initial asphalt installation.

Article Source: http://www.fixasphalt.com/blog/benefits-of-crack-sealing-an-asphalt-parking-lot

Four Tips for Asphalt Maintenance

Maintain your asphalt and extend its life with these tips

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/

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

When Should I Restripe My Parking Lot?

Typically it's a good idea to restripe your parking lot every 18 to 24 months, depending on your location and climate. Restriping your parking lot enhances curb appeal and the safety of your customers.

If you own a parking lot, it is important to make sure that the lot is always in the best shape possible, naturally. You want it asphalt to be intact and sealed, and you want the stripes and spaces in the lot to be clear and bright. It offers a range of benefits for your parking lot and business. There are many times that you should consider restriping the parking lot.

Typically, it is going to be a good idea to restripe about every 18 to 24 months, at least. However, it will also depend on the location of your business, and a host of other factors.

For example, if you live in a climate where it snows, you probably rely on snowplows to come along and remove the snow from your parking lot. While this is beneficial to ensure that your parking lot is up and usable for the customers, it also means that there is the potential for those plows to scrape away some of the lines in the parking lot. In those cases, it is generally going to be a good idea to restripe annually. After the last snow of the year has gone, set up an appointment to have your parking lot restriped or paint new parking lot lines yourself.

After Sealcoating

If you have had asphalt repairs and sealcoating on your parking lot, then you are certainly going to need to have restriping completed before you can open up the parking lot to your customers. The sealcoating is going to cover up the lines, so once it has dried, you will need to make sure that you have someone come out to add the stripes to the parking lot.

Keep Up With the ADA Code

In addition, you will want to be sure that you keep up with the requirements from the American Disability Act. This will indicate what you are going to need in terms of disabled parking spaces, and you need to be sure your parking lot is fully compliant. In some cases, this might mean having a striping company come out to your parking lot as soon as possible to make the updates to help bring the parking lot up to code.

What Are the Benefits of Regular Restriping?

For starters, you want to think about the curb appeal of the property. Having nice clean and easy to see lines in the parking lot is going to make it look better. We’ve all seen old parking lots that don’t have lines or whose lines have faded over the years. They look neglected. If the owner doesn’t care enough to take care of the parking lot striping, it typically means they do not care much about the buildings and stores that are in the parking lot, or the rest of the upkeep they should be taking care of.

If you are planning to resell the property, not painting the strips and improving that curb appeal is going to hurt the resale value. It might seem like a small thing, but it is very important. It will help to show that the business is well cared for, and that can help to make getting a sale easier.

In addition, there is a safety factor that you have to think about when it comes to the parking lot. If the parking lot has not properly been striped, it means that people are not going to know where to park properly, and this can cause confusion and an element of danger in the parking lot. You need to have clear parking spots and directional lines in your parking lot for the safety of the vehicles and drivers, as well as pedestrians that are walking through the parking lot.

And if you've ever been in a parking lot in a snowstorm, you know that not being able to see the parking lot lines means people put a lot of space between their cars and you get fewer of them in a lot. If you have a busy business, using every parking space affects your bottom line: make it clear to your customers where they can park.

High traffic parking areas often add reflective glass beads in the stripes, which are going to be easier to see in the evening when headlights hit them. These can add an extra layer of safety, and they can be a nice solution for many types of parking lots, including airports and hospitals.

Get In Touch With Professionals Or Do It Yourself

Now that you know why and when you should be restriping your parking lot, it is time to get in touch with a company that can take care of the restriping for you. Always make sure that you are dealing with professionals who have the right equipment and who understand ADA compliancy. Many times, the same company that you hire to take care of the asphalt repair and the sealcoating will be able to offer the restriping services you need. It could be a good idea to have one company that can take care of everything needed for your parking lot.

Article Source: https://blog.asphaltkingdom.com/when-to-restripe-parking-lot