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.

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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.

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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.

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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