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.

Why Asphalt Crack Repair Can Benefit Property Managers

Whether you manage a property for an individual or a corporation, your performance will be judged on many factors. Many of these factors depend on the type of property you manage, but one element transcends all property types: Are you helping the owner maximize profits by protecting the property’s assets? Although these assets vary, virtually all commercial properties have a parking lot that represents a significant investment. If you are not ensuring timely asphalt crack repairs for your asphalt parking lot, you could be jeopardizing that investment.

Why Asphalt Crack Repair Can Benefit Property Managers

How Does Crack Repair Help Protect an Investment in Asphalt Pavement?
Contractors build an asphalt pavement by constructing and compacting a stable foundation to support the weight of the pavement as well as the traffic that the roadway will bear. The foundation is a critical part of the pavement’s longevity. If the foundation becomes unstable, voids can develop that allow the pavement to subside. These voids can lead to the formation of potholes, large cracks, and alligator cracking. The leading cause of an unstable foundation is damage from water that leaked through cracks in the pavement. In most instances, an economical asphalt crack repair can prevent water penetration, averting costlier repairs and the premature demise of the pavement.

How Do Contractors Repair Cracks in Asphalt Pavement?
There are two basic methods that asphalt contractors can use to repair cracks. The method chosen depends on the nature of the crack. Both methods require the contractor to clean out the crack before introducing the repair material.

• Asphalt crack filling is the introduction of a fill material into the crack. Asphalt crack filler is somewhat rigid, so it is typically used for inactive cracks that will not continue to grow. Most block cracks and edge cracks are inactive, making them good candidates for asphalt crack filling. Some longitudinal cracks are also inactive, but most contractors prefer to use asphalt crack sealing for all longitudinal cracks.
• Asphalt crack sealing is often used for cracks that are less than an inch wide. As the name implies, this method seals the crack, preventing water and dirt from entering. Crack sealants are preferable for active cracks. Active cracks will continue to expand, but sealants are flexible enough to move with the pavement without breaking their bond. As a general rule, all transverse cracks will require sealing rather than filling. Some longitudinal, cold-joint and reflective cracks will also require the use of a sealant rather than an asphalt crack filler.

When Should Cracks Be Repaired?
Once a crack develops, you want to repair it as soon as possible. The problem is that you cannot restore a crack if you do not know it exists. A thorough visual inspection of your pavement every few months can help you identify issues, but you might want to consider asking your contractor whether he offers an asphalt maintenance program. Choose a program that provides a professional inspection at least once a year; it would be better to have an inspection in the spring and another one in the fall. The following tips can also help you protect your asphalt pavement.

• Hire a professional to apply sealant periodically. Sealcoating offers excellent protection against the sun and automotive fluids, but it is not a permanent treatment.
• Keep drains clean so that they can carry runoff safely away from your pavement. A clogged drain can force water underneath the surrounding pavement, leading to cracks and foundation damage.
• Keep your pavement clean. Remove trash, dead leaves, grass clippings, and other debris. Clean oil and other automotive fluids that may have leaked onto the pavement; they can soften your asphalt pavement, leaving it more vulnerable to damage.

Article Source: https://www.alphapavingtexas.com/faq/why-asphalt-crack-repair-can-benefit-property-managers/

Parking Lot Striping and Maintenance Increases Customer Safety

In business, it is important to always put your best foot forward, and that step can start with fresh parking lot striping. Fresh paint provides a good first impression for arriving customers. Faded and cracked lines, potholes, and crumbling chocks are not only an eyesore, but can also be a safety hazard as well. To ensure customers can park their cars with ease and navigate the car park without any confusion, regular maintenance is crucial.

Clear parking lot striping will not only help visitors navigate easily, but well-planned spacing can also help maximize a small area, squeezing in extra spots for cars so that you don't unintentionally lose business. Most car parks are also required by local regulations to meet certain codes which include a specific number of designated handicap spaces for disabled individuals (how many will depend on the location and size of the area). These will require an extra wide border to be clearly marked, allowing for room to remove wheelchairs or other necessary mobility devices. Codes may also require specific stenciling and marked fire lanes.

If the area is jointly operated by several businesses, it can be helpful to designate specific spots directly in front of doors exclusively to one shop. This is particularly useful for quick-stop stores located next to businesses with longer transactions such as restaurants or movie theaters. Keeping a few spaces free and marked for fifteen minutes or less is another way to keep traffic flowing, turning away fewer customers during peak periods. Spaces can be stencil-painted and bordered in a different color to distinguish it from others.

Proper parking lot striping is also a valuable safety tool that can help you cut back on collisions, slip and falls, or other potential hazards. In addition to keeping the paint fresh and direction arrows clear to improve traffic flow, consider re-paving the entire car park if it is extremely damaged. Large holes and cracks can not only damage vehicles, but people can fall and hurt themselves. And if it happened on your property, you may have a lawsuit on your hands. Smashed chocks are another common problem that is often overlooked. Chocks are the bumpers located between spaces or in front of sidewalks to prevent vehicles from moving too far. Over time, the constant stress from car bumps, or even just a single hard hit can result in them cracking and shifting. The rubble left behind can be dangerous to pedestrians and cyclists.

Parking lot striping professionals generally offer several other benefits in addition to their painting skills. Included in their services are often a cleaning of the area using power washing to lift and blast away long-standing grime, a basic warranty covering unexpected fading or stains for the first few months or longer, and help re-planning the area if needed. Most paints are fast-drying, so you won't have to worry about closing off the area for long. Always choose a company that is licensed, experienced, and fully insured so that you will receive quality work that you can depend on. For information about their services, go to www.articlesrx.com [http://www.articlesrx.com].

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Andrew_Stratton/83489

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6657078

AAA Pedestrian Safety PSA

Do you know the rules of the road? Drivers and pedestrians need to work together to make roadways safer for pedestrians. Walk safely with tips from AAA.

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!

How Safe Are Pedestrians In Local Parking Lots?

With the continued migration of populations to urban environments and the ongoing growth of suburbia in the U.S., people are congregating in more dense locations than ever before in history.

As populations continue to grow in dense urban locations, pedestrians will be exposed to dangers of vehicles in parking lots. Studies show that about one in four pedestrian-related accidents occurs in parking lots.

Many of these incidents occur in grocery stores, apartment complexes, and other parking lots.

Key Engineering Factors To Improve Parking Lot Safety

90-Degree Two-Way Parking Aisles

Many parking lots leverage an angled one-way parking aisle design to help guide traffic patterns and reduce the chances of head-on vehicle crashes. However, this type of parking lot aisle design makes each aisle narrower than the 90-degree two-way parking aisle design.

The narrow aisle width of angled parking aisle means that pedestrians have less time to react to vehicles backing up. While 90-degree parking aisles reduce traffic conflicts, this improved efficiency causes drivers to drive at higher speeds compared to 90-degree two-way parking aisles.

Read the source article here: https://www.trafficsafetystore.com/blog/tips-for-enhancing-parking-lot-pedestrian-safety/

Crack Sealing and Pavement Repair | Vaca Vet Striping

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

Fresh Parking Lot Marking and Maintenance Improve Curb Appeal

Your parking lot is the first thing your customers and visitors see at your facility. And nothing looks as good as a freshly striped lot. Bright, clean markings on well-maintained pavement make your lot look organized and attractive. A good-looking parking lot sends the message that your organization is efficient and well maintained. It's the first impression you give, so why not make it your best impression?

Pavement Markings Control Traffic

Pavement markings not only designate parking areas, but also safely direct people and vehicles around in your parking area. Use stencils to mark out loading areas, crosswalks, fire lanes and tow-away zones to show people where it's safe to walk and to tell drivers what places are off limits.

Straight or Angled Parking Spaces - Which Is Better?

Lot striping maximizes your space by giving drivers "rules" or guides on how not to take up too much space. Using a paint striping machine makes striping quick and easy. Straight parking spot markings let you get the most parking spots out of your space. They are easy to stripe and they allow two-way traffic. Angled parking spot markings are a little more difficult to stripe and don't allow for as many spaces. But they are easier for drivers to pull into and back out of, plus they help create a one-way traffic flow in your lot.

Reserve Parking Space with Pavement Markings

When striping and marking your lot, it's a good opportunity to create designated parking spaces for disabled people, residents, customers, employees or visitors. By creating designated areas for residents, customers and visitors, it promotes good will and sends them the message that you care about their comfort and convenience. By marking employee parking spots, it gives them guidance where to park and keeps them from parking in the premium parking spots reserved for customers, visitors or the disabled.

ADA Parking Rules Under ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) guidelines you must reserve handicapped accessible parking spaces for both cars and vans. Failure to provide these parking spaces can lead to stiff fines and in the case of new construction, withholding of operating or occupancy permits. The number of ADA spaces required varies on the number of parking spaces in your lot. For instance, a lot with 26 to 50 parking spaces is required to have at least 2 handicapped accessible spots and 1 van accessible space.

Parking Lot Maintenance Tips

Striping a worn out or damaged parking lot is like putting whipped cream on an onion. Why spend the time and labor of marking the lot look if pavement underneath is cracked and potholed? You should carefully inspect your parking lot regularly for cracks, potholes or any other damage caused by salt, water, oil, gas, sunlight or cold. When a crack is wider than 1/4", it's time to seal it. Fix smaller holes as soon as they appear. It keeps the water from seeping through and making bigger potholes. After repairs, be sure to sealcoat the pavement to give your striping and pavement markings a good, clean base.

A fresh coat of striping paint and pavement markings look sharp and make your parking lot look well-maintained. By providing lots of good parking spaces, with some spots reserved for special people, you make it convenient and easy for everyone to access your facility. The parking lot goes a long way in improving your curb appeal.

Suzanne Pearl

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Suzanne_Pearl/590725

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3959552

Asphalt Pavement Principles: Density and Durability

More than 18 billion tons of asphalt pavement are in place on U.S. roads. Long-lasting asphalt pavements are the result of collaborative partnerships between researchers, manufacturers, paving contractors, and agencies. When striving to make asphalt pavements more durable, research and lessons learned show that density is an important factor. This video talks about several keys to achieving proper asphalt pavement density, as well as new technologies that are moving the asphalt industry forward.

What's In Asphalt?

brief introduction to the "recipe" for asphalt pavement.