Did you know that people in ancient Babylonia were the first to mix stone and sand with natural tar to make a material for buildings? This was in 625 BC in present-day Iraq, in fact. Thousands of years later, Europeans used basic asphalt mix for roads in the early 1700s.
Heat and cold cause things to expand and contract, including the ground underneath your driveway, which can cause cracks in rigid surfaces. Fortunately, asphalt is strong and durable, which means it can take the movement and resist cracking.
Supporters of perpetual pavements say one of the biggest reasons to use this new asphalt product is that there is reduced inconvenience for commuters because maintenance is significantly reduced.
Pavement strength is determined by compression testing and expressed in pounds per square inch (PSI). For heavy traffic pavement (such as that used in retail locations and warehouses), 4000 PSI concrete is recommended.
After your driveway has been constructed, it’s recommended that you do not drive or park the car on the asphalt for at least 2 to 3 days. In addition, objects with sharp edges or narrow points should not be placed on the asphalt for 12 months without a board underneath to displace the weight.
Concrete parking lots offer many performance benefits to commercial property owners. This includes durability (as the strength increases with age), even carrying of heavy loads, resistance to freeze-thaw cycles, and the absence of potholes and bumps.
