According to The Road Information Program, the average US motorist spends about $402 annually on vehicle wear and tear as a result of driving on poorly constructed roads. Asphalt roads can solve that problem.
Dubbed as the “perpetual pavement”, asphalt pavements last for a long time with very little upkeep. Moreover, the top surface can be replaced continuously so you’ll never have to remove the entire pavement.
Considered as one of the seven worst roads in the country, Louisiana’s Interstate 55 was rehabilitated into one of the smoothest using asphalt overlay. The project was completed in just seven months with enormous cost savings and longer life expectancy.
In the US, about 60 million tons of asphalt is recycled every year compared to just 2 million tons of plastic. Asphalt is 100% renewable and is in fact the most recycled material in the country!
In 1870, the first true asphalt pavement in America was laid by Edmund J. DeSmedt in Newark, New Jersey. He also paved Washington D.C.’s Pennsylvania Avenue using 54,000 square yards of asphalt derived from Trinidad Lake.
Did you know that asphalt is America’s most recycled product? According to the National Asphalt Pavement Association, asphalt pavements are being recycled at a rate of 99%, saving taxpayers at least $300 million annually.
Out of all paving materials, asphalt offers the highest ROI. In fact, of the first 75% of an asphalt pavement’s life, it only experiences a 40% drop in quality. Even better, resurfacing an asphalt pavement makes it good as new.
The first recorded use of asphalt can be traced back in Babylon in 625 BC. The word asphalt was derived from the Greek word “asphaltos”, which means “secure”.
According to studies, smoother pavements have 10 to 25 percent longer life expectancy. Because asphalt is smoother than other materials, maintenance costs are significantly lower as well.
The Asphalt Pavement Alliance has awarded more than 80 pavements the prestigious “National Perpetual Pavement Award”. All of these pavements are at least 35 years old and were built before 1976.
It takes about a year for a new asphalt driveway to completely cure. This must be kept in mind when the weather heats up so that you do not accidentally create ruts or valleys in the surface. Only turn car wheels while vehicles are in motion and make sure motorcycle kickstands rest on blocks.
One of the great things about hot mix asphalt is that it can be applied in a very short time. As long as the supply is constant and everything needed is on-hand, a lengthy stretch of road can be paved in a relatively short period, often surprising motorists who regularly drive the route.
Asphalt pavements are not just economical, but eco-friendly as well. Various materials such as glass, ground tires, and roofing shingles are incorporated in asphalt pavements, keeping them away from landfills.
For large paving operations like parking lots, asphalt is one of the best materials to use. Because of its flexibility, it is able to withstand shifts in surface movement for years without sustaining any significant damage.
We suggest using an oil-based sealer on new asphalt. Latex sealer works better as a top coat on older asphalt, refreshing the driveway aesthetically while providing a seal for the dull, cracking asphalt underneath. Asphalt surfaces should be resealed every two years or so.
Beyond roads and highways, asphalt paving is used everywhere else. From parking lots to airport runways, we can always rely on asphalt pavements for a strong, safe, and quiet ride.
Asphalt paving is a sound economic choice for paving materials. Not only is it less expensive in the short term, its lower maintenance costs make it a smart business decision over the long term as well.
While a new asphalt driveway is a bright black, as time passes, the materials oxidize and develop a grayish patina. You can restore the ebony look by having a sealant applied every few years or by occasionally painting the surface.
Addressing cracks in your asphalt driveway is important. When water invades them and it freezes and thaws, it causes even greater damage. Cracks can be repaired by having a sealcoat applied or by laying down a new top coat.
If you want to seal your newly paved asphalt driveway, we recommend waiting at least six weeks after installation for an oil-based sealer. If you are going to use a latex sealer, you should wait a year before sealing.
Concrete pavements cannot be rehabilitated cheaply by the end of its design life and mostly require entire slab replacements. With asphalt pavements, you may not even need replacements so long as it was constructed and maintained properly.
Got asphalt? NASCAR does. In over thirty of its 35 racetracks, asphalt is the driving surface. In addition, almost 95 percent of all United States highways are paved with asphalt. Its economy and durability make it a smart paving choice.
While the quality of materials and the methods used to install new asphalt are important, the quality of the preparation is equally so. If the bed is not properly prepared, the asphalt will not sit properly and will deteriorate, compromising its projected service life.
Driveway paving is a chore best left to professionals. The key component, the asphalt, must be at the proper temperature in order to achieve the best results. If it is too cold, it will not compact properly. If it's too hot, it will not set correctly.
Alligator cracks appear in asphalt parking lots as the paving material contracts over time. Fortunately, they are easy to repair, restoring the look of your parking lot and protecting it from extensive damage.
What is hot mix asphalt? This is a type of paving material that's commonly used for building roads. This material is very well suited for the application as it can hold up quite well to heavy traffic. It is also weather-resistant and flexible enough to contract or expand without damage.
In large paving operations, you may notice differences in the asphalt texture between the main areas and those nearest the building. This is a result of using machines for the larger surface and hand-working the edges. They will soon blend.
Instead of a complete repaving, an asphalt overlay may be the better (and less expensive) option. Holes and alligator cracks are repaired before an overlay of about one to two inches is installed.
Permeable asphalt is not subject to the same freeze/thaw cycles as cracked, impermeable concrete. With permeable asphalt, the bed is prepared in a way that allows water to soak deep into the ground, away from the surface.
If you have concrete roads that need repair or replacing, there may be an economical option. Breaking up the concrete into rubble, then overlaying asphalt pavement uses fewer materials, minimizes delays, saves landfill space and reduces fuel costs – saving money on all fronts.
Highways are not the only locations where asphalt contributes to noise reduction. Asphalt runways also experience similar reductions when compared to concrete – especially important for urban airports.
Asphalt paving contributes significantly to noise reduction from tire traffic on roads and highways. Different asphalt blends are available that reduce noise-generating friction while still providing superior skid resistance.
Our experienced crews know that the critical elements for a long-lasting, low-maintenance asphalt driveway are the proper packing of the asphalt and the correct depth of crushed-stone base needed to support the asphalt surface.
If you allow carts on your golf course, you need to protect the fairways. Installing paths paved with asphalt keeps the carts off the grass, allowing it to remain healthy and undamaged by the constant traffic.
The asphalt driveways and parking lots we pour should last at least 20 years under normal use and weather conditions. We have the proper equipment, skill, and expertise to lay durable driveways and parking areas.
For greatest safety, proper grading along with the use of permeable asphalt means less water accumulation on the highways. Asphalt roads constructed using these approaches reduce hydroplaning and other water-related problems.
Asphalt is a petroleum-based material that is commonly used to pave surfaces that handle vehicle and foot traffic. When properly installed, it stands up well to changing weather conditions and the extremes of summer heat and winter freezes.
For the first six months to a year after your new driveway is installed, we recommend alternating parking patterns (or rotating them, if you have multiple vehicles). This helps prevent low spots from forming.
The materials used for asphalt driveways are completely recyclable. In fact, over 80 percent of all asphalt drives, roads, parking lots, etc. are made from recycled materials, making asphalt one of the most environmentally-friendly paving materials.
Prior to the sealcoating process, the asphalt surface should be cleared of all dirt and debris. Apart from that, minor repairs, like cracks and potholes, should be filled and vehicle fluids, like oil, should be properly removed.
Porous asphalt pavements are extensively used as a low-impact stormwater management tool to handle runoff. It is more viable and cost-effective than traditional stormwater infrastructure.
Over time, with exposure to the elements, asphalt pavement becomes faded in appearance. A fresh sealcoat application is all you need to enhance its appearance and make it look new again.
During ancient Egyptian times, asphalt from the Dead Sea was an important item of trade. It had its most widespread use in the mummification process.
What is the prime coat? It is an application of a low viscosity asphalt to a granular base in preparation for a surface course layer of asphalt. The prime coat acts as an initial sealer in the asphalt laying process.
Asphalt pavement is utilized in a variety of applications, such as highways, in buildings, at airports, and as base courses for railway tracks and tunnels. It is preferred because of its durability, simplicity of construction, strength, and cost-effectiveness.
Asphalt resurfacing is great - it's quicker, cheaper, and in some cases just as effective as a replacement. However, there are instances where replacement becomes necessary. It's expensive, but it also doubles the life of your asphalt pavement.
Do you know that sealcoating accelerates the melting process of snow and ice on asphalt pavement surfaces? This helps to protect against rain, water penetration, frost, and snow damage.
When should you sealcoat your asphalt driveway? As a rule of thumb, parking lots, driveways, and roadways should have a sealcoat application every 3-5 years.
Smoother pavements, like those made of asphalt, also result in longer pavement life by as much as 10% to 25%. This ultimately results in lower maintenance cost.
Crushed angular gravel is the best base for an asphalt driveway. This base needs to be at least 6 inches thick for light vehicle traffic such as cars and pickup trucks.
If your city offers asphalt basketball or tennis courts, you can make them more enjoyable for the local citizenry by sealing them on a periodic basis and repainting the lines. In addition to keeping the surface looking good, it extends its life.
Asphalt is known by several other names. Can you list a few of them? Well, they include “macadam”, “bitumen”, “blacktop”, “pitch”, “asphalt concrete”, and “tarmac”. The liquid form of asphalt is called “tar”.
If your city offers asphalt basketball or tennis courts, you can make them more enjoyable for the local citizenry by sealing them on a periodic basis and repainting the lines. In addition to keeping the surface looking good, it extends its life.
Do you know that recycling asphalt saves American taxpayers more than $300 million each year? Moreover, compared to concrete, asphalt reduces road construction time, resulting in fewer traffic disruptions.
What is sealcoating? It is a thin liquid layer added over an asphalt paved surface to protect it from damage caused by a number of elements, such as rain and snow, UV rays, and fluids from vehicles.
Asphalt is known by several other names. Can you list a few of them? Well, they include “macadam”, “bitumen”, “blacktop”, “pitch”, “asphalt concrete”, and “tarmac”. The liquid form of asphalt is called “tar”.
If your city offers asphalt basketball or tennis courts, you can make them more enjoyable for the local citizenry by sealing them on a periodic basis and repainting the lines. In addition to keeping the surface looking good, it extends its life.
Putting multiple coats of sealant on an asphalt surface? After the second coat has been applied, you should wait at least eight hours before walking or driving on the new surface. Doing so too early will damage it, requiring you to start over.
Asphalt resurfacing, pouring a new layer of asphalt over your existing driveway or parking lot, can make the surface as good as new. It is super durable, smooth, and cheaper than total replacement.
Do you know that recycling asphalt saves American taxpayers more than $300 million each year? Moreover, compared to concrete, asphalt reduces road construction time, resulting in fewer traffic disruptions.
What is sealcoating? It is a thin liquid layer added over an asphalt paved surface to protect it from damage caused by a number of elements, such as rain and snow, UV rays, and fluids from vehicles.
Asphalt is known by several other names. Can you list a few of them? Well, they include “macadam”, “bitumen”, “blacktop”, “pitch”, “asphalt concrete”, and “tarmac”. The liquid form of asphalt is called “tar”.
