ASPHALT

Asphalt is usually thought of in regards to highways, but what many people do not know is that asphalt pavement is good for a variety of different parking lots and driveways because of its durability, cost- effectiveness, and simplicity of construction, not to mention safety.

Smooth Pavements Last Longer
Smoothness means that vehicle and truck tires don't bounce on the pavement and deliver the kind of impact loading they would on a rougher pavement. Some experts estimate that increasing pavement smoothness by 25% results in a 10% increase in the life of the pavement.

What’s The Term "Paved"
What is meant by a "paved" parking lot? For some, a chip and seal is considered paving. For others, paving is four or more inches of bituminous asphalt or "hot mix." The primary purpose of a pavement is to protect the sub-grade. As the loads get heavier, the pavement thickness must be increased. Generally speaking, bituminous concrete (hot mix asphalt) has little real load-bearing capacity of its own until it reaches a thickness of two inches. Here in the Midwest, the Asphalt Institute has a firm policy of recommending 6 inches of stone base (CA6 road mix), 2 inches of binder asphalt, which is a wearing coarse, and 1½ inches of surface coarse.

Asphalt Removal and Replacement
If an asphalt surface has been neglected and water infiltration through cracks and holes have begun to undermine the substrate, the most effective form of repair would then be to remove and replace it.

The Process
This process consists of several important steps to assure that the repair is performed properly.
• We start by neatly sawcutting the perimeters of your deteriorated asphalt at the specified depth.
• We then excavate the deteriorated asphalt and any unsuitable subbase material and load the material onto waiting dump trucks.
• The material is then hauled off site and recycled or properly disposed.
• If there is existing stone base, we will then compact it to insure a solid foundation for the rest of the repair process.
• A tack coat is then applied to the edges of the perimeters.
• The next step involves the placement and compaction process. This is done by installing hot asphalt mix in two lifts (or layers) to the specified depth.
• We finish it off by following rigid compaction guidelines to control compacted air voids so that air and moisture will not permeate the pavement which can reduce its durability. It can also provide inadequate expansion which will make it unstable. We then use either a vibratory plate and/or multi-ton vibratory roller during the compaction process.

The Cost
The cost for such work depends upon the geographic location, the amount of grading and substrate work required, and other site specific factors. To avoid the expenses involved with asphalt removal and replacement, it is generally prudent to maintain a pavement maintenance plan that includes timely cracksealing, sealcoating and patching. (See our Pavement Management Planning Service.)

Asphalt Resurfacing
As an alternative to removal and replacement, asphalt resurfacing can be a cost effective repair.
The determining factor is the degree of deterioration of your current pavement. If the subbase layers and base asphalt layers are still intact, your lot is a good candidate for asphalt resurfacing.

The Process
Prior to resurfacing we begin by preparing the area.
• We start by cleaning and removing the area of all unnecessary debris.
• Hot asphalt is then installed to the specified depth and compacted with a multi-ton vibratory roller to guarantee proper compaction.
• Leveling Binder
In low areas, hot asphalt is installed at various depths to adjust pitch to proper grades while increasing parking lot strength.
• Butt Joint/Grinding
In areas requiring the resurface to tie into other existing surfaces (i.e., concrete, etc.) asphalt is removed along the perimeter to allow proper depth of asphalt on the edge.

Asphalt Pothole Repair
Cold, harsh winters can be severe to thousands of parking lots and driveways.
One way to practice prevention is by sealing cracks before water has a chance to penetrate and freeze.
(See our Cracksealing Services.)

The Process
Perdue's Sealcoat & Paving offers a temporary solution to this problem by filling the potholes with asphalt mix. We start off by clearing these potholes of all dirt and debris. Depending on the season, hot or cold asphalt mix will be applied to fill the deteriorated areas.
The area is then compacted with a vibratory plate multi-ton vibratory roller.

Facts you should know about Your Newly Paved Asphalt
As soon as the freshly laid hot asphalt pavement mix begins to cool, so begins the aging process which will eventually rob the pavement of its life.

When the oxygen in the air and water combine with the asphaltic binder of the pavement, a chemical change takes place.
At first, this process is necessary for the pavement to become hard and firm.
Later, if this process is not arrested, a complete deterioration of the asphaltic binder will take place and reduce the pavement to a layer of loose stone.
Many harmful factors contribute to this deterioration:
Gas, oil, sun oxidation, salt, water penetration and cold weather.

Protecting Your Investment
Sealcoating the asphalt pavement with a coal tar emulsion, after a curing period of 90 days to 1 year, will protect the pavement against all these destructive factors.
(See our High Performance Sealcoating Services.)