Asphalt pavement is utilized because of its durability, cost-effectiveness, simplicity of construction and strength
Asphalt pavement is utilized in a variety of different applications because of its durability, cost-effectiveness, simplicity of construction, and strength. It is the material of choice for parking lots across the nation because asphalt withstands heavier loads and when the asphalt is laid correctly combined with proper asphalt maintenance, It will last for many years.
Asphalt Maintenance Facts
Benefits of asphalt:
- Asphalt is more affordable than concrete.
- Asphalt is easy to maintain.
- Asphalt has several decorative options to enhance the appearance of you home or business.
- Asphalt can be overlaid where concrete cannot.
- Asphalt can be repaired for a fraction of the cost of concrete repairs.
Preparation and application:
Asphalt pavement is only as strong as the base it is paved on. It is imperative to the life of your asphalt investment to have the correct depth of compacted stone/base under your pavement. Sure Shot Sealing & Striping will insure that the stone base is graded and compacted correctly to the proper depth. Pellets will be spread on the stone to eliminate the possibility of grass growing in the future. The asphalt will then be laid at temperatures exceeding 200 degrees and compacted to the desired depth at the proper temperature.
Paving a road, driveway or parking area is an art that takes proper education and training. If any of the steps of paving are overlooked or poorly executed, your asphalt will not last as it is designed to. Some of the damage you can expect from poor paving practices will be in the form of grass growing in your asphalt, alligator cracking, potholes, rocks “bleeding” off of the asphalt, water holes and other pavement flaws. Unfortunately it can take months or years for the damage caused by improper paving techniques to be recognized, giving the contractor plenty of time to get paid for a poor quality job.
As soon as freshly laid hot asphalt pavement mix begins to cool, the aging process begins.
When oxygen in the air and water combine with 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, deterioration of the asphaltic binder will begin and your valuable asphalt investment will begin to pre-maturely age rapidly.
Enemies of a parking lot include: gas, oil, sun oxidation, salt, water penetration, and extreme hot or cold weather.
