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Archive for the ‘General Asphalt Advice’ Category
Wednesday, January 25th, 2012
Here is something you probably don’t know about asphalt. It is America’s most recycled material. That’s right. Not aluminum cans or plastic bottles…asphalt! In fact, asphalt pavement is now being recycled and reused at a rate over 99%. In 2010 alone, asphalt recycling conserved over 20.5 million barrels of asphalt binder.
Here are a few highlights from the National Asphalt Pavement Association’s (NAPA) report titled, Asphalt Pavement Mix Production Survey: 2009-2010 (NAPA Information Series 138):
Reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP): With 96% of asphalt contractors and asphalt companies using RAP, the amount of RAP used in asphalt pavement was 56.0 million tons in 2009 and 62.1 million tons in 2010. This represents over 3 million tons of asphalt binder conserved over that time.
Warm-mix asphalt (WMA): Total tonnage of WMA is estimated at 19.2 million tons in 2009 and 47.6 million tons in 2010, a 148% increase in that one year alone.
RAP and WMA conserve raw materials; conserve energy; cut emissions from production and paving operations; and improve conditions for workers.
To view/download the full report Asphalt Pavement Mix Production Survey: 2009-2010, click here.
To view/download State-by-State Use of RAP and WMA, click here.
If you have any further questions, contact an experienced asphalt company today – a company like PTG Enterprises. The asphalt experts here have managed hundreds of pavement projects and have the experience you need. So contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777 or click here today!
Give me the opportunity to impress you. I can be your one stop ‘Pavement Guy,’ for any pavement project regardless of size or scope.
Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!
Sources:
New FHWA Survey Finds Asphalt Recycling Reaches 99 Percent; Warm Mix Usage Skyrockets National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA)
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Posted in General Asphalt Advice, Maryland Asphalt Contractor, Recycled Asphalt | Comments Off on Recycled Asphalt Pavement: What You Probably didn’t know About Asphalt
Friday, January 20th, 2012
Your business parking lot is the first point of contact your customers/clients have with your business. It is what they will base their first impressions on. Because of this, it is important to keep your parking surface free of oil stains, debris, cracks and potholes. But all the asphalt maintenance in the world won’t make a difference if your asphalt pavement was not properly installed by a qualified pavement contractor.
But before you call a potential asphalt contractor, educate yourself on the important qualities of any good commercial parking surface. These include:
- Smooth Integration: If you are expanding an existing parking lot, you want to be sure that your new parking surface blends seamlessly with the old asphalt. Feel free to ask your potential parking lot contractor for photos of a similar job he already completed.
- Good Base: Without a proper gravel base, your business parking surface will collapse under the weight of traffic.
- Drainage: Water and asphalt are not friends. Proper drainage prevents standing water and long-term damage to your parking lot.
- Attention to Detail: A good asphalt professional pays attention to the tiniest of details, ensuring that your parking surface is installed properly.
If you have any further questions, contact an experienced asphalt company today – a company like PTG Enterprises. The asphalt experts here have managed hundreds of pavement projects and have the experience you need. So contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777 or click here today!
Give me the opportunity to impress you. I can be your one stop ‘Pavement Guy,’ for any pavement project regardless of size or scope.
Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!
Sources:
4 Keys to Quality Commercial Parking Lot Paving
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Posted in General Asphalt Advice, Maryland Asphalt Contractor | Comments Off on Commercial Parking Lots, Paving Contractors, and Your Business
Friday, January 13th, 2012
A clean parking lot says a lot about your business. It says you care about the little things. It gives your customers/clients that extra sense of calm knowing that you will take care of them the same way you take care of your parking lot.
Seems crazy, doesn’t it. Well, it is not far from the truth.
Like the cover of a book, the exterior of your building and your parking lot are what your customers base their first opinions on. I know, I know…don’t judge a book by its cover. Well, guess what? People still do. That is just the way it is. And you only get to make one first impression, so it is important to make it a good one. After all, who wants to lose business because their parking lot is a mess? So if you find an oil stain on your parking surface, act quickly.
Here are 10 unique ways to remove oil stains from asphalt surfaces:
1. Soap and Water: If you come across a fresh oil spot, emulsify it with a mixture of liquid soap and water. This will keep the oil from drying and staining the asphalt. The soap surrounds small droplets of grease and does not allow it to congeal into a solid.
This will not remove the oil all together, but it will make complete stain removal significantly easier.
2. Kitty Litter: First mop up any excess oil. Then cover the oil stain with a bag of kitty litter. Begin stomping on the kitty litter (this will help absorb the oil). Leave the kitty litter out overnight. Then come back the next morning and scoop up the kitty litter and dispose of the waste. Remember, the kitty litter now contains oil, making it a bihazardous material.
Kitty litter is effective method on wet areas, not on established oil stains.
3. Baking Soda: Baking soda is great for absorbing excess oil. Sprinkle baking soda onto the oil stain and scrub with a stiff brush. Allow the baking soda to sit for a half hour and then rinse it away with a hose.
Once again, this method is only effective with fresh oil spills.
4. Coca-Cola: No, not because getting rid of an oil stain works up a thirst! Coke can actually be used to remove oil stains. First, wipe up any excess oil. Next, pour a couple cans worth of coke onto an oil stain and allow the soda to sit overnight. Then clean the area with a clean cloth.
While this is not the MOST effective method to remove oil stains, it is economical. So why not give it a shot before moving on to more expensive solutions.
5. Steam Pressure Washing: The heat of the steam will liquefy the oil as the pressure whisks it away.
This is one of the most effective methods of removing oil stains!
6. Tri-Sodium Phosphate (TSP): This substance can be quite dangerous, so use caution.
First, make a paste using TSP and water. Then scrub the paste onto the oil stain with a scrub brush. Let the paste sit for thirty minutes to absorb the oil and then rinse it away.
7. Laundry Detergent: Sprinkle the powdered laundry detergent onto the stain, add water, scrub with a stiff brush and then let the solution sit for at least 30 minutes. Then, wipe the surface clean!
8. Commercial Degreasers: Commercial degreasers for asphalt surfaces work by breaking down the oil into a bio-degradable substance that is safe for the environment and your driveway.
9. Muriatic Acid: Muriatic acid should be a last resort as it will harm your skin and eyes. Wear protective eyewear and gloves when using this substance.
Mix a mild solution and allow it to sit for about a minute. Then rinse with a pressure washer.
10. Sealcoating: If you come across a stain that seem impossible to remove, asphalt sealer may be your best option. Cover your parking lot with a fresh seal coat and move on.
If you have any questions, then contact an experienced asphalt company today – a company like PTG Enterprises. The asphalt experts here have managed hundreds of pavement projects and have the experience you need. So contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777 or click here today!
Give me the opportunity to impress you. I can be your one stop ‘Pavement Guy,’ for any pavement project regardless of size or scope.
Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!
Sources:
10 Ways to Remove Oil Stains from an Asphalt Driveway
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Posted in Asphalt Cleaning Tips, Asphalt Maintenance, General Asphalt Advice, Maryland Asphalt Contractor, Maryland Sealcoating Contractor, Parking Lot Maintenance, Pavement Maintenance | 36 Comments »
Friday, January 6th, 2012
Asphalt parking lot maintenance is important. But of all the precautions you can take to ensure your parking surface lasts for a long time, sealcoating is perhaps the most important. If applied properly and at the right time, sealcoating provides the following benefits:
Slows Oxidation and Water Penetration: Over exposure to oxygen will harden asphalt binders, resulting in brittle pavement prone to cracking. And cracking allows water to seep into the asphalt sub base, further weakening the entire parking surface. This leads to more cracks, potholes, and eventual total parking lot failure.
Sealcoats fill surface voids, reducing exposure to oxygen and water and prolonging pavement life.
Protects Pavement Against Ultraviolet Rays: The sun’s rays can break the links between carbon bonds and your asphalt. Sealcoat prevent ultraviolet rays from further damaging the asphalt pavement.
Protects Against Spills: Gas and oil spills can soften asphalt, making it more susceptible to other damage. Sealcoating reduces the depth to which oil or gas can penetrate.
Easy to Clean Pavement: Sealcoating results in a smooth, even texture allowing for much easier cleaning.
Increased Pavement Flexibility: Sealcoating keeps your parking lot black. This attracts more heat from the sun, which, in turn, makes your parking surface more pliable and increasingly able it is to withstand traffic volume changes without cracking.
Beauty: Well, this one is a given.
Cost Effective: It is far less expensive to sealcoat your parking lot every few years than it would be to overlay or completely replace your parking surface.
If you have any questions, contact an experienced asphalt company today – a company like PTG Enterprises. The asphalt experts here have managed hundreds of pavement sealcoat projects and have the experience you need. So contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777 or click here today!
There are many different options available to property managers and owners today than there were when I started in the Industry. This works to the advantage of the property and to the pavement. Now, depending on the current condition of the asphalt, I have the ability to recommend several different options depending on the condition of the lot, previous maintenance schedules and budgets. The cost of sealcoating is only pennies a square yard versus repairs and rehabilitation which can be as much as twenty times higher.
Give me the opportunity to impress you. I can be your one stop ‘Pavement Guy,’ for any pavement project regardless of size or scope.
Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!
Sources:
Asphalt Pavement Maintenance 101
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Posted in Asphalt Maintenance, General Asphalt Advice, Maryland Asphalt Contractor, Maryland Sealcoating Contractor, Parking Lot Maintenance, Pavement Maintenance | 181 Comments »
Wednesday, December 28th, 2011
It dawned on us that many of our customers have questions about the sealcoating process. So we have compiled a list of some of the most frequently asked sealcoating questions we could find. These include:
Why are two thin coats of sealcoat better than a single thick coat?
The answer is quite simple. Applying two thinner coats allows the sealcoat to dry and cure much faster than one thick application. Sealcoating is water-based and cures through evaporation. Because of this, the top layer dries faster than the bottom layers. If applied in one thick coat, sealcoating has a tendency to hold water and stay soft for a long period of time.
One thin coat of sealcoat looks good enough; why do I need a second coat?
Aesthetics is only part of the reason for sealcoating. The larger purpose for this process is to protect the asphalt underneath. One thin coat only provides half the necessary protection.
Applying one thin coat also means that you will have to sealcoat more frequently.
Why does sealcoat fail or peel?
Oil spots and other contaminants, like grease and dirt, will prevent the sealcoating from properly bonding with the asphalt. This is why the pavement should be thoroughly cleaned before the sealcoating process begins.
Why are there white streaks in the sealcoating?
This could be a sign that there is a problem with your base. The limestone from the base may be making its way through pre-existing cracks in the pavement.
Hopefully these FAQs have answered some of your sealcoating questions, but if you still want to know more, contact the asphalt experts at PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777 or click here today!
Give me the opportunity to impress you. I can be your one stop ‘Pavement Guy,’ for any pavement project regardless of size or scope.
Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!
Sources
Sealcoating Performance: Frequently Asked Questions
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Posted in General Asphalt Advice, Maryland Asphalt Contractor, Maryland Sealcoating Contractor, Parking Lot Maintenance, Pavement Maintenance, Sealcoating Frequently Asked Questions | Comments Off on A Few Frequently Asked Sealcoating Questions
Friday, December 23rd, 2011
Although the weather is unseasonably warm for December, the odds are that it will not stay that way for very long. Winter is right around the corner. And in Maryland, that means one thing; snow is on the way.
While this is more than enough reason for school children to jump with joy, the thought of snow and thus snow removal is enough to give any business owner a headache. Not only is removing snow from your parking lot an expensive endeavor, it can also damage your asphalt, costing you even more money down the road!
Here are some things to keep in mind this winter:
1. Safety: Proper snow removal is not just recommended; it is required. The last thing you need is for a customer or client to slip and fall outside of your store/office, because you failed to properly clear the walkway and parking lot. If this happens, you could be held liable.
What’s worse, a snow removal bill or lawyer fees?
2. Quality: While you can try to tackle snow removal on your own, it is probably best to leave this job to the professionals. They have the knowledge and equipment to get the job done right. Plus, a professional plowing service is far less likely to damage your parking surface.
If damage still occurs to your asphalt parking lot, leaving it in desperate need of a little TLC, then contact an experienced asphalt company today – a company like PTG Enterprises. The asphalt experts here have managed hundreds of pavement repair projects and have the experience you need. So contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777 or click here today!
Give me the opportunity to impress you. I can be your one stop ‘Pavement Guy,’ for any pavement project regardless of size or scope.
Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!
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Posted in Asphalt Maintenance, General Asphalt Advice, Maryland Asphalt Contractor, Maryland Snow Removal, Parking Lot Maintenance, Pavement Maintenance | Comments Off on Safe Snow Removal for Your Asphalt Parking Lot
Friday, December 16th, 2011
Sealcoating is a crucial process in the preventative maintenance of any parking surface. There are many benefits to sealcoating, including:
Aesthetics: A fresh new sealcoat gives your asphalt a dark black color, greatly improving its appearance. Sealcoating will also make your asphalt look cleaner, as rain can more easily wash dirt and debris away.
Preservation: Sealcoating will preserve the resilience of your asphalt parking surface and will keep small cracks from becoming big structural problems.
Visibility: Sealcoating will make your traffic lines more visible.
UV Rays: The sun can greatly damage your asphalt surface. Sealcoating protects your parking lot from harsh UV rays.
Chemicals: Sealcoating will protect your parking lot from the effects of chemical spills, like gasoline or oil.
Waterproofing: Sealcoating locks moisture out. And, as we all know, moisture and asphalt do not mix…especially with winter right around the corner.
Save Money: Sealcoating costs pennies per square foot. Asphalt repairs cost dollars per square foot. You do the math.
So do the right thing for your parking lot and have it sealcoated every 2-7 years, or as needed. This will protect your asphalt surface and greatly minimize the need for constant maintenance and repairs.
If damage still occurs to your asphalt parking lot and it is in desperate need of a little TLC, contact an experienced asphalt company today – a company like PTG Enterprises. The asphalt experts here have managed hundreds of pavement repair projects and have the experience you need. So contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777 or click here today!
Give me the opportunity to impress you. I can be your one stop ‘Pavement Guy,’ for any pavement project regardless of size or scope.
Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!
Sources:
Benefits of Sealcoating
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Posted in Asphalt Maintenance, General Asphalt Advice, Maryland Asphalt Contractor, Maryland Sealcoating Contractor, Parking Lot Maintenance, Pavement Maintenance | Comments Off on Benefits of Sealcoating Asphalt Parking Lots
Friday, December 9th, 2011
While your parking surface may look rugged and indestructible, it’s not (trust us). This is why regular asphalt pavement maintenance is important. Without such maintenance, your asphalt surface will slowly begin to crumble away. On the other hand, with proper asphalt maintenance, your parking lot will last for years (maybe even decades) to come.
Preventative asphalt maintenance tasks include:
• Preventing the surface and underlying infiltration bed from becoming clogged with fine sediment.
• Your parking lot pavement surface should be vacuumed at least twice a year with a vacuum sweeper.
• If routine vacuum sweeping proves ineffective, wash your pavement with clean, low-pressure water followed by immediate vacuuming.
• Maintain the landscape surrounding your asphalt. This will hopefully prevent soil washout onto the parking surface.
• If soil washout occurs, clean up immediately.
Winter asphalt maintenance:
• Never use sand or abrasives because they will clog the pores of your asphalt. Instead, use deicing materials.
• When plowing, set the blade an inch higher than normal. This will prevent unnecessary damage.
If damage still occurs to your asphalt parking lot and it is in desperate need of a little TLC, contact an experienced asphalt company today – a company like PTG Enterprises. The asphalt experts here have managed hundreds of repair projects and have the experience you need. So contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777 or click here today!
Give me the opportunity to impress you. I can be your one stop ‘Pavement Guy,’ for any pavement project regardless of size or scope.
Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!
Sources:
Parking Lot Maintenance For Porous Asphalt Pavement
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Posted in Asphalt Maintenance, General Asphalt Advice, Maryland Asphalt Contractor, Parking Lot Maintenance, Pavement Maintenance | Comments Off on Asphalt Parking Lot Maintenance
Thursday, December 1st, 2011
Like the cover of a book, the exterior of your building and your parking lot are what your customers base their first opinions on. I know, I know…don’t judge a book by its cover. Well, guess what? People still do. That is just the way it is. And you only get to make one first impression, so it is important to make it a good one. After all, who wants to lose business because their parking lot is a mess?
New paint, signs and wheel stops give your parking lot a “WOW” factor. Unfortunately, this wow factor doesn’t last forever.
Your parking lot striping wears away over time, which is why re-striping is the most common and routine type of asphalt maintenance. As soon as the paint is applied to your parking surface, it begins to deteriorate. This deterioration is sped up by such factors as severe weather, the amount of traffic coming in and out of the lot, and the thickness of the paint.
So how often should you re-stripe your parking lot?
Because of the deteriorating paint, the relatively low cost of re-striping, and the instant curb appeal it provides, it is recommended that you re-stripe your parking lot every 12-18 months. And as long as the temperature is above freezing, striping can be performed year-round.
So if your parking lot is in desperate need of a little TLC, contact an experienced asphalt company today – a company like PTG Enterprises. The asphalt experts here have managed hundreds of these projects and have the experience you need. So contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777 or click here today!
Give me the opportunity to impress you. I can be your one stop ‘Pavement Guy,’ for any pavement project regardless of size or scope.
Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!
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Posted in Asphalt Maintenance, General Asphalt Advice, Maryland Asphalt Contractor, Parking Lot Maintenance, Parking Lot Re-Striping, Parking Lot Striping, Pavement Maintenance | Comments Off on The Importance of Parking Lot Striping and Re-Striping
Friday, November 25th, 2011
Is your asphalt driveway in desperate need of repair? Well, the only way to truly rehabilitate your parking pad is to hire a professional asphalt contractor to come in, assess the situation, and repair the problem.
While you can attempt small do-it-yourself asphalt patching jobs on your own, these will be little more than temporary solutions. In the end, the only way to truly repair your driveway is to have an asphalt professional, like PTG Enterprises, handle the project.
Here at PTG Enterprises, we adhere to the following Asphalt Driveway Repair Process:
1. Pre-Construction
The purpose of a pre-construction meeting is to clearly communicate expectation levels and set a time to allow a question and answer session. A successful pre-construction meeting results in everyone leaving with a clear understanding of what’s going to happen and when it’s happening. Most of the time, this information is discussed at the time of estimate.
2. Traffic Controls
Usually this consists of cones and caution tape. We will place cones around construction vehicles and at both ends of the work zone. Maintaining the safety on a work zone is of the utmost importance. Once the driveway repairs have been completed, caution tape will be placed across the entrance to allow the asphalt time to cure.
3. Base Patching – (IF NEEDED)
As described in several places through-out this website, most patching is conducted the same way. The damaged asphalt is excavated, in this case to the sub-grade stone, and all damaged asphalt is removed from site and disposed of at a recycling plant. Assuming the sub-grade is stable, (see “Undercutting” if not), new asphalt is installed within the excavated area and compacted within industry standards. With base patching, the finished grade of the patch is even with either the old existing pavement that is about to be overlaid or even with the milled out elevation of the parking lot. In both cases, base patching is designed to repair isolated damaged areas prior to an overlay.
4. Undercutting / Stone Replacement – (IF NEEDED)
Soft spot or unstable soil is usually easy to see and evaluate. A simple on-site test is a proof roll. For this you take a fully loaded dump truck (approx. 50,000 pounds) and drive it over the area. In smaller areas, a bobcat will work. If the truck / bobcat cause deflections or makes deep wheel rut impressions in the sub-grade, you have a soft spot. The area is excavated as needed until a stable soil is reached and all debris is removed from site. New stone is then reinstalled in lifts, building the area back up to pre-construction elevations. The area is then capped with base course asphalt if overlay is to follow or base and surface course asphalt if it is to be a finished patch.
5. Asphalt Installation
The paving machine, paired with an experienced operator and a trained crew, will make paving look easy – it’s not. Assuming fabric was not in the scope of work, than the paving team will have a man designated to either spray or spot apply tack coat material. Another ground personnel will be responsible for controlling the movement of trucks. It’s crucially important that the trucks stay in order and the next one up is always ready to go. The hotter the asphalt, the easier it is to work with, hence the longer a truck sits, the cooler the asphalt gets. The asphalt is dumped from the truck to the paver where two men control each side. One man is responsible to make sure the joint lines up with the previous paving pull and the other side is responsible for determining thickness, grade, pitch and fall. Accompanying the paver are usually two ground personnel known as “Lute men”. They take direction from the paving foreman and will spread / rake high and low spots out of areas that were just paved but need minor adjustments. Finally, there is the roller man. He is responsible for the compaction of the freshly laid asphalt. Usually this person will work the roller and also plate tampers and hand tampers in the tight areas where pavers cannot go.
If you have any questions or wish to schedule a pre-construction meeting, please contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777 or click here today!
I started my career in 1996 working on driveways. I learned how to work with homeowners and how to successfully manage driveway projects. Since then I have completed more than 2,000 driveway projects. Although the majority of my work today is parking lot or roadway oriented, I have never lost touch with my roots and have maintained and kept my Home Improvement License current, ( MHIC # 51204 ). I know driveways and understand driveway issues. I have crews that specialize in driveway installations and repairs. They are also committed to my ideals that “Attention to Detail” is the key to a successful driveway project.
Give me the opportunity to impress you. I can be your one stop ‘Pavement Guy,’ for any pavement project regardless of size or scope.
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