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Archive for the ‘Parking Lot Maintenance’ Category

The Ins & Outs of Crack Sealing :: Pavement Maintenance Tips

Friday, May 25th, 2012

Asphalt may seem tough and durable, but add up the effects of traffic and the elements, and you’ll see how quickly commercial asphalt can wear down. So, like it or not, your asphalt pavement will eventually crack. That is just the nature of asphalt. What you do after your pavement cracks, though, is entirely up to you. And you have two choices:

  1. Do nothing and watch that small pavement crack quickly grow into a large problem. Once cracks develop, water easily penetrates into the base and sub-base of the pavement and damages the structural integrity of the aggregate materials.
  2. Crack Sealing!

Crack sealing is designed to minimizing water infiltration, thus protecting your pavement. In fact, crack sealing is one of the most cost-effective ways to prolong the pavement life. While crack sealing is a more costly option than crack filling, it does provide a longer life expectancy – lasting as much as 8 years or more.

Crack sealing – which utilizes a flexible, specially prepared hot pour rubberized sealant – is considered a permanent treatment and is the only effective treatment for active cracks that contract and expand between seasons.

Your Maryland Crack Sealing Professionals

Some fillers are ready to go out of the box, for those do-it-yourselfers out there. But to get that professional look, you should probably use a professional asphalt contractor, like PTG Enterprises.

If you have any further questions about Asphalt Crack Sealing or have a project that you need completed, then contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777 or click here today! The asphalt experts here have managed hundreds of pavement projects and have the experience you need.

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!

The Basics of Crack Filling: Asphalt Maintenance Tips from My Pavement Guy

Friday, May 11th, 2012

Cracking and asphalt do not mix.

When left untreated, cracks allow water to penetrate deep down into asphalt, softening the stone base. This can lead to alligator cracking / spider webbing, pot holes, and other forms of pavement degradation. The final result: premature failure of your asphalt parking lot / pavement surface and the costly replacement of that surface.

And these conditions worsen as temperatures reach extreme highs and lows.

  • Cracking and Winter Weather: Cracks left over the winter can grow quickly due to snow plowing and the freeze/thaw cycle.
  • Cracking and Summer Weather: In warm and sunny climates, oxidation and humidity have a similar effect.

Asphalt Maintenance Options

  • Asphalt Patching: Patching often doesn’t last and can cost several times what timely crack-sealing costs.
  • Asphalt Crack Filling: Crack sealing can reduce pavement deterioration by restricting water penetration into underlying base and sub-base layers. As part of a preventative pavement maintenance program, crack sealing / crack filling extends the life of your pavement surface.

Benefits of Asphalt Crack Filling

  • Economical Maintenance Technique: Crack sealing provides the most cost- effective use of dollars over time compared to other pavement maintenance techniques.
  • Lock Moisture Out: Filling cracks with either a hot or cold rubberized crack filler helps prevent rain and moisture from flowing through the pavement and causing pavement or base/sub-base failure.
  • Extend the Useful Life of Your Asphalt!

If you have any further questions about Asphalt Crack Filling / Asphalt Crack Sealing or have a project that you need completed, then contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777 or click here today! The asphalt experts here have managed hundreds of pavement projects and have the experience you need.

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!

Asphalt Crack Sealing :: Parking Lot Sealcoating :: Professional Sealer

Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012

If you own a business or are a business manager, you knoe nothing looks worse than a worn down, cracked parking lot. It immediately gives your customers/clients the wrong first impression. And you only get one chance to make a good first impression.

Asphalt cracks form very slowly, sneaking up on you until that tiny crack becomes a major problem. Asphalt cracks slowly elongate and widen during weather changes such as freezing and thawing or intense periods of heat.

Dealing with Asphalt Cracks

Monitoring your parking lot carefully and catching these tiny cracks early enough will allow you to patch the problem before it gets any worse.

Asphalt crack sealing is the solution! But in order to get that professional look, you should use a professional asphalt contractor, like PTG Enterprises. They will be able to properly apply your sealcoat, ensuring your parking surface remains crack free for as long as possible.

What is Sealcoating?

Sealcoating is a preventative measure that helps safeguard a parking lot against the harsh effects of gas, oil, salt, weather conditions and oxidation. When applied properly, a sealcoat cures on your parking lot leaving a fresh black finish (protective layer).

How often should you sealcoat your parking lot?

A newly laid asphalt parking lot should be sealed within the first 12 months. Because of the ever-increasing costs of asphalt, many business owners now seal every other year, but the widely accepted time frame is every two years.

If you have any further questions about Asphalt Cracks Sealing, Sealcoating, or have a Sealcoating Project that you need completed, then contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777 or click here today! The asphalt experts here have managed hundreds of pavement projects and have the experience you need.

“There are many different sealcoating options available to property managers and owners today than there were when I started in the Industry,” said PTG Enterprises owner Patrick T. Gillen III. “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.”

Give Patrick T. Gillen III and the rest of the asphalt experts at PTG Enterprises 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!

Is Thicker Sealer Better? :: Sealcoating Tips from My Pavement Guy

Friday, April 27th, 2012

The decision to sealcoat an asphalt surface is an easy one. After all, the cost of sealcoating is only pennies a square yard versus repairs and rehabilitation, which can be as much as twenty times higher. What does confuse many business owners and property managers is the amount of sealer needed.

The more the merrier, right? Well, no.

Bigger is not always better. And the same goes for thickness…especially when talking about sealcoating. When it comes to the application of sealer, thicker is definitely not better. Sealer is not meant to be applied in thick patches.

Disadvantages of Thick Sealer

  • Thick coats don’t cure evenly
  • They are prone to tracking and can lead to surface cracks
  • A thicker coat takes longer to cure, which can lead to degradation
  • Thicker coats will reduce the life of your sealcoating

A thick sealcoating will not provide your parking lot with more protection. It actually has the opposite effect. Sealer manufacturers set specific mix designs for their product; when these specifications are not adhered to, the product will not perform as intended.

One of the easiest ways to tell if a parking lot has been over-sealed is if the lot has no texture. An asphalt parking lot should never look smooth, the texture of the below asphalt should be visible.

Avoid the typical more is better thinking —with sealer, thicker is not better!

If you have any further questions about Sealcoating or have a Sealcoating Project that you need completed, then contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777 or click here today! The asphalt experts here have managed hundreds of pavement projects and have the experience you need.

“There are many different sealcoating options available to property managers and owners today than there were when I started in the Industry,” said PTG Enterprises owner Patrick T. Gillen III. “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.”

Give Patrick T. Gillen III and the rest of the asphalt experts at PTG Enterprises 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!

Sealcoating: Is 50 Degrees Really Warm Enough?

Friday, April 13th, 2012

Most (if not all) sealcoat manufacturers recommend a minimum application temperature of 50 degrees. And I know what you are thinking; “is 50 degrees really warm enough?” Well, yes and no.

50 degrees should be the minimum temperature you BEGIN sealing at. And this is only acceptable when you have at least 3 hours of sunshine and the temperature will stay above the 50-degree mark during the application process. Otherwise, you risk complications.

Remember, 50 degrees is a MARGINAL starting point only. If you have any doubt about the weather or temperature before you begin sealcoating, be safe and do not begin the application process!

To ensure that your sealcoat project is performed correctly, contact an experienced asphalt company today – a company like PTG Enterprises.

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. 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 you have any further questions about Sealcoating or have a Sealcoating Project that you need completed, then contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777 or click here today! The asphalt experts here have managed hundreds of pavement projects and have the experience you need.

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!

New ADA Standards Make Pavement Contractors Indispensable

Friday, March 16th, 2012

Last week, we told you about Americans with Disabilities Act, Title III – the new ADA standards that guarantee persons with disabilities are provided accommodations and access equal to, or similar to, the general public into commercial facilities and areas of public accommodation. And last week, we told you how these new standards would affect business owners across the nation. Well, what about pavement contractors?

All signs point to the ADA standards as a bonus for the pavement maintenance industry. When business owners are faced with the challenge of complying with these new standards (a full list can be found at http://www.ada.gov/), whom do you think they will call?

Pavement Contractors!

These new ADA standards create a network of accessibility that leads from one requirement to the next with each stage having specific requirements that must be met. And like any government regulation, the new ADA Standards are complex and can, at times, be difficult to decipher. But this just means that pavement contractors will become increasingly indispensable to business owners everywhere as the nation strives to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act, Title III.

If you have any further questions about compliabnce with these new ADA standards, 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 ADA Standards Take Effect in 2012. How will the line striping contractor be affected?

How ADA Updates Can Make You Indispensible To Your Customer

Americans with Disabilities Act, Title III

Friday, March 9th, 2012

Next Thursday, March 15, 2012, compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act, Title III becomes mandatory. Title III guarantees persons with disabilities are provided accommodations and access equal to, or similar to, the general public into commercial facilities and areas of public accommodation.

The 2010 updates are enforceable under civil rights law. This means that a person is able to file lawsuit if he/she has “reasonable grounds” for believing that discrimination is about to occur, rather than filing a grievance after the fact. A civil law suit can be filed with penalties of up to $100,000 imposed per offense.

To help facilitate the transition process, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is allowing a one-year “grace period” for businesses to prepare for the changes.

2010 ADA Guidelines

  1. Facilities that provide goods or services directly to the public: These facilities will be required to remove architectural barriers in existing buildings, and must make sure that newly built or altered facilities are constructed to be accessible. 
  2. Facilities that do not provide goods/services directly to the public: These facilities are only subject to new construction and alteration requirements.
  3. Small businesses with very limited parking (four or fewer spaces): These businesses must have one accessible parking space; though no new signage is required.
  4. Medium-Large Businesses: Non-van accessible parking stalls need to be 8’ wide with a 60″ aisle. For van-accessible parking, the van parking stall should be 11’, with a 60″ access isle. Plus, disabled parking signs are required on all accessible parking spaces, and should be easily visible, a minimum of 60″ off the ground.

However, specific ADA regulations will vary depending on location.

For additional information on the new ADA standards, please visit http://www.ada.gov/.

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 ADA Standards Take Effect in 2012. How will the line striping contractor be affected?

Asphalt Cleaning Tips: How to Remove Oil Stains from Parking Lots

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

Maryland Sealcoating Service: The Benefits of Sealcoating Your Asphalt Parking Lot

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

A Few Frequently Asked Sealcoating Questions

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