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Posts Tagged ‘asphalt company’
Friday, April 6th, 2012
Which is better, asphalt or concrete? That is the question that people have been asking for years upon years upon years. And to this day, we have no definitive answer.
Yet, while there is no all-encompassing answer, both asphalt and concrete have their advantages and disadvantages depending on the type of project being undertaken. So before you make a pavement decision, you need to ask yourself the following set of questions:
• Which pavement better for my specific project?
• Which pavement will be the most cost-effective? The American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA) and NAPA encourage contractors to look at the long-term costs of maintenance and rehabilitation and not upfront costs.
• Which pavement will last longer?
• Which pavement will require the least amount of maintenance costs? 25% of roads in cities across the United States must be either rehabilitated or completely replaced in the next two years.
• Do I want to fully replace, or rehabilitate?
“There are three main factors to consider: initial cost, time to first rehabilitation, and cost of total reconstruction or major rehabilitation at the 40- to 50-year mark,” said Dave Newcomb, P.E., PhD, vice president of research and technology with the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA).
Benefits of Concrete
New construction: Concrete may be a good way to minimize future inconvenience when building new roads or expanding existing roads.
Around Underground Utilities: When separating sewer and drainage pipes (no more combined sewers), the public works department must dig out the roadway, which could present a good opportunity to go in and place longer-life pavements.
Benefits of Asphalt
Perpetual Asphalt: Asphalt also can be specified as a long-term solution. While some pavements must be completely removed and reconstructed, perpetual pavements can last indefinitely, with the only rehabilitation being milling of the surface followed by asphalt overlay. Perpetual pavement is designed to resist structural fatigue distress for at least 50 years.
Asphalt Overlay: An asphalt overlay, which can be placed on either an asphalt or concrete roadway, is fast and cost-effective to construct. The result provides a smooth, safe, durable, quiet surface for many years.
Still, there is no clear cut winner.
“If we get communities to base roadway design on total life of pavement and total capacity, concrete and asphalt are comparable in many ways,” said Scott Haislip, director of streets and roads with the ACPA.
If you have any further questions about the Differences Between Asphalt and Concrete, 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:
Asphalt versus concrete
Tags: asphalt company, asphalt experts, asphalt overlay, Asphalt versus concrete, Asphalt vs. Concrete, Benefits of Asphalt, Benefits of Concrete, Differences Between Asphalt and Concrete, pavement project, Perpetual Asphalt, Perpetual Pavement
Posted in Asphalt Maintenance, General Asphalt Advice, Maryland Asphalt Contractor, Pavement Maintenance, Pavement News, Perpetual Pavement | Comments Off on The Great Debate: Asphalt vs. Concrete
Thursday, March 29th, 2012
There are only a few weeks remaining in Maryland’s General Assembly. And many issues are still unresolved, including Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley’s proposal to add the state’s 6% sales tax to both gasoline and diesel.
- The current motor fuel excise tax of 23 cents/gallon for gasoline and 24.25 cents/gallon for diesel would remain intact.
- The 6% sales tax would be phased in at 2% per year over three years.
- The sales tax would be calculated based on the six month average cost of the lowest grade of gasoline and then applied to both gas and diesel.
- The tax would be calculated after subtracting the current federal and state excise taxes.
As you can imagine, the governor’s proposal has been met with a lot of opposition, especially from members of the Maryland Motor Truck Association (MMTA) and the rest of the transportation industry.
How do you feel about O’Malley’s proposal? We want to know what you think!
Other issues still being debated that concern the transportation industry include:
- Require mandatory off-loading of vehicles carrying perishable products if they exceed the gross vehicle weight limit by more than 5,000 lbs.
- Permit Baltimore City to install height detectors to electronically enforce time-of-day restrictions on prohibited truck routes.
- Authorize the Maryland State Police to adopt certain sections of Parts 385 and 386 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, governing new entrant carriers and carriers declared as imminent hazards.
- Tighten the procedures for public hearings and notice requirements before the MD Transportation Authority approves a toll increase.
- Prevent transfers of monies out of the Transportation Trust Fund.
- Eliminate an outdated certification requirement for drivers carrying controlled hazardous substances.
- Expand the sales tax to dozens of services, including motor vehicle repair and maintenance.
- Make the state’s cell phone ban a primary offense.
If you have any further questions about the Governor’s Tax Proposal, 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:
Maryland Motor Truck Association – MMTA E-News
Tags: asphalt company, asphalt experts, Diesel, gasoline, Governor's Tax Proposal, Martin O’Malley, Maryland General Assembly, Maryland Governor, Maryland Motor Truck Association, motor fuel excise tax, pavement projects, Sales Tax
Posted in Maryland Asphalt Contractor, Maryland Trasportation Industry News | Comments Off on Martin O’Malley’s wants to apply the Sales Tax to Gasoline and Diesel
Friday, March 23rd, 2012
A study “An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Wider Edge Line Pavement Markings” – conducted by Texas A&M University’s Transportation Institute (TTI) found that wider paint lines on roadway shoulders (edge lines) reduce crashes and fatalities. The study analyzed Federal Highway Administration data from Kansas, Michigan and Illinois. The evidence all supported the adoption of wider edge lines.
Study Findings
• Wider edge lines have been shown to reduce total crashes 15 to 30 percent
• Wider edge lines have been shown to reduce fatal plus injury crashes 15 to 38 percent
• The benefit-cost ratio for wider edge lines is $33 to $55 for each $1 spent
This provides highway officials with a very cost-effective, statistically sound way to improve safety without expensive and inconvenient construction.
“With the ultimate goal being highway safety, transportation agencies across the U.S. now have strong data to support the undertaking of a relatively low-cost measure to improve highway safety and reduce fatalities,” said Kevin Goforth, president of the American Glass Bead Manufacturers’ Association, who sponsored the study.
Many states have already made the switch to wider edge lines, opting for six inches instead of four inches. But until this study, those changes were made without sound empirical findings to support the decision.
If you have any further questions about this study, 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:
Study: Wider Line Markings Make Highways Safer
Tags: asphalt company, asphalt experts, benefit-cost ratio, highway officials, highway safety, improve safety, pavement, Safer Highways, Transportation, transportation agencies, Wide Lines, Wider edge lines
Posted in General Asphalt Advice, Highway Safety, Maryland Asphalt Contractor, Pavement News | Comments Off on Wide Lines Lead to Safer Highways
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
Tags: accessibility, Americans with Disabilities Act, asphalt company, asphalt experts, business owners, commercial facilities, new ADA standards, Pavement Contractors, Pavement Maintenance, pavement projects, public accommodation, Title III
Posted in Asphalt Maintenance, General Asphalt Advice, Maryland Asphalt Contractor, Parking Lot Maintenance, Parking Lot Re-Striping, Parking Lot Striping, Pavement Maintenance, Pavement News | Comments Off on New ADA Standards Make Pavement Contractors Indispensable
Wednesday, February 29th, 2012
With perpetual pavements, asphalt pavements last longer. This means that your investment will last longer. And who doesn’t like a good investment?
Perpetual asphalt is constructed so that distress occurs on the top layer only, protecting the rest of the pavement. This means that the only rehabilitation required is the removal of the surface and resurfacing with an asphalt overlay. And with current pavement technologies, this only has to be done every 15 to 20 years.
Benefits of Perpetual Asphalt
Durability: Perpetual asphalt has an extremely long lifespan. These pavements require minimal maintenance and no full-depth reconstruction.
Rubblization: The concrete pavement is left in place, rubblized (fractured), and used as the base for a new Perpetual Pavement. This is beneficial for several reasons, including:
• It is environmentally friendly
• It saves money
• It is incredibly fast to construct and rehabilitate
• It cuts down on road repair time
Safety: Smooth asphalt roads give vehicle tires superior contact with the road.
Noise Reduction: Noise reductions of 3 to 10 dB(a) are common. Reducing noise by 3 dB(a) is about the same as doubling the distance from the road to the listener, or reducing traffic volume by 50 percent.
Fuel Efficiency: Studies at a pavement test track in Nevada have shown that driving on smoother surfaces can reduce fuel consumption by 4.5 percent.
Perpetual Pavement is the ultimate in sustainable design and construction.
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:
Asphalt for Performance
Performance Means Sustainability
Tags: asphalt company, asphalt experts, asphalt pavements, Benefits of Perpetual Asphalt, durability, environmentally friendly, Fuel Efficiency, Noise Reduction, pavement project, Perpetual Asphalt, perpetual pavements, Rubblization
Posted in Asphalt and the Environment, General Asphalt Advice, Maryland Asphalt Contractor, Perpetual Pavement, Quiet Pavement | Comments Off on Perpetual Asphalt: Asphalt for Performance
Thursday, February 16th, 2012
Believe it or not, asphalt is actually not bad for the environment. Don’t believe me, then check out the facts:
- Between 1960 and 1999, while production of asphalt pavement material increased by 250 percent, total emissions from our operations decreased by 97%.
- Asphalt is an environmentally sustainable pavement.
- Once constructed, asphalt pavements have minimal impact on the environment. Studies show that asphalt pavements and stockpiles of reclaimed asphalt pavement do not leach.
- Asphalt and the processes used to produce asphalt are green.
- Asphalt pavements require about 20 percent less energy to produce and construct than other pavements.
- Asphalt pavement is America’s most recycled product, with about 70 million tons of asphalt pavement material being reclaimed. And more than 99% of that total is reused or recycled. In 2010 alone, asphalt recycling conserved over 20.5 million barrels of asphalt binder.
- Porous asphalt pavements offer a tool for storm water management with both environmental and economic benefits.
- Warm-mix asphalt reduces fuel consumption, cuts greenhouse gas emissions, and enhances the quality of pavement.
- Porous asphalt pavements have been shown to lower nighttime surface temperatures as compared to impervious pavements.
- Asphalt pavements are faster to construct and rehabilitate.
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:
Environment, Health, and Safety
Asphalt, The Sustainable Pavement
Tags: asphalt, Asphalt and the Environment, asphalt company, asphalt experts, Asphalt Pavement, asphalt recycling, bad for the environment, cuts greenhouse gas emissions, energy to produce and construct, enhances the quality of pavement, Environment, environmental and economic benefits, environmentally sustainable pavement, faster to construct and rehabilitate, Health, impact on the environment, lower nighttime surface temperatures, My Pavement Guy, pavement, pavement material, pavement project, pavement projects, pavements, Porous asphalt pavements, processes used to produce asphalt, production of asphalt pavement material, PTG Enterprises, Reclaimed asphalt pavement, recycled product, reduces fuel consumption, reused, Safety, storm water management, The Sustainable Pavement, total emissions, Warm-mix asphalt
Posted in Asphalt and the Environment, General Asphalt Advice, Maryland Asphalt Contractor, Perpetual Pavement, Porous Asphalt, Recycled Asphalt, The History of Asphalt Pavement, Warm-Mix Asphalt | Comments Off on Asphalt and the Environment
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
Tags: 4 Keys to Quality Commercial Parking Lot Paving, asphalt, asphalt company, asphalt contractor, asphalt experts, Asphalt Maintenance, Asphalt Pavement, asphalt professional, Attention to Detail, business parking lot, business parking surface, clients, Commercial Parking Lots, commercial parking surface, Contractor, Cracks, customers, debris, Drainage, ensuring that your parking surface is installed properly, expanding an existing parking lot, experience, experienced, experienced asphalt company, first impressions, free of oil stains, Good Base, gravel base, long-term damage to your parking lot, My Pavement Guy, new parking surface, old asphalt, parking lot contractor, parking surface, pavement, Pavement Contractor, Pavement Guy, pavement project, pavement projects, paving contractors, potential asphalt contractor, potential parking lot contractor, Potholes, Proper drainage, PTG Enterprises, qualified pavement contractor, qualities of any good commercial parking surface, revents standing water, Smooth Integration, Water and asphalt, weight of traffic, Your Business
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, 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!
Tags: asphalt company, asphalt experts, asphalt parking lot, business owner, damage your asphalt, damage your parking surface, maryland, My Pavement Guy, Parking lot, parking surface, pavement project, pavement repair projects, professional plowing service, properly clear the walkway and parking lot, PTG Enterprises, Quality, removing snow, removing snow from your parking lot, Safe Snow Removal, Safe Snow Removal for Your Asphalt Parking Lot, Safety, snow is on the way, snow removal bill, tackle snow removal on your own, weather is unseasonably warm for December, Winter is right around the corner.
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
