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Posts Tagged ‘Maintenance’
Friday, July 12th, 2019
Here are 3 important tips for parking lot maintenance.
Your parking lot is often the first thing people see as they approach your business and the state of the lot – be it flat and nicely painted or cracked and full of potholes – contributes greatly to their first impression. It would be nice if parking lots were set-it-and-forget-it, especially since they tend to last between 20 and 30 years on average. That’s just not the case, however, because those decades are not guaranteed, especially if your lot is subject to heavy traffic, extreme temperatures and sun exposure, or chemical contamination. In order to keep your parking lot looking good for as long as possible, you have to make parking lot maintenance a priority. Here are 3 tips to get you started. (more…)
Tags: asphalt, Maintenance, My Pavement Guy, Parking lot, PTG Enterprises
Posted in Parking Lot Maintenance | Comments Off on 3 Important Tips For Parking Lot Maintenance
Thursday, March 2nd, 2017
Unfortunately, spring comes with a lot of potential problems that could cause damage to your pavement, so it’s important to prepare yourself with knowledge.
Spring is coming! What does that mean for your pavement? Unfortunately, spring comes with a lot of potential problems that could cause damage to your pavement, so it’s important to prepare yourself with knowledge. In order to properly prepare for spring, you’ll need to read a few of the following tips and tricks. Read on to find out what spring can do to your pavement, and what you can do to prevent damage.
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Tags: Maintenance, Pavement Maintenance, prepare for spring
Posted in Asphalt and the Environment, Asphalt Maintenance, Blog, Pavement Maintenance | Comments Off on How to Prepare Your Pavement for Spring
Tuesday, August 4th, 2015
After a few years under the hot Baltimore sun, your once dark and pristine asphalt surface will start to show its age, losing its color and beginning to develop fractures and cracks. Aside from looking poorly maintained and creating an uneven driving surface, this kind of damage can significantly reduce the life of your parking lot or driveway and needs to be properly addressed. To make sure you get the full value out of your asphalt installation, it is important to be able to identify the signs of damage and know how to properly address them. Thankfully, most damage to an asphalt surface, especially that which is done within a few years of its installation, can be easily repaired with crack fill.
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Tags: asphalt, Asphalt Maintenance, Maintenance
Posted in Asphalt Maintenance, Baltimore Crack Filling, Commercial Paving Services, General Asphalt Advice | Comments Off on How Crack Fill can Benefit Your Baltimore Business
Friday, May 22nd, 2015
Baltimore, Maryland is an old city with a lot of history. This is reflected in its older buildings, structures made of brick and stone that exude the wisdom of the ages. This history should be protected on all levels. The masonry of Baltimore needs help, and you should know who to trust for repairs. Any good masonry service will be able to perform the four following masonry maintenance services.
Cleaning and Pressure Washing with Special Cleaning Products
The first issue any masonry faces is cleaning. Since masonry is porous, it will allow water in and retain it, giving rise to bacteria algae that will cling to the wall. This may look nice in old paintings, but it is quite damaging over time. Cleaning too much or with too harsh of chemicals will cause further damage, so the proper chemicals and cleaning processes are needed for each individual type of masonry. Using water is the most basic method of cleaning, while chemicals are a step up for more intense jobs. There is also abrasive cleaning, which uses grinders and sandblasters to remove dirt and grime. Abrasive cleaning is only for the hardiest masonry.
Stone and Brick Sealant with Clear and Breathable Products
Masonry is highly vulnerable to the weather. As time exposes it to repeated rain, snow, and ice storms, cracks form and the mortar holding the bricks together erodes. Using fresh sealant will fill in the cracks and chips, giving the masonry further life and preventing more water from entering existing damage and exacerbating it. In addition, a clear product will allow the original work to show and preserve the look the wall had before the new sealant was applied.
Caulking for Expansion Joints
A joint is a way to protect dissimilar types of masonry from cracking each other. This type of preventative care is necessary for keeping water out of these highly exposed areas and entering the wall to cause further damage. This can lead to leaks affecting the internal walls of your building and causing significant issues with your internal structure. These joints are attached with caulk, which can erode over time and needs to be monitored carefully.
Tuck and Pointing, Because Mortar Becomes Dry and Brittle
Mortar literally holds the building together, but it grows very brittle and flakes over time. If it needs to be replaced, the surface should be removed down to ¾ of an inch and resealed with a mortar containing high amounts of lime. This will waterproof the mortar and protect it from further water damage.
Masonry Maintenance Services in Baltimore, Maryland
PTG Enterprises is your Baltimore, Maryland expert for all thing masonry. We handle all three phases of masonry lifecycle: installation, maintenance, and repair. We also provide excellent replacement services for when your masonry can no longer serve you.
Call us at 410-636-8777 to learn more about masonry and masonry installation. Also, look for us on Facebook and Twitter for even more information!
Tags: Baltimore, Maintenance, Masonry
Posted in Retaining Wall Reconstruction Baltimore | Comments Off on Masonry Maintenance Services in Baltimore, Maryland
Thursday, August 11th, 2011
Is your driveway in rough shape? Will repairs do the trick? Does it need to be resurfaced? Should you have it redone professionally? These are all questions that homeowners ask themselves when faced with a dilapidated driveway. Ultimately the best thing to do is the contact a professional like My Pavement Guy, but there are some things you can consider on your own.
According to this article on EzineArticles there are some important things to think about before consulting your contractor:
Maintenance is good medicine, but it’s not foolproof
Asphalt driveways don’t remain smooth and black forever. You can take steps to maintain your driveway by sealing and protecting it, but often the effects of heat, ultra-violet rays, and substances such as salt, oil, gas and grease take their toll. And if those don’t get you, then cracking and water penetration eventually will.
Your driveway may be corroded, worn out, or have cracks, which could all warrant a resurfacing job if the condition is severe enough. As a general guide, if repairs are needed on more than 25 percent of the surface, it is more cost-effective to do a hot mix asphalt resurfacing job over the entire driveway.
Say no to cracks!
Asphalt pavement is hard and brittle, and as a result, cracks will develop over time. Ranging from hairline to an inch wide or more, cracks are your driveway’s worst enemy because they let water in. In colder climates, freeze-thaw cycles can be very destructive, and can wreak havoc on your driveway if water penetrates the cracks, then expands as it turns to ice. And even in warmer climates, water penetration can cause serious damage. The larger the crack, the more serious the problem, and the sooner it needs to be fixed. Cracks that are left un-repaired will lead to serious deterioration of the pavement and even to the base layers, requiring complete replacement of the driveway – sooner rather than later in colder climates.
Can it be fixed or do you need a new driveway?
Whether you’ll need to rip out your existing driveway and install a new one, or if you can get away with resurfacing – or even some patchwork and crack-filling – depends largely on the condition of the base layers, or foundation. However, if cracking covers 3/4 of the driveway, the surface is too far gone to repair. The root of the problems may come from lower down, and a complete overhaul should be considered.
If your driveway has been resurfaced several times with hot mix asphalt and keeps deteriorating prematurely, it is likely a problem with the foundation, and you should consider installing a whole new driveway. Likewise, if there are areas that have depressions or mounds, they should be completely reconstructed from the base. If you have several of these areas, a new driveway might make sense.
For any of your asphalt needs or if you have any questions, contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy by calling 410-636-8777 or click here
Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!
Tags: asphalt, Asphalt cracks, Asphalt driveway, Asphalt installation, Asphalt Maintenance, asphalt maryland, Asphalt Pavement, Asphalt repair, Cost, distress, driveway, driveway repair, expand, fill cracks, liquid asphalt, Maintenance, maryland, My Pavement Guy, pave, pavement, Pavement cracks, Pavement installation, Pavement Maintenance, Pavement Maryland, pavement repair, paving, paving contractor, paving maryland, paving project, Preventative maintenance, PTG Enterprises, re-striping pavement, repave, repaving
Posted in General Asphalt Advice | Comments Off on How to Repair Your Old Asphalt Driveway
Thursday, July 21st, 2011
Even the most durable paved surfaces, like asphalt pavement, are susceptible to deterioration, distress, and cracking. However, knowing what causes these problems can help you prolong the life of your asphalt. This article from PaveManPro.com can help. It outlines the major causes of pavement deterioration.
Overtime, the materials that make up asphalt begin to break down and become more easily affected by the elements: rain, sunlight, snow, etc. Furthermore, the liquid binder that holds the asphalt together begins to lose its natural resistance to water, allowing liquid to seep into the pavement. Once this happens, the surface can quickly be affected.
Yet, while pavement will naturally breakdown over time, there are a few outside factors – poor construction or human error – that may speed up this process, causing premature deterioration.
The factors leading to asphalt deterioration include:
• Insufficient or improperly compacted base below the asphalt
• Over or under compaction of asphalt
• Improper temperature of asphalt when applied
• Poor drainage
• Water – over time and especially without proper maintenance water penetrates the asphalt, washes out the base underneath it, causing it to crack, break down and collapse.
• Sunlight – Oxidation breaks down and dries out the once flexible liquid asphalt that holds the aggregate together. This causes raveling and shrinking cracks, which allow water to penetrate beneath the surface.
• Chemical/ petroleum exposure – the introduction of chemicals to asphalt, including gas and oil, can soften the asphalt and cause it to break down more rapidly.
When asphalt pavement is constructed and maintained properly it wears out slowly and can last up to 25 years or more. Proper maintenance is key to protecting it from the external factors that wear it out.
If you notice your driveway, parking lot, or any pavement displaying any signs of deterioration, it is probably time to call a professional to patch your asphalt and prevent further damage. Do not put this off and let small cracks become big problems. It is far better to pay for a little patching now than to have to pay for a total re-paving down the road.
If you have any questions, contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy by calling 410-636-8777 or click here
Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!
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Posted in General Asphalt Advice | Comments Off on The Deterioration of Asphalt Pavement and its Causes
Friday, June 24th, 2011
It’s a hole in the road. How hard can it be to fill a hole, right? Well, you might be surprised. Pothole repair is tough work and requires a trained crew and some specialty equipment. This article from PaveManPro.com explains the lengthy repair process.
How to repair a pothole:
1. With a pavement saw or pneumatic hammer, cut the outline of the patch, extending at least 0.3 m (I ft.) outside of the distressed area. The outline should be square or rectangular with two of the sides at right angles to the direction of traffic.
2. Excavate as much pavement as necessary to reach firm support. If a patch is to be an integral part of the pavement, its foundation must be as strong or stronger than that of the original roadway. This may mean that some of the sub-grade will also have to be removed. The faces of the excavation should be straight and vertical.
3. Trim and compact the sub-grade.
4. Apply a tack coat to the vertical faces of the excavation.
5. Backfill with the asphalt mixture. Using a shovel or skid steer loader place the mixture directly from the truck into the prepared excavation. The maximum lift thickness largely depends upon the type of asphalt mixture and the available compaction equipment. Asphalt concrete can and should be placed in deep lifts, since the greater heat retention of the thicker layers facilitates compaction. From a compaction standpoint, patches using asphalt concrete can be backfilled in one lift. However, when placing a patch that is deeper than 3 cm (5 in.) it is often useful to leave the first lift 2.5 to 5 cm (I to 2 in.) below the finished grade, making it easier to judge the total quantity of mixture required for the patch.
On the other hand, patches constructed with mixtures containing emulsified or cutback asphalt must be placed in layers thin enough to permit evaporation of the diluents that make the mixture workable.
6. Spread carefully to avoid segregation of the mixture. Avoid pulling the material from the center of the patch to the edges. If more material is needed at the edge, it should be deposited there, and the excess raked away. The amount of mixture used should be sufficient to ensure that the after compaction the patch surface will not be below that of the adjacent pavement. On the other hand, if too much material is used a hump will raise.
7. Compact each lift of the patch thoroughly. Use equipment that is suited for the size of the job. A vibratory plate compactor is excellent for small jobs, while a vibratory roller is likely to be more effective for larger areas. When compacting the final lift (which may be the only lift), overlap the first pass and return of the vibratory roller or plate compactor to no more than 5 cm (6 in.) on to the patch on one side. Then move to the opposite side and repeat the process. Once this is accomplished, proceed at right angles to the compacted edges, with each pass and return overlapping a few inches on to the uncompacted mix. If there is a grade, compaction should proceed from the low side to the high side to minimize possible shoving of the mix.
8. When adequate compaction equipment is used, the surface of the patch should be at the same elevation as the surrounding pavement. However, if hand tamping or other light compaction methods are used, the surface of the completed patch should be slightly higher than the adjacent pavement, since the patch is likely to be further compressed by traffic.
9. Check the vertical alignment and smoothness of the patch with a straightedge or string line.
So next time you complain about that pothole down the street not getting fixed or next time you think to yourself, “hey, I could do that in half the time,” remember that pothole repair is not a quick fix. Properly patching a pothole takes time, know-how, and a lot of energy.
If you have any questions, contact PTG Enterprises by calling 410-636-8777 or click here
Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!
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Posted in General Asphalt Advice | Comments Off on Pothole Repair: It’s a Bigger Job Than You May Think
Thursday, June 2nd, 2011
Unfortunately, even the best pavement is not indestructible. Heavy traffic usage and weather changes, along with several other outside factors, can lead to pavement distress, which is noticeable physical damage on roads or sidewalks. If not dealt with quickly, pavement distress can lead to more serious problems, all of which can significantly shorten the lifespan of your pavement.
But how can you spot pavement distress in time? This article from eHow.com explains how you can quickly identify pavement distress.
1. Assess cracks on the surface of the pavement. Alligator cracking appears as a network of cracks, forming a pattern somewhat like the skin of an alligator or wonky squares. As the U.S. Department of Transportation outlines in its “Pavement Distress Identification Manual for the NPS Road Inventory Program, 2006 -2009,” the severity of the distress can be measured. It is considered low when the width of the crack is less than 1/4 inch in width. However, the alligator distress is serious when the cracks are more than 3/4 inch wide.
2. Check the pavement’s surface for long strips of cracking. These are ruts that run either along the length of the pavement or sideways across the surface. In places where the cracks are more than 3/4 inch in width, the distress is considered serious and can buckle the pavement, causing bumps. Hot weather can cause this type of pavement distress.
3. Identify gouged-out areas or dips on the surface of the road. Pavement distress is characterised by potholes. These are concave holes on the surface, which are a nuisance for drivers. The holes can cause punctures in tires, gather water and lead to further cracking.
4. Look for dark square or rectangular patches of asphalt on the pavement. Distress can be identified by finding discolored areas where potholes or previous distress marks have been filled or covered over. The replacement asphalt causes a dark patch to be seen. Cracking, ruts or potholes can often be seen in proximity to the patching, which is indicative of pavement distress.
5. Crouch down and look across the surface of the pavement. Identify two lines of depressions in the road’s surface. If these are in the direction of the wheel paths, this distress is called rutting. Rutting occurs when continuous use of the pavement by heavy vehicles causes the surface to sink. It is classified as severe when the depressions are greater than 1 inch below the surface of the pavement.
Once you have identified pavement distress, it is time to repair the damage. There are several products available that allow you to do the job yourself, but if you want to ensure your pavement is properly fixed, it is probably best to call a professional.
If you have any questions or if you would rather leave the repair work to the professionals, contact PTG Enterprises by calling 410-636-8777 or click here
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Posted in General Asphalt Advice | Comments Off on How to Identify Pavement Distress
Wednesday, May 25th, 2011
After Concrete is laid, the inevitable settling, shifting and moving will occur. But in extreme cases, when the ground settles below the concrete or when a tree root comes into contact with the pavement, walkways or patios can break and lift. These unsightly blemishes on your otherwise pristine concrete surface can ruin the entire look and feel of your patio or walkway. And with Memorial Day right around the corner, you are going to want your home to look perfect for your guests.
This article from eHow.com provides 4 ways in which you can quickly repair that broken and lifted concrete.
Instructions
1. The easiest way to repair lifting concrete pavement is to grind it down. Most driveways are at least 6″ thick by code, so there should be sufficient grinding depth. Walkways and patios are 3″ – 4″ in thickness. Renting a scarifier is probably the most practical way to do this yourself. This is not an easy machine to use, so if you are not comfortable with the job, don’t hesitate to call in a professional.
2. If the lifting is the result of tree root growth, you will have to grind your cement down repetitively as the roots will continue to push the concrete up. A better solution is to remove the concrete pavement all together, cut out the offending root(s) and re-pour the cement.
3. A quick fix would be to fill in the ‘step’ created by the raised concrete with a cement adhesive and concrete/polymer fill. Even if you carefully rough up the lower cement, this ramp-like fix will only be a temporary patch at best. It will chip away fairly quickly, especially on a driveway pavement with heavy traffic.
4. Better left to the professionals, you can float a slab of concrete that has sunk into the ground by drilling holes and pumping in a cement mix. This will literally float the slab back up with the pressure of the concrete beneath.
Now you can enjoy your Memorial Day barbeque without having to hear, “What happened to your patio!?” at least 50 times. If you have any questions or if you would rather leave the repair work to the professionals, contact PTG Enterprises by calling 410-636-8777 or click here today!
Tags: Anchor tenant, asphalt, Asphalt cracks, Asphalt installation, Asphalt Maintenance, asphalt maryland, Asphalt repair, Bid, Bidding a Pavement Project, Board Member, Budget, Building Owner, Business, Cement mix, certificate of insurance, Client, Concrete, Concrete repair, Concrete repair Maryland, Contractor, Contractors License, Cost, crack fill, Do not pay full cost in advance, fill cracks, Get it in writing, Hiring a Contractor, Industry, Job, Knowledge, Lot, Maintenance, Meeting, My Pavement Guy, Parking lot, pavement, Pavement Contractor, Pavement cracks, Pavement installation, Pavement Maintenance, Pavement Maryland, Pavement repair Maryland, Pre-bid, Preventative maintenance, PTG Enterprises, Re-striping, re-striping asphalt, re-striping pavement, References, Repairing Lifted Concrete, Repairs, request for proposal, reverse bidding, RFP, Sealcoating, Sigsn, Understanding, warranty, Wheel Stops, Work, Yards
Posted in General Asphalt Advice | Comments Off on Repairing Lifted Concrete
Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011
From the moment your asphalt is installed, it begins to deteriorate. This means that to ensure you have a top-notch parking lot for years to come, you will need to take certain steps to maintain that asphalt. This preventative maintenance will not only make your parking lot last longer, but, in the long run, it will save you money.
Here are a few simple steps you should take to keep your lot looking pristine.
Crackfill
Properly filling cracks is a job of tremendous importance. By filling a small crack properly, you will prevent that fissure from growing and becoming too big to handle by yourself. Filling small cracks saves you from paying to have large cracks repaired.
Sealcoating
This is another great way to improve the overall look of you lot while going the extra mile to protect your parking surface.
Re-Striping
Once the original lines are painted on the asphalt, constant re-striping is required ever 12-18 months.
Signage
Not only will your lot begin to deteriorate, but often signs are knocked down, dented, vandalized or even stolen. It is important to properly maintain your signs – not only for that instant curb appeal, but also for safety.
Wheel Stops
Wheel stops play an integral role in maintaining clear sidewalks and protecting signs. If your wheel stops are damaged, it could negatively affect everything around them.
Now you are well on your way to a beautiful, long lasting parking surface.
If you have any questions, please contact PTG Enterprises by calling 443-463-1536 or click here today!
Tags: asphalt, Asphalt cracks, Asphalt Maintenance, asphalt maryland, crack fill, fill cracks, Maintenance, My Pavement Guy, pavement, Pavement cracks, Pavement Maintenance, Pavement Maryland, Preventative maintenance, PTG Enterprises, Re-striping, re-striping asphalt, re-striping pavement, Sealcoating, Sigsn, Wheel Stops
Posted in General Asphalt Advice | Comments Off on Pavement Maintenance
