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Posts Tagged ‘My Pavement Guy’

How Does the Pavement Deteriorate?

Friday, June 8th, 2012

It has been estimated that ninety percent (90%) of asphalt roads in the United Sates have significant problems due to the deterioration of the base and sub-base material because of water infiltration.

Pavements where cracks have not been sealed, offer many routes for water entry into the base and sub-base courses. Water will penetrate through cracks that are over 1/8th to ¼ inch wide. Finer cracks also allow water infiltration into the pavement through the pumping action of the traffic; the surface water is pushed into the cracks when vehicles pass over the cracks. For cracks larger than ¼ inch, water flows in under gravity into the surface and the base course. Once water enters the base, the aggregate (limestone) absorb the water expand in volume and become soft, thus causing internal stress which accelerates the development of more and larger cracks.

There is no assurance that the pavement is not damaged if it looks fine on the surface. Not all deterioration will be visible. A study by Ontario’s Ministry of Transpiration, reported that on heavy traffic roads, half or more of the original asphalt pavement may disintegrate from the bottom up. In regions with extensive freeze-thaw cycles, with continuous thermal expansion and contraction of the pavement, the base and sub-base deteriorate much faster than in regions with moderate climates.

De-icing salts used in winter months further aggravate the problem. De-icing salt mixes with snow and forms a brine solution, which gets into the pavement and slightly melts ice in the base course. This produces even more thermal movement within the crack. The pavement weakened by a saturated base may experience localized failures when subjected to traffic. All cracked pavements will disintegrate and spall to various degrees depending upon the traffic volume or weight of the traffic load.

PTG is here for your pavement deteriorating needs. Please call us for a proposal request or visit our website at www.mypavementguy.com.

If you have any further questions about Pavement Deterioration or 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 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!

What is Asphalt Pavement? :: Baltimore Pavement Contractor

Friday, May 18th, 2012

Asphalt pavement is made up of several components, including stone aggregate, sand, additives, and liquid asphalt (petroleum). Once combined, the final product consists of 90-95% aggregate and 5-10% asphalt.

Creating Asphalt Pavement

  1. Predose: The aggregate components of asphalt pavement are weighed using a belt weighing instrument, so that the materials can simultaneously be weighed and taken to the next step in the process.
  2. Drying: A rotary drying drum is used to dry the components at around 300 degrees.
  3. Storage: The preheated or dried components are now sifted and store in silos.
  4. Mixing: The aggregates are then transferred to the mixer. Both the aggregate and binder are mixed thoroughly to form the paving material.
  5. Storage Round 2: After the hot asphalt mix is created it is transported to a heated silo, where it is stored and kept hot until it is ready to be used.

Surface Preparation

There is a great deal of surface preparation that must be performed before the asphalt pavement can be applied. This process includes proper clearing, excavation, ground compaction, and the application of liquid asphalt binder and base materials (compacted stone or asphalt base).

Without proper surface preparation, the life of the paved surface is greatly reduced.

  1. The application of liquid asphalt binder helps the newly paved surface create a greater bond between it and the surface.
  2. The asphalt pavement mix is laid using an asphalt paver and compacted using asphalt rollers. Proper rolling methods have to be used to ensure proper compaction.
  3. Once the asphalt is compacted, it is left to solidify for a minimum of 24 hours.
  4. Enjoy (after you sealcoat your asphalt surface, of course)!

If you have any further questions about Asphalt Pavement 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!

Asphalt and the Environment

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

An Overview of the Different Types of Asphalt

Friday, February 10th, 2012

Asphalt is the most versatile pavement material, with mixes designed to handle any size load (from passenger cars to heavy trucks), absorb noise, reduce splash and spray during rainstorms, and even to help treat rainwater. The different types of asphalt pavement include:

Warm-Mix Asphalt: This is the generic name of the technology that allows producers of hot-mix asphalt to lower the temperatures at which the material is mixed and placed on the road. This afford asphalt contractors many benefits, including:

•      Increasing safety for asphalt workers

•      Cutting fuel consumption

•      Decreasing the production of greenhouse gases

•      Better compaction of pavements

•      Extending the paving season

•      And the potential to be able to recycle at higher rates

Quiet Pavement: Today’s busy world is filled with more noise than one typically cares to deal with. But quiet pavement actually reduces the noise experienced both inside and outside homes and businesses. Resurfacing a noisy road with stone-matrix asphalt (SMA) or open-graded friction course (OGFC) mix can reduce noise by 3 to 5 dB(A) or more (the same as doubling the distance between you and the noise source).

Porous Asphalt: These pavement surfaces allow rainwater to drain through the asphalt into a stone recharge bed and then into the soil, eliminating potentially harmful standing water.

Perpetual Pavement: This advanced, multi-layer paving design process (along with routine asphalt maintenance) extends the useful life of a roadway.

Whether on the road, in a parking lot, or at an airport, asphalt pavements add up to the best value for your pavement needs, with the lowest life cycle cost and the highest residual value. 

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:

Types of Asphalt Pavement

The Interesting History of Asphalt Pavement

Friday, February 3rd, 2012

It doesn’t matter is you call it asphalt pavement, blacktop, tarmac, macadam, plant mix, asphalt concrete, bituminous concrete, or just asphalt, today, it is everywhere! Asphalt is used in everything from shingles and sidewalks to driveways and, of course, roads (and more). But where did asphalt come from?

Asphalt Timeline

  • Asphalt occurs naturally in asphalt lakes and in rock asphalt and the first recorded use of this natural asphalt was in 625 B.C. when the Babylonians used the material to build their roads.
  • Even the ancient Greeks and Romans used asphalt. In fact, the word asphalt comes from the Greek word “asphaltos”, meaning “secure.”  The Romans, who used asphalt to  seal their baths, reservoirs, and aqueducts, later changed the word to “asphaltus.”
  • In 1595 Sir Walter Raleigh wrote about using natural asphalt to re-caulk his ships.
  • Still, hundreds of years passed before asphalt was widely used as a building material.
  • In the mid 1800’s John Loudon McAdam used broken stone and hot tar to bond the stones together.
  • In the late 1860s, “asphalt” came to America! The first bituminous mixtures were used for sidewalks, crosswalks, and roads.
  • In 1852, French Highways utilized natural asphalt pavement.
  • Then in 1870, Edmund J. DeSmedt laid the first true asphalt pavement in America, a sand mix in front of the City Hall in Newark, New Jersey.

Since that time, asphalt has taken off. Today, over 750 million tons of asphalt is poured and rolled every year…JUST in the USA.

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:

History of Asphalt

Recycled Asphalt Pavement: What You Probably didn’t know About Asphalt

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: 2009-2010click 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)