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Posts Tagged ‘pavement project’

The Different Types of Pavement explained by a Baltimore Asphalt Contractor

Friday, December 7th, 2012

Did you know that there are several different types of pavement? If not, then you have come to the right place. This week PTG Enterprises, an asphalt and concrete paving company serving Maryland, DC, and Virginia, has outlined one of these pavements below.

Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA): Hot Mix Asphalt is used in everything from runways at busy commercial airports – like Baltimore-Washington International (BWI), Oakland International, or McCarren – to racetracks and more! In fact, of the 88 tracks used in the NASCAR Short Track series, 66 are asphalt.

Benefits of Hot Mix Asphalt

  • Quick Construction: HMA’s speed of construction makes it an ideal choice for high traffic areas like airports, highways, and racetracks. It is also easily rehabbed.
  • Durability: Asphalt is designed to stand up to any load, from passenger cars to heavy trucks to airplanes.
  • Noise Pollution: HMA produces a pavement with less noise pollution than the competition.
  • Smooth Ride: HMA is known for its smooth ride.
  • Cost effective: Asphalt has the lowest life cycle cost and the highest residual value of any pavement around.

No matter the application, asphalt pavements are the easy choice.

Have a Pavement Project you need completed? Call PTG Today!

When you hire PTG, you will receive the best customer service in the industry.  We provide prompt proposals, competitive bids, and top notch management to every aspect pavement projects, from beginning to end.

We will show up as scheduled, perform the project as contracted, and leave you with a smile on your face!

If you have any further questions, please contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777, or click here today!

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

Sealcoating Performance: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Friday, June 15th, 2012

I have had the opportunity to respond to many questions pertaining to sealcoatings, based both on refined tar and asphalt, during my many years of lecturing and day to day service to our customers. The following is a condensed list of questions and my answers which are frequently asked.

Q.1. Why are two thin coats of a sealcoating is better than one thick coat?

A.1. Sealcoatings applied in two coats dries and cures much better than one thick coat application. Sealcoatings are commonly water-based coatings, which cure through the process of water release (evaporation). Also, sealcoating film dries from top to bottom, meaning top layers dry faster then from the bottom layers. A thin coat will release water much faster than a thick coat. If the sealcoating is applied in one thick coat instead of the recommended two coats, it will have a tendency to hold water and stay soft for a longer period of time, possibly causing tracking.

Q.2. Why apply two coats, when one coat looks good enough?

A.2. Appearance is only part of the benefits. The sole purpose of sealcoating is to protect and preserve the asphalt. One coat will possibly provide only half of the protection and will wear out in less than half the time. You will have to sealcoat more frequently if you used only one coat.

Q.3. Why did the sealcoating fail or peel?

A.3. Peeling is caused by sealcoating not bonding to oil spots or any other surface contaminants like dirt, grease, etc. or oxidized pavements. Prior to sealcoating application, the pavement surface shall be thoroughly cleaned, oil spots be treated with an oil spot primer. And oxidized surface be primed either with a specialty primer or a thin coat of the sealer or a tack coat.

Peeing and dis-bonding, may also be caused by freezing temperatures during the final cure process, before the film was fully cured. Freezing temperatures will shatter the sealcoating bonds from the bottom layers of the sealer film.
Deposit of tree sap in the pavement profile. The failure is seen as the flaking of the sealer.

Sealcoating over a very hard coating, e.g. Gilsonite-based. The failure appears as chipping because the top coat does not bond and flex with the bottom coat.

Q.4. What causes white streaks in the sealcoating?

A.4. It may be an indication of a problem with the base itself. The limestone from the base may be coming up with water though pre-existing cracks in the pavement. (details in a previous article published here).

If not, then contact your sealer manufacturer to be assured that that the material in question was processed adequately to mix the clay and fillers during the processing.

Q.5. Why does the sealcoating dry gray?

A.5. The graying is caused by sealcoating drying under less than ideal conditions, e.g. shaded areas, cooler temperatures, high humidity, etc. The problem is mostly temporary i.e. after a few days in full sun it will cure to its normal color. Temporary graying can also be eliminated through the use of specialty additive that helps sealcoating dry faster and at a uniform rate. If the problem persists and the sealcoating does dry to its characteristic charcoal black color, the manufacturer should be consulted.

Q.6. Why does the sealcoating wear out faster in traffic lanes, entrances and exits?

A.7. Aside from the obvious reason of more traffic in those areas, it could be an adhesion problem, If the wear is excessive. The surface aggregates in these areas become smooth (polished) over the years of usage. For any coating, including sealcoatings, to bond properly, it is imperative that the surface be sufficiently rough. Our recommendation is to use a specialty primer to prime faster traffic lanes, exits and entrances. These primers penetrate the smooth polished aggregates and allow the sealcoating to bond effectively.

If you have any further questions about Pavement Deterioration or Sealcoating 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 Great Debate: Asphalt vs. Concrete

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

Perpetual Asphalt: Asphalt for Performance

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

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)

Commercial Parking Lots, Paving Contractors, and Your Business

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:

  1. 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.
  2. Good Base: Without a proper gravel base, your business parking surface will collapse under the weight of traffic.
  3. Drainage: Water and asphalt are not friends. Proper drainage prevents standing water and long-term damage to your parking lot.
  4. 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

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