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Posts Tagged ‘PTG Enterprises’

Asphalt Deterioration and its Causes

Friday, August 10th, 2012

Asphalt pavement is the preferred material for most state and federal road projects for a few very good reasons. Most notably, asphalt is known for its durability, strength, resilience, and longevity. Still, even the toughest asphalt road or parking lot undergoes a lot of wear and tear, eventually deteriorating to the point of no return.

Over time the materials that make up asphalt begin to break down, affected by elements such as rain, sunlight and chemicals. Asphalt binder loses its natural resistance to water, allowing liquids to penetrate the surface and deteriorate the pavement.

Asphalt Deterioration and its Causes

  • Cracking: There are numerous different types of cracks, from alligator cracks and edge cracks to longitudinal cracks, block cracks, and more. When it comes to asphalt pavement maintenance and dealing with cracks, you have two basic options: crack sealing and crack filling.
  • Distortion: Caused by improper pavement construction and the deterioration of the underlying base, asphalt distortion includes : channels or ruts, corrugations and shoving, grade depressions, upheaval and utility cut depressions.
  • Disintegration: Asphalt disintegration includes potholes, raveling, and gas and oil spillage.

Asphalt must also be properly maintained and protected to maximize its lifespan.

Sealcoating and PTG Enterprises

Sealcoating is a crucial process in the preventative maintenance of any parking surface. The asphalt experts here have managed hundreds of Maryland, DC, and Virginia pavement projects and have the experience you need.

Give Patrick Gillen and 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.

If you have any further questions about Asphalt Deterioration and Sealcoating or if you 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!

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

What is Asphalt Maintenance? My Pavement Guy Answers FAQs

Friday, July 20th, 2012

Over time, even professionally installed asphalt undergoes a tremendous wear and tear, causing it to crack and fail. Asphalt maintenance refers to the methods and techniques used to prolong the useful life of asphalt pavement.

Types of Asphalt Maintenance

  • Asphalt Patching: his is where the pavement is completely removed in the troubled area and replaced. These areas are usually suffering from severe distress and / or sub-base failure.
  • 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.
  • Asphalt Overlay: An overlay is when a new and additional layer of asphalt is installed over what is already there.
  • Asphalt Sealcoating: Sealcoating is a preventative maintenance 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).

If you notice your parking lot or any asphalt pavement displaying signs of deterioration, it is probably time to call an asphalt contractor, like PTG Enterprises, to help prevent further damage. Do not put this off and let small cracks become major problems.

If you have any further questions about Asphalt Maintenance or if you 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 Maryland, DC, and Virginia 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!

Why Asphalt? Frequently Asked Questions Answered by My Pavement Guy

Friday, July 6th, 2012

Highway engineers, business owners, and more continue to choose asphalt time and time again, but why? Why is asphalt used for roads, parking lots, and everything in between? What benefits does asphalt offer over other pavement materials?

The Benefits of Asphalt Pavement

  • Perpetual Pavements: Asphalt perpetual pavement is built to be maintained, lasting virtually forever with routine maintenance, periodic milling and overlaying.
  • A Smooth Ride: A smooth ride is not only beneficial for comfort reasons, but studies have shown that smooth pavement has a huge effect on fuel economy. And with today’s economy, fuel efficiency is a huge concern! Oh, and did we mention that smoother pavements also last longer? Studies show that improving pavement smoothness by 25 percent results in almost a 10 percent increase in pavement longevity.
  • Quiet: Asphalt greatly reduces the amount of noise pollution produced by motorists.
  • Construction Speed: Paving with asphalt greatly reduces construction times. And for anyone who has ever been stuck in traffic because of roadwork, this is a big deal!
  • Maintenance: With asphalt, maintenance is quick, easy, and cost effective.

So the question is: Why would anyone pave with anything else!?

If you have any further questions about Asphalt or if you 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 Maryland, DC, and Virginia 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!

How is Asphalt Made? Frequently Asked Questions Answered by My Pavement Guy

Friday, June 29th, 2012

You use asphalt every day. But have you ever stopped and wondered to yourself, “Hey, how is asphalt made?” If so, you are not alone. Despite being such an integral part of everyday life, few people know how asphalt is made.

So, without further ado, the process for making asphalt!

  1. Predose: A belt weigher is used to weigh the aggregate components of asphalt pavement. A belt weigher is used so that the materials can simultaneously be weighed and taken to the next step in the process.
  2. Drying: The asphalt components are dried in a rotary drying drum at roughly 300 degrees.
  3. Reweighing: Since drying can alter the weight of the aggregate, it has to be reweighed after drying.
  4. Storage: The dried components are then sifted and store in silos.
  5. Mixer: After being transferred to the mixer, binding element, or liquid asphalt is added to the aggregate. Both aggregate and binder are mixed thoroughly to form the paving material.
  6. Storage Round 2: After mixing, the asphalt is stored in a heated silo. If the asphalt mix cools it cannot be compacted.
  7. Application: The asphalt is transported by dump trucks to the job site for application.

Hopefully now you know a little bit more about asphalt than you did before!

If you have any further questions about Asphalt or if you 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 Maryland, DC, and Virginia 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!

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!