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Posts Tagged ‘Resurfacing’

Asphalt Pavement Deterioration: Maryland DC, & Virginia Asphalt Contractor

Friday, September 14th, 2012

Asphalt is used everywhere, from roads and parking lots to runways and more. And why not? Asphalt boasts several benefits, including:

  • Asphalt has excellent waterproofing properties.
  • Asphalt has excellent binding (or cementing) properties to hold the aggregates in the pavement.
  • Asphalt pavement has a long life & resurfacing is quick.
  • Asphalt is America’s most recycled material.
  • Asphalt is the most sustainable and environmentally-friendly pavement on the market.
  • And more!

Still, asphalt has a few major deficiencies as well. Asphalt has very poor resistance to weathering and is easily attacked by chemicals, gasoline, oils, and deicing salts. All of these elements work together to break down the asphalt, degrading the asphaltic oils from the surface as chemicals dissolve them away. And with the loss of asphalt cement, the aggregates in the top layer begin unraveling and develop the first sign of pavement deterioration; the appearance of minor surface cracks.

Over time, cracking will become more prevalent. And if not repaired, these cracks will allow water to penetrate sub-base and base layers, causing them to lose their ability to effectively bear traffic loads. Eventually, this will cause the asphalt pavement to fail.

To prevent further erosion of your asphalt pavement, or to fix a problem so it does not get any worse before winter, call PTG Enterprises for a property evaluation. You can expect a fair proposal, professionalism and quality work.  A good contractor is hard to find!

Discover the difference with PTG Enterprises!

If you have any further questions, please 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.

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Asphalt Parking Lot Replacement vs. Resurfacing (Overlay)

Wednesday, August 31st, 2011

Eventually, all asphalt parking lots become too deteriorated to maintain and require restoration or rehabilitation. The asphalt condition (as well as your budget) will usually determine the extent of the project. Some will require a total excavation and replacement, while others may only need to be resurfaced.

So how can you decided if your parking lot needs a surface overlay or a total replacement? This article from AsphaltAdvisor.com can help. It outlines the conditions of each procedure.

Total Excavation and Replacement

There eventually comes a time when every parking lot has outlived its useful life – it is more cost effective to excavate the entire lot and re-install a new one. The property manager or owner needs to evaluate the cost of maintaining the deteriorating pavement over time vs. the cost of replacement. Performing non-stop patching can be expensive.

Assuming the decision has been made to perform a total excavation and replacement, the process, in theory, is a simple one. The entire parking lot is machine excavated, usually by an asphalt milling machine, but this can vary with the size and shape of the lot. Once excavation is completed, the sub-grade stone is evaluated for its condition. Any soft spots will be undercut and new stone installed. Then the base and surface courses of asphalt are re-installed. With this option, the life cycle of the parking lot is reset to zero. The lot is brand new.

Surface Overlay
In some cases, if the sub-grade is good and there is no surface cracking, an overlay only is the proper fix. This is the correct option if the surface is dry, brittle, and raveling. In this situation, a new and additional layer of asphalt is installed over what is already there. It’s important to evaluate the project properly because the grade of the lot will change. Edge milling is required along gutter pans and transition points.

Resurfacing can be a viable option if removal and replacement does not fit your budget. But remember, if you are looking for a long-term solution, it is usually more cost effective to opt for the expensive total excavation and replacement. But in the end, the choice is yours.

If you would like a professional opinion or if you have any questions, contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy by calling 410-636-8777 or click here today!

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