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Can Sealcoating Be Applied in the Winter?

Wednesday, January 28th, 2015

Sealcoating WinterAccording to Google, sealcoating is “the application of a sealing coat to a paved surface in order to prolong its integrity.” In simpler terms, a sealcoat protects newly paved roads, parking lots, and driveways from external damage such as ice, sun rays, and normal pedestrian and automobile traffic. Commercial asphalt contractors use sealcoating as a preventative maintenance mechanism.

Winter sealcoating

Winter is not always the best time for sealcoating, because the air temperature as well as pavement temperature has to be above 50°F and below 85°F. This is well above the freezing point (32°F) and would not hold up like its purpose. Many companies know that contracting in the winter is less costly than spring and summer months, but we advise to wait for paving and applying a seal coat until the air becomes warmer. The ideal time that PTG Enterprises is able to apply a sealcoat is in March, given that the groundhog didn’t see his shadow. Late March would be the safest bet, with an ending time frame of early November.

Why sealcoating?

Sealcoating protects the nice, rich black color of the asphalt. It gives a cleaner appearance and keeps the road or lot smooth and easy to drive (or walk) over. Think about all of the salt you put down before, during, and after it snows to melt the ice. Now picture people walking on the salt, grinding it into the beautiful new paved lot you just paid for. Sealcoating is an extra layer of protection for your well-spent dollars. When you apply sealcoating, you ultimately save money in the long run since you will not have to re-do the entire lot as frequently.

Sealcoating to survive a harsh winter

Preventative maintenance on your commercial paved lot should be a given if you want customers to glide in and out easily. Sealcoating the top every two to seven years is a good way to do so. The more natural forces work against your lot, the more often you should have the lot sealcoated. Potholes, especially in Baltimore, are the worst obstacles to drive over. You cringe, knowing your tires are taking a beating. A sealcoated parking lot or road will not contain potholes, and will not need to be patched. During the winter, snow will melt more quickly on a sealed lot as opposed to an unsealed parking lot.

Sealcoating from PTG Enterprises

Interested in learning more? Give PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy a call about sealcoating in and around Baltimore. Call us at 410-636-8777 or click here today! You can also follow PTG Enterprises on Facebook and Twitter!

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Battling Winter Pavement Damage

Friday, January 16th, 2015

Winter Pavement DamageBetween the effects of the freeze-thaw cycle and the damaging-effects of de-icing chemicals, winter can be a difficult season on your asphalt and concrete surfaces. However, with proper (continued) maintenance your pavement can withstand winter and live a long and healthy life.

Battling Winter Pavement Damage

Pavement begins to deteriorate the moment it is laid. That is just life. All good things must come to an end, or so they say. Fortunately, preventive maintenance can help slow this deterioration and ensure you have beautiful for the foreseeable future.

  1. Cleaning: Remove debris from your parking lot and paved services.
  2. Sealcoating: This helps preserve the natural black color of your asphalt while also delaying eventual deterioration. Click Here to compare and contrast the benefits of sealed vs. unsealed pavement.
  3. Crackfill: Cracks allow water to penetrate the base and sub-base, deteriorating your pavement from the inside out. This damage is intensified by the freeze-thaw cycle, which we mentioned above.
  4. Patching: Cold weather patching used to be complicated and cumbersome, but it has gotten easier over the years. If you already have sizable cracks or holes, you should consider asphalt patching. Cold patches aren’t as strong as warm mix or hot mix asphalt, but they’ll help protect the rest of your asphalt until the weather warms up and we can provide a more permanent solution.

Pavement Maintenance from PTG Enterprises

Since 2001, PTG Enterprises, a full service commercial asphalt contractor in Baltimore, Maryland, has set the standard for quality asphalt work in the area, paving thousands of miles of asphalt parking lots. We know a thing or two about asphalt maintenance, too. So do yourself a favor the next time you have an asphalt project. Call PTG Enterprises, the asphalt contractor that cares about you, the customer.

In fact, when you hire PTG, you’ll work with owner Patrick Gillen from start to finish, from the initial site visit and pre-construction meeting to the final walk-through.

If you have any questions about Pavement Damage and Maintenance or if you are looking for an asphalt contractor in the Baltimore, Maryland area, please contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777, or click here today! You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

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Is Your Pavement Ready for Another Harsh Baltimore Winter?

Friday, December 5th, 2014

Baltimore-Winter-PavementThe Farmer’s Almanac and climate experts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are predicting ANOTHER harsh, snowy winter for all of us here in Baltimore, Maryland. In fact, WMAR-TV meteorologist Mike Masco is predicting a winter “just as rough if not worse” than last years, with 28 to 35 inches of snowfall in Baltimore City, and as much as 50 inches in northern and western counties. The snowiest periods will be in mid- and late December, mid-January, and early to mid-February, according to the Farmer’s Almanac.

So what does all of this mean? You have very little time to prepare your pavement for winter.

Is Your Pavement Ready for Another Harsh Baltimore Winter?

As your asphalt pavement ages, it will develop small cracks. Even the best pavement begins to break down at some point, typically around 3-5 years after paving. If you ignore these cracks, your pavement could be at risk for freeze-thaw damage this winter. When water penetrates these cracks, it freezes, expands, and widens the cracks. This happens numerous times over the course of a winter, worsening pavement damage each time.

“Any time you have weather where it is 60 degrees one day and 20 degrees the next, you’re going to have a significant impact on the pavement,” said Rob Morosi, Michigan Department of Transportation spokesman.

How PTG Can Help with Winterization of Your Pavement

PTG Enterprises has been in the asphalt paving, concrete, and masonry business for more than a decade. We have seen it all before and we know the telltale warning signs of asphalt and pavement failure. We also know how to prevent further damage: Crack Filling.

Crack filling is just that – filling in the cracks in the pavement. It can have a huge impact on the condition of your parking lot during and after the winter months. You should crack fill now so that you don’t have to repair a pothole later.

If you have any questions about Pavement Maintenance, please contact PTG Enterprises today by calling 410-636-8777, or click here today! You can also check us out on Facebook and Twitter.

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Crack Fill This Fall Will Prevent Freeze-Thaw Damage This Winter

Thursday, October 16th, 2014

Crack FillFall has just arrived, and winter is not far behind! Is your parking lot safe? Taking care of your parking lots and driveways might not be the first thing you think of when preparing for winter and the snow. Although it seems like you have months before you have to worry about such things, now is the time to take action. If there are any small cracks in the asphalt, you should look into repairing them as soon as possible. Why? Because rainwater as well as melted snow can seep into those cracks and create even larger problems that you don’t want or need!

Freeze-thaw damage to your parking lot occurs when water seeps into the crack in the asphalt and freezes below the roadway and causes the pavement to rise. When this ice thaws, the pavement lowers again, but causes a dip in the road, which then breaks and becomes a pothole. That means an even bigger, more expensive issue to deal with.

The nights are getting cooler and cooler as we go deeper into these fall months, so it’s important to crack fill your parking lots before freeze-thaw damage occurs! Crack filling is just that – filling in the cracks in the pavement. It can have a huge impact on the condition of your parking lot during and after the winter months. You should crack fill now so that you don’t have to repair a pothole later.

Although this is an important issue to take care of as soon as possible, you shouldn’t try to crack fill your parking lot by yourself. So what are you waiting for?  The time is now to call in a professional from PTG Enterprises. You can reach your “pavement guy” by calling  (410) 636-8777, or click here!

Don’t forget to connect with us on Facebook and Twitter as well.

About Us:

“PTG Enterprises is a contracting, consulting and project management business dedicated to serving commercial clients with asphalt and concrete paving services. When you hire PTG, you’ll work with Patrick Gillen from start to finish. This process begins with an initial site visit, a pre-construction meeting and setting expectations for the client and crew. Communication is our watchword, and you’ll receive regular reports on your project.”

Sources:

http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,4616,7-151-9615_30883-28113–,00.html

https://mypavementguy.com/blog/asphaltadvice/the-importance-of-crackfilling-don%E2%80%99t-let-your-parking-lot-waste-away/

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