Asphalt Paving
Asphalt Driveway
Is it time to get a new driveway? What should I do, and who should I call? Here’s a simple guide to what you need to consider when pricing your new driveway. What type of shape is the driveway right now? Is the driveway new to the new house? Is the driveway 30 plus years old with a lot of cracks and a missing piece of asphalt? Is the driveway 5 to 10 years old but it has deep ruts?
Whats a Good Driveway?
First of all, what’s a good driveway? The driveway begins with a strong gravel base. A strong gravel base must be laid on the ground free of any topsoil or organic material. This ensures that no water is kept under the driveway.
Water can cause soft areas or freeze and crack in the winter. The minimum for a strong gravel base is 12 “of gravel with at least the top 4” of gravel being crushed but preferably the whole 12 “of gravel being crushed. Granular ‘A’ is also called the crushed gravel. The base of the gravel must be well compacted and allowed to settle for a few weeks before it is paved.
The surface of the asphalt should be at least 2 “after it has been compacted or called the thickness of the finish. A thicker asphalt may be required if the vehicles using the driveway are heavy, such as motor homes, large trucks or vans. There are several types of asphalt used for driveways. HL4 and HL3 are sometimes referred to as road grade asphalt.
These asphalt mixtures are thicker with more stone and stronger, but they look stony. HL3a, HL3 m or HL2 fine mixtures are sometimes referred to as driveway mixtures. These mixtures are finer with more sand and softer, but they produce a smooth finish.
If you have a new house, make sure your builder has provided you with a good base.
If you would like an area larger than what the builder has installed, be sure that the excavation and gravel base for the expansion are included in your price for the paving.
If your driveway is 30 plus years old and has a lot of cracks and missing pieces of asphalt, you must remove the existing asphalt and repave it with a minimum of 2 “asphalt.
The existing base has to be reclassified and well compacted. If your driveway has deep ruts, it’s a sign of a poor base. The asphalt must be removed and the existing base must be excavated and replaced with a good base and repaved.
Asphalt Overlay
If your driveway is 10 to 20 years old with little or no cracking, it might be overlaid. This is to place a single layer of asphalt over the existing asphalt. If there are cracks, they should be repaired prior to the overlay. If these cracks are not repaired, they will show up in as little as a few months.
In order to ensure a good bond between the new and the old asphalt, a tack coat, which is a form of liquid asphalt, must be applied to the driveway. There are also a lot of variations that you might want, like widening your driveway or adding additional parking spots. The same principles should follow this type of work.
In all situations, water must be addressed. The water has always to have a place to go. The grade of the driveway should be away from all buildings and in the direction of grass or street areas. If this can not be done, a catch basin or a drain should be installed, but there must also be an outlet for these structures.
Choosing a contractor can also be difficult. You might have a knock on your door to quote on the driveway. If the contractor says they’ve got some extra asphalt from another job, BEWARE! This is a way to press you to make a quick decision. You can take their written quotation, but tell them that you would like to get at least two more quotes before proceeding with the work.
Driveways are a big investment. The cheapest price does not mean the best quality of work.
Give us a call and we can discuss what your driveway requires!
Asphalt Preparation
Coatings will not adhere to dirty surfaces. Cleaning is the most difficult and time-consuming aspect of a coating project. We are the only people in North America who have the audacity to build a 150 horsepower, 10 ft wide pressure washer capable of pumping 40 gpm at 3600 psi. Dirt isn’t going to stand a chance!
Others use leaf blowers and sweepers, and their sealcoat frequently flakes off because the surface is still too dirty. Some people attempt to hand wash, but parking lot owners require quick access to their property, so efficiency is required. Our one-of-a-kind cleaning equipment distinguishes us.
Bulk Emulsion Sealcoating
We make our own bulk emulsion with high solids. We mix our bulk according to the needs of your project, whether it’s for sealcoating or microsurfacing. If a large amount of material is required, we will bring the bulk (approximately 70 000 lbs) to your job site to reduce reload time and cost.
Competing contractors inquire about purchasing our product because they are unable to obtain it elsewhere. Distributors offer us their products, but our inspections reveal that they cannot compete with our proprietary quality. We work hard to stay up to date on industry trends and innovations. We take pride in being industry leaders.
Micro Surfacing
Unlike Type 1-3 slurry seals, which have heavier aggregate, our microsurfacing material has a high fines content to fill in rough pavement. Type 1-3 slurry is ideal for highway use. Large aggregate slurry mixes, on the other hand, struggle in tight turning traffic areas, whereas our micro surfacing material does not. Our product is appropriate for airports, in-town roads, heavily worn parking lots, and driveways that need to be resurfaced. The cost of microsurfacing is only 35-45 percent of the cost of an overlay. After a month, we recommend sweeping up the loose fines caused by traffic.
Residential and New Builds
Enhance your property with a functional and attractive drive way and parking lot. Quality build for years to come, at an affordable price. Contact us today to learn more