Concrete & Asphalt Paving Austin, Tx

In most parts of the country, winter weather is in full swing. For people living in northern states, that usually means snow, ice, and plenty of freeze/thaw cycles. Those living in southern states get their fair share of winter weather as well, although that typically means lots of rain and an occasional bout of freezing temperatures, with even a little snow or ice from time to time. All this winter weather can be hard on asphalt surfaces. Here’s how and why:

• The freeze/thaw cycle that many areas of the country experience during the winter months will cause asphalt to expand and contract. As that happens, the integrity of the surface is compromised, and damage occurs in the form of cracks, potholes, and crumbling. If those issues aren’t fixed as soon as possible, the sub-layer of the asphalt can be damaged as well. Once that happens, it can weaken the entire surface.
• If you’re fortunate enough to live in an area of the country that just experiences mostly rain during the winter, your pavement can still be damaged during the colder months. In fact, water is one of the most common reasons for asphalt damage. Even if your paved surface is in relatively good condition, with only a few minor cracks here and there, rainwater can seep into those tiny cracks and cause significant damage. Once water invades the paved surface, it will expand as temperatures drop, and the pavement will experience the same set of problems brought about by a full-fledged freeze/thaw cycle. Water that washes underneath asphalt at the edge of a paved surface can also create problems by collecting in the ground underneath the pavement, causing it to sink. That forms cracks and potholes in the asphalt surface above it.
• Whether you live in a colder or milder climate, if your asphalt is on a steep surface, you have another issue to contend with: erosion. This is especially an issue in very wet areas, where rainwater can literally wash away the surface of asphalt a little at a time over a period of years, leaving behind only rock and aggregate.

Fortunately, there are some precautions you can take to protect your asphalt from winter weather – namely, having it seal coated and having any minor cracks repaired before too much damage is done. While it’s true that winter isn’t the best time to have new asphalt poured, paving contractors can usually make these types of repairs throughout the year, including during the winter. Contact a local paving contractor to find out more.

If you own or manage a business, you already know how vital it is to plan your budget and look ahead to anticipated expenses that you might have to incur. If part of your property includes an asphalt parking lot/parking spaces, a sidewalk, and/or an outdoor patio or meeting space, part of your budget planning should include the maintenance costs of keeping those paved surfaces in good condition. To assist you in this planning, we’ve compiled the following helpful tips.

• Consider the age of your paved surface: Asphalt is an incredibly durable material, but nothing lasts forever. If pavement is well maintained, it can last 20 to 25 years and even longer. But it all depends on variety of factors, including what kind of weather the asphalt is exposed to and how much heavy traffic rolls across it every day. Typically, if your pavement is new, you won’t have to perform any maintenance for the first year or two. Then, after two to five years, you’ll need to consider how much it will cost to periodically seal coat it, as well as repair any minor cracks that have developed. When pavement is more than 15 years old, you may need to calculate the costs of major repairs, such as pothole repair, extensive crack filling and/or an asphalt overlay. For older paved surfaces (20+), be prepared to make whatever investment is necessary to restore the asphalt, which may include major repairs or even complete replacement. Your paving contractor can assess the current condition of your pavement, as well as provide some cost estimates to help you in your budget planning.
• Prioritize the work that needs to be done: Some damage should be repaired right away, including large potholes and depressions or upheavals in the surface. If you delay having these repairs made, it could end up costing you much more money in the long run – in other words, you might end up having to replace the asphalt altogether. Other types of damage, such as small cracks or fading of the asphalt, might be able to be postponed for a certain period of time. Whenever possible, make room in your budget for routine maintenance (i.e., seal coating and minor crack repair) however often your contractor recommends. You’ve heard the old adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure? That certainly holds true with a paved surface. Regular maintenance is the key to avoiding severe damage in the future.

There’s no doubt about it – asphalt pavement is a major investment. Including pavement repair and maintenance costs in your company budget is crucial to helping you protect that investment.

One of the critical decisions in laying asphalt is the weather conditions anticipated for the time of installation. It may be obvious that it’s not a good idea to lay asphalt in the dead of winter with snow on the ground. But even if you live in a more temperate climate, it’s important to choose the optimum weather before you begin to lay asphalt.

If you live in a warmer climate, the best time of year to install a new asphalt surface is the spring and summer months. Those who live further north in a colder climate may need to wait for summer before the time is right. Generally, the optimum weather conditions for laying new asphalt is under clear skies, with little or no wind, when the temperature is about 70 degrees. The further south you live, the earlier in the year paving contractors can begin their busy season. Usually, this means from around mid-spring all the way through the summer and into the early part of fall is the prime time of year.

There are several reasons why paving professionals prefer to work only when conditions are best. The first involves the asphalt mix itself. If the outside temperature is somewhere around 70 degrees, the mixture will be easier to work with and the asphalt will be able to cool as it should. While it is feasible to lay asphalt in a very light rain or drizzle, it’s not preferred by most paving contractors. In fact, too much moisture can damage the sublayers of the pavement and result in the asphalt cooling off too quickly. So it’s always best to choose dry weather whenever possible. And winter is typically not the right time of year to install asphalt. The mixture cools off too quickly in colder weather, making it more difficult to pour and harder to level off into an even surface.

While winter may not be the right time to actually have your new pavement installed, it is a good time to begin the planning phase. Talk to your contractor now to make sure that your job is in the queue for a few months from now. And schedule an appointment for your paving contractor to come visit your site so you can explain exactly what you envision for your new pavement. The actual job may not start for a few more months, but winter is a great time to plan ahead for your new asphalt surface!

With winter finally here, and the beginning of the new year right around the corner, December is a great time to begin your budget planning to have your paved surfaces repaired sometime in the next few months. Whether your pavement is a small parking area or a large-scale parking lot, you’ll need to plan ahead for repairs that typically need to be made after the cold winter months are over.

It’s normal for asphalt to become damaged during the winter months. People who live in a cold climate will see their pavement degrade as a result of the constant freeze-thaw cycle that occurs over the winter. But even those of us who live in a warmer climate will see the results of winter become obvious on paved surfaces as the season progresses. Rainfall can sink into asphalt through even the smallest crack, and that moisture can weaken the sublayers of the pavement, making it more susceptible to additional cracking and the formation of potholes. So it’s inevitable that your asphalt will require some level of repair and maintenance after the winter is over, which is why it’s so important to budget for those repairs now. Here are a few tips on how to do just that:

• Plan according to the age of your paved surface. If your asphalt is 10 years old or more, you should prepare for some major repair work to be done. While it’s true that many asphalt surfaces can last 20 to 30 years of even longer if they’re properly maintained, once the pavement gets to be about 10 years old, it’s safe to assume that you’ll need more than just simple crack filling. Keep this in mind as you begin your budget planning.
• If you have a large paved area, consider completing repairs in phases. Rather than having the entire paved surface repaired at once, ask your paving contractor about having sections of it done a little at a time. This not only makes it easier to fit into your budget; it also makes those repairs less disruptive to your business. And, of course, be sure to ask your paving contractor for a rough estimate on what to expect as far as costs are concerned for each phase of the process.
• Assume that you’ll need to set aside a certain amount of money for preventative maintenance each year. Whether that includes seal coating, crack sealing, or any other process that your paving contractor recommends, the more diligent you are in keeping up with maintenance and routine repairs, the more money you’ll save in the long run.

Your paved surface is a major investment, so it’s important to take care of it. Careful budget planning will allow you to do just that after the winter months are over.

Having new concrete installed is always a major task, whether it’s a new driveway or a large-scale parking lot. Not only is the project a major one, but the investment is as well. That’s why it’s important for you to understand the steps involved before the project is started. It will help you know if your contractor is skipping an important step in the process and, if so, it will remind you to ask why. The prep work involved in preparing to pour concrete takes time, but it’s a vital part of the process. If these steps aren’t followed, it can result in a lower quality end product. Here are the pre-installation steps necessary for concrete installation.

• Marking out the project – The first step in the installation process is marking out the project, which involves literally marking the area on the ground where the concrete will be poured.
• Removing existing pavement – If necessary, the contractor will remove any existing asphalt or concrete pavement from the site.
• Building the base – For most concrete installation jobs, some amount of excavating will be necessary. This involves removing dirt and replacing it with a base material. The amount of earth excavated varies, but it’s usually between 8 and 10 inches, after which 6 to 8 inches of a base material is placed.
• Adding forms – The next step involves the contractor adding forms around the edges of where the concrete will be poured.
• Adding a grid – The final task involved in preparing for concrete installation is the addition of a reinforced steel grid, which will provide additional strength and durability to the concrete surface.

Once these steps are complete, the paving contractor will be ready to pour your new concrete. Although the specific steps may vary somewhat from one contractor to the next, most paving specialists will follow this sequence to prepare for concrete installation. If your contractor does not follow these steps, or skips one, don’t hesitate to ask why. Any reputable paving contractor will be more than happy to answer your questions and further explain their process for preparing to pour new pavement.

Better yet, ask your paving contractor before you accept their bid what pre-installation steps they normally follow before beginning to pour. If their list varies significantly from this one, ask them why. They may very well have a good answer. But if they don’t, you may want to consider finding a new contractor that follows a more comprehensive pre-installation routine.

Asphalt pavement is a significant investment, but worth every penny considering that this durable surface can last from 10 to 20 or even 30 years as long as it’s properly maintained and cared for. One vital aspect of that care and maintenance is repair of potholes. Why is that so important? It’s simple: If you don’t repair potholes soon after they form, they will continue to grow until the surface of your asphalt pavement is damaged beyond repair. That means that the asphalt will need to be totally replaced – an expensive proposition! Fortunately, you can save the expense of replacing asphalt by simply having your potholes repaired as soon as possible after they appear.

Potholes form when ground water underneath the pavement expands and contracts as temperatures cool down and warm up. This weakens the paved surface, causing cracking. As vehicles travel over the weakened areas of pavement, pieces of the surface begin to crumble, and a pothole forms. The longer you wait to repair a pothole, the bigger it will become. And that can spell trouble for your asphalt surface.

The best way to repair potholes is to have it professionally done by a reputable paving contractor. Although the exact steps may vary depending on the contractor, the process goes something like this:

1. The contractor will prepare the area to be repaired by removing loose pieces of asphalt, debris, and any existing plant material from the pothole.
2. The contractor will then add sand and gravel to replace the aggregate that was washed away when the pothole formed, tamping down that material as more is added.
3. Finally, the contractor will add an asphalt patch to the surface, making sure that it is completely level with the surrounding pavement.

Usually, it takes only a matter of hours for the asphalt patch to cure. After that, the pavement will be once again ready to withstand the heavy load of vehicle traffic.

If you notice potholes forming in your asphalt pavement, contact a local paving contractor right away. By repairing potholes and cracks in your paved surface, you could be extending its life by many years. One word of caution: Don’t attempt to make asphalt repairs on your own. Although the process may sound straightforward, only a licensed pavement contractor will have the materials and experience needed to make the kind of repairs that will last for many years to come.

Whether your paved surface is a municipal roadway, a parking lot, or a residential driveway, it’s helpful to know some common reasons why asphalt gets damaged and how to avoid it, if possible. While it’s true that asphalt is extremely durable, that doesn’t mean it’s indestructible. In fact, your pavement can be damaged for any number of reasons, including the following:

• Water – Arguably the biggest enemy of asphalt is water. Whether it’s from heavy rainfall, irrigation systems or depressions in the surface that collect standing water, moisture can seep into tiny cracks in asphalt. This can cause the cracks to expand and increase the possibility of potholes forming. Worse still, water can work its way down below the surface and damage the sublayer of the pavement. To avoid water damage, make sure that minor cracks are repaired promptly, and have your pavement seal coated on a regular basis.
• UV rays – Sunlight can also damage asphalt. The UV rays break down the paved surface, which often results in the pavement becoming dry and brittle. Once again, having your asphalt seal coated on a regular basis will help to protect it from damaging UV rays.
• Heavy traffic – If your pavement is subjected to regular heavy traffic, as is often the case with roadways and parking lots, the asphalt may become rutted and weakened in areas where heavy trucks and other vehicles are parked. This is one of many reasons why it’s so important to hire an experienced, reputable contractor for your paving projects. If the asphalt is properly installed to begin with – such as ensuring that a thicker layer of asphalt is installed in areas that will be subjected to heavy vehicle traffic — it will stand up better in the long run.
• Oil and fuel spills – If your pavement is regularly subjected to spills of vehicle fluids like oil and fuel, those spills can damage the aggregates in the asphalt. Over time, the pavement will begin to crumble and/or form depressions in the surface. When it comes to oil and fuel spills, the longer they are left on the surface, the more damage they will do. So it’s important to clean spills as quickly as possible.

Asphalt pavement is a major investment, so it’s important to protect your paved surfaces from damage whenever possible. Fortunately, you can do just that by following these simple steps. With a little diligence on your part, your pavement can last for many, many years.

It may seem like fall just arrived, but winter weather is just around the corner. Fall is an excellent time to perform some preventive maintenance on your parking lot to prepare it for the upcoming harsh winter weather. Here are a few simple steps that will protect your paved surface:

• Clean off debris. Use a broom or a blower to clear away debris, leaves and dirt from the pavement. Be sure to clean any type of gas or oil stains as soon as possible after they appear.
• Have minor repair work done now. If you see any cracks or potholes in your parking area, contact a reputable paving contractor to have that work done now. If you don’t fix these issues, they will get much worse over the winter, when water will seep below the surface of the asphalt and cause damage to the sublayer. And that can cause substantial damage to the pavement.
• Resolve drainage issues. If you notice areas of standing water in your parking lot, you might have inadequate drainage. It’s important to address this problem before winter sets in. A paving contractor can help you to identify the source of the problem and provide suggestions about how to resolve it.
• Have your pavement seal coated. Ask a local paving contractor whether or not your parking lot should be seal coated before the arrival of winter weather. Seal coating is an excellent way to protect the pavement. How often your parking lot requires seal coating will depend on usage and the climate in your area, which is why it’s a good idea to ask your paving contractor for their recommendation.

Preparing your parking lot for winter not only protects the money you have invested in that paved surface; it can also save you money by avoiding costly repairs in the future! But there’s another reason to act now, during the relatively mild fall weather – it’s much easier for paving contractors to perform repair and maintenance tasks now than in the winter. So don’t put it off any longer! Fall may have just begun, but it will take time to get your parking lot ready for winter, so there’s no time like the present to contact a reputable paving contractor. Follow these simple steps to save your parking lot from damaging winter weather – and to save your pocketbook from costly pavement repairs next spring!

If you work for a municipality and are responsible for finding a paving contractor for a large paving project, we understand how big of a responsibility that is. After all, hiring a substandard contractor can result in poor quality pavement, delays in construction and/or additional costs. And all that can be a bad reflection on you! That’s why it’s so important to choose the right paving contractor to begin with. Here are five things you should look for when choosing a paving company for your large-scale municipal paving project:

• A good reputation. It’s easy to check out online reviews and get an idea of how happy or unhappy previous clients have been with the work done by a paving company. But don’t just rely on what you read on the Internet. Check out the Better Business Bureau to make sure no complaints have been filed against the contractor. And don’t hesitate to ask the contractor for references from other clients that they’ve completed large-scale projects for in the past.
• Insured, licensed and bonded. Any reputable paving contractor will be licensed, bonded and insured. So make sure the contractor you’re considering has a valid contractor and business license, as well as surety bonds and appropriate active insurance policies in place. Insurance should include general liability, workers compensation and commercial vehicle insurance that covers all paving equipment that will be used in the project.
• Experience in other large-scale projects. Completing a large-scale municipal paving project is a lot different than paving a driveway. Make sure that the contractor you choose has several years of experience in similar-sized projects. Ask for a list of projects they’ve done in the past in your local area, and do a drive-by so you can see the quality of their previous work in person.
• Contractor-owned equipment. A paving contractor that is fully prepared to take on a large-scale project should not have to rent equipment to get the job done. They should own their own machinery and manufacture their own paving material.
• A competitive bid. You should always get at least 3 bids from different contractors, particularly for a large-scale paving project. But it’s important to remember that the lowest bid doesn’t always come from the best contractor! In fact, just the opposite is often true. The contractor you choose should prepare a professional, complete bid for your municipality, and the cost should be competitive with other bidders – in other words, not outrageously low or high.

Finding the right contractor for your large-scale paving project can seem like a daunting task, but if you follow these steps carefully, we feel certain you’ll make the right choice.

In many areas of the country, late summer and early fall mean that road construction crews will be busy improving the roads we all drive on, trying to get their work completed before the winter stormy season arrives. Most of us have experienced the frustration of running into road construction delays when we’re out driving. For some reason, they always seem to come at the worst times – like when we’re trying to get to work, or to a dinner date, or to pick up the kids from school. But there’s another way to look at these annoying delays, because whether you realize it or not, road construction is actually a good thing! Here’s why.

• A new road surface is safer. Because new pavement is so much smoother than an old, worn surface, you’ll be much less likely to run into potholes and other uneven portions of the pavement. And new roads aren’t as prone to creating splashes during rainstorms, as opposed to older roads where water can collect in pavement depressions and create hazardous splashes in the rain.
• New roads save the consumers money. It’s a simple fact: the smoother the road surface is, the easier it is on your vehicle. Driving on new roads saves on repair costs that you might otherwise have after exposing your car or truck to the bumps in an older road. New road surfaces are also more fuel-efficient, which means that you’ll save money on the gas or diesel it takes to drive your vehicle.
• A new road allows for shorter travel times. While there’s no doubt that the delays we experience as a result of road construction can slow us down a bit, the truth is that once the road is completed, just the opposite will be true. You may have to wait for a few minutes today, but later on – once the roadwork is complete – you’ll save a significant amount of time traveling on a smoother and/or wider road.
• New roads are more environmentally friendly. We mentioned before how a new road surface saves consumers on fuel costs, but a smooth road does more than that. It also results in reduced carbon dioxide emissions, and that helps the environment.

The next time you run into road construction, take a minute to remember the positive outcomes of these projects. It might not make your wait time any shorter, but it can definitely cut down on your frustration level. Just take a deep breath and imagine all the benefits that new road surface will bring!