We do not recommend that you pave over concrete, though it is not impossible. If you do, very likely reflective cracking will occur later. This type of cracking often appears along the construction joints. The former concrete surface expands or contracts, which causes the asphalt to crack as the concrete shifts.
Asphalt is a flexible material and has a give during bitter winter weather. Asphalt paving is inexpensive to maintain, and adds to curb appeal. Asphalt is petroleum based. It can be used for many different projects such as walkways, roads, ball courts, driveways, golf cart paths, etc. Asphalt boasts a smooth surface for vehicles or pedestrians.
In summer weather, it is best to stay off the fresh asphalt for one to two days. This allows the surface sufficient time to cure and also cool. In other weather, twenty-four hours is the approximate cure time before using the new asphalt surface.
Most generally, asphalt pavement mixes are composed of 95% aggregates (which is stone, gravel, and sand) and 5% asphalt cement. Asphalt cement has to be heated to be mixed with aggregates. Asphalt has a highly viscous nature.
The life of your asphalt can vary depending on the circumstances. The climate where you live, the amount and type of traffic, base conditions, and the upkeep of the pavement all play into the length of time your asphalt will last. Under normal conditions, your asphalt pavement should last approximately ten to twenty years.
Certainly! Sealcoating your asphalt parking lot or other surface will add to the life span of your asphalt. It adds to the attractiveness of your asphalt, along with helping to prevent water from soaking through to the subgrade. It will also help your asphalt be more resistant to oil and chemical spills, along with gasoline mishaps. Sealcoating helps your parking lot be more flexible, along with slowing the effects of oxidation.
Contact Royal Paving for sealcoating during the months of April through October. The temperature needs to be at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit through the night hours.
When you begin to notice alligator cracking in your parking lot, you should have them repaired if they are a quarter inch wide. Filling the cracks in as soon as possible will prevent the further growth of a crack. It will also help keep water from seeping below the parking lot and damaging the subgrade.
Many people are worried about the aesthetics of patches on asphalt. It will make a difference if your driveway or parking lot has been sealcoated. New asphalt where a pothole or crack has been repaired will have a black appearance. Some do not care for this look and choose to have the entire asphalt surface sealcoated or resurfaced after the patching is finished. The patch may also have a more porous surface. Keep in mind that you are maintaining the integrity of your asphalt, and it may not bother you to have a slight difference in appearance.
The edge of a driveway or parking lot should be adequately supported. If a large amount of weight is placed on the edge, such as with a vehicle or lawn mower, the edge can be susceptible to a break if it has not been properly supported. A beveled edge on the side of the pavement with a 45 degree angle will help to spread out the pressure. If topsoil is installed against the height of the asphalt, that will also assist with a breaking problem.
The angle of a driveway should have a fourth inch fall for each foot of asphalt on your driveway. If your driveway does not have this particular amount of grade, rain and other water can pond. We offer several solutions to this problem such as curbs, swales, and drains. If you have less than a two percent fall, you can expect to have water ponding on your driveway.
That depends. Specifically, it depends on the amount of traffic an area receives and also how much sunlight it gets. Preferably, a driveway should not need to be sealcoated more often than every two or three years. If a parking lot or driveway is sealcoated too often, it can become smooth and slick when it rains, thus posing a safety hazard.
