FAQ Answers...
When can we drive on our new driveway?
Usually in a day or two unless it is really hot. If you can avoid
turning the wheels of your vehicles when it is not moving that will help
prevent scuffing.
For asphalt resurfacing, depending upon the temperature of the day, one
should allow 2 to 6 hours before using the new lot.
Sealcoating needs a 24-hour drying (curing) time after work is
completed. Do not allow traffic on your lot before the end of the
24-hour drying period.
Why are there scuff marks on new asphalt surfaces?
Scuffing
of newly sealed or paved surfaces are inevitable as it is the nature of
asphalt material combined with hot weather. After about a month those
scuff marks are rarely noticeable. The scuffs are just the sand being
displaced and will wash away. Asphalt requires about 6 months to fully
cure. Until that time it is tender and best to be a little careful.
Avoid tight turns, and turning the steering wheel when the vehicle is
not moving. Avoid sudden stops if you can.
What are some of the causes of asphalt failure?
Inadequate thickness of the pavement section to support the loads that
travel across the asphalt, lack of maintenance, and weak or unstable
subgrade components.
Asphalt
deteriorates when weather and traffic wear "fines" aggregates away. When
the "fines" are worn away, there is nothing to bind the larger
aggregates together and the surface begins to ravel. This weakens the
pavement section and eventually allows water to penetrate the subgrade,
which leads to pavement failure.
What causes fatigue cracks in pavement?
Fatigue cracks are the direct result of excessive bending of the
pavement surface. Asphalt will fail if subjected to repetitive or
excessive bending as from vehicular traffic.
Why doesn't asphalt stay that nice rich black colour?
The UV rays from the sun breakdown the carbon bonds in the asphalt oil
thus causing the colour to change from black to gray. It is this oil
that binds everything in the asphalt together so when it is depleted
erosion starts, some sand particles at first and then larger pebbles to
stones then with water infiltration it is all down hill from there. This
oil is also what keeps the asphalt flexible. So when the asphalt is gray
and oxidized it is less flexible and more prone to cracking.
What causes potholes?
Possible causes of potholes include asphalt that was too thin, base
failure under heavy loads or poor drainage that weakens the subgrade and
base. Poor quality (segregation in the asphalt, poor compaction, or
asphalt that was burnt or did not have enough oil mixed into it) may be
a contributing factor.
What causes alligator cracks?
Usually alligator cracking is caused by excessive deflection of the
pavement due to an unstable base or due to repeated traffic loads
heavier than what the road was built to withstand. If this cracking is
not addressed then it will expand and cause more damage.
Why are there cracks in the asphalt along the edges?
Edge cracks are usually caused because there is not enough support next
to the road or the base has washed out. It is good if you can avoid
driving on the edge. If you do get cracks have them filled with a
rubberized crack filler. If the cracking is severe then it may have to
be cut out and replaced.
When should a parking lot be patched?
patching is a repair operation and can be done as often as needed, until
a lot reaches the resurfacing stage (over 35% of the lot is alligator
cracked). Damaged areas will get much worse over the winter so it is
best to get them done before then. Book the repair work early!
How thick should the asphalt be?
Asphalt pavements have defined strength co-efficients that determine
their service life based on actual traffic conditions. The thicker the
asphalt, the longer the pavement will last. For patching we like to put
at least an inch more than what was originally installed.
In general, we use
the following guidelines to determine asphalt depths:
-
2" Car traffic
only, no truck traffic ever
-
3" for
driveways that have the occasional delivery or septic truck
-
4`5" Light
truck traffic, 1-5 large trucks per day
-
6`7" Heavy
truck traffic, 5-30 large trucks per day
-
8`10" Very
heavy truck use (ex: city street or runways)
If there are budget
constraints, do less area at the appropriate depth, not more area at
less depth!!
When must a pavement be removed and replaced?
If the existing pavement system is completely unusable due to age,
neglect or change of use, then there is no other option but to remove
and replace it. If the asphalt lot or driveway is 60% cracked then it is
more cost effective to remove it all and start over, opposed to
continued patching.
Won't all
pavements have to be removed and replaced at some point?
No. If a pavement is consistently maintained it will never have to be
completely replaced. With sufficient planning, a complete rehabilitation
project will restore a pavement to as new condition or better.
How long
does this R+R process take?
The entire pavement system must be removed with excavating equipment and
hauled to a landfill. New gravel is trucked to the site, graded and
compacted prior to paving. So size of the job and distance from the
gravel pit and asphalt plant play a big part in the timing, but on
average it is less than a week for smaller lots and two to three days
for a large acreage driveway.
Should a geo-technical engineer be involved with a remove and replace
project?
Since
this is such a large expense, it is wise to seek professional guidance
on pavement design and specifications. The existing pavement and
sub-grade should be tested and the projected traffic use calculated to
determine the best design.
When
should a parking lot be resurfaced?
Resurfacing a lot is ideal when the surface has become heavily oxidized
but the base is still stable. Usually when the asphalt is approximately
12 to 15 years old, provided it was paved and maintained properly
(correct thickness for the traffic, proper compaction, correct type of
asphalt, proper drainage, etc.)
Resurfacing when the weather is dry and warm is essential. Paving when
it is cold leads to cold "seams" and possibly less than ideal
compaction, which can contribute to premature failure. The general rule
of thumb is to pave when temperatures are 10° C and rising.
How long
should a newly resurfaced lot last?
Depends
on deflection of the original pavement (prior to resurfacing), how many
trucks use the pavement and the thickness of the new asphalt layer, but
generally you can expect at least 8 to 12 years before more serious
maintenance is required.
How long
before traffic is permitted on a newly resurfaced lot?
Rubber
tire traffic will not damage the new asphalt but care should be taken to
avoid sharp turns (especially power steering marks created by non-moving
vehicles).
Why do I
need to seal asphalt?
Asphalt
is a very complex mixture of thousands of chemicals, which are
predominantly open chain (aliphatic) in structure with a considerable
degree of un-saturation within their molecular structure. The open chain
provides easy access to water, salt, oils which disintegrates the
asphalt molecules, i.e. reducing its binding and waterproofing
abilities. The first sign of this is the change in the asphalt's colour.
It changes or fades from black to gray.
Once the asphalt binder has been lost, the surface will become brittle
and start to ravel (top layer of rocks will loosen and start to come
out) the flexibility will lessen and cracks will appear. Water will get
into the base and damage the pavement's load bearing capacity.
By sealcoating, we are providing a flexible, stable and homogeneous
compound to act as a barrier to protect asphalt surfaces from the
damaging effects of the elements.
How long should traffic stay off the parking lot after you seal it?
Ideally we recommend that it be allowed to cure for 24 hours or at least
over night.
How does
sealcoating work?
It is
like sun block. We know that asphalt is a mixture of aggregate (small
stones) and mineral fillers (sand) combined with 4.5% to 12% (average
6%) asphaltic binder (asphalt cement). It is this binder that needs to
be protected from deterioration. This binder is highly subject to
problems with ultraviolet rays, moisture and traffic overload. By
placing a sealcoat over the asphalt you are placing a protective barrier
over the asphalt. This process of applying a sealcoat every 3-6 years
will double the life of your asphalt, saving you from having to carry
out costly repairs.
When
should a parking lot be sealcoated for the first time?
Short
answer is one year from construction. Ideally an asphalt pavement should
be sealed as soon as the surface has fully cured (6 months). Sealer can
only be applied when it is sunny and the temperature is 15°C and rising.
How long
should the first sealcoat application last?
This
depends on many factors: the number of coats, the amount of traffic, how
much sand and salt is put on in the winters, whether it is in the shade
more than the sun, how much water runs over it, etc. Having said that,
the average for driveways is between 4 and 6 years. Parking lots and
Condos 3 to 5 years but less at the entrances.
Will
sealcoat waterproof a cracked pavement?
Absolutely not! A sealcoat is a preservative coating but has no
structural value. Minor cracks should be sealed with a hot pour,
rubberized material prior to sealcoating. Network cracked areas should
be excavated and repaired with a sufficient thickness of asphalt prior
to sealcoating.
Will
sealcoating allow us to get another couple of years out of our old,
cracked pavement?
This is a common misconception. Sealcoating at the end of a pavement
life cycle is a waste of money. It would be like someone painting a car
that had rusted out. Cracks will only be highlighted and water will
continue to have a free path to the base layer. If a driveway or parking
lot is too far gone, it is better to save the money spent on sealcoating
and apply it towards repairs and eventually an overlay of new asphalt.
What is
Micro Pave 2000?
Micro Pave 2000 is in the same family of products as Slurries and Micro
Surfacing. These products have been used primarily on streets and
highways for over fifty years.
Slurries and Micro Surfacing are made quickly and accurately at the job
site. Mixing and spreading are carried out in one continuous operation
with large expensive equipment.
Micro Pave 2000 is mixed in a stationary plant. It is stabilized so it
can be transported and placed by small specialized machines capable of
working in smaller areas such as parking lots, residential streets,
driveways, pathways, etc.
What is a slurry seal?
It is similar to a sealcoat but has a significant amount of graded
aggregate mixed into the emulsified asphalt. It is applied to the
pavement by a squeegee and is generally used to improve the quality of
the pavement surface rather than just to maintain its current state.
What is
sealcoat?
It is a general term for any of a variety of coal tar or asphalt
emulsions applied to a relatively sound asphalt surface to prevent
damage from ultraviolet rays, moisture and oxidation.
Will the
sealcoating material track into my buildings?
Each section must be secured prior to the start of work. Schedules must
be communicated to the tenants so that everyone understands the traffic
patterns throughout the project. The material will track if it is walked
on or driven on before it has dried.
Why are
there tire marks showing on a newly sealcoated parking lot?
The material drys to the touch in a few hours but it takes several weeks
to fully harden, especially in the hot sun. Expect power steering marks
as the sand is sheared away from the sealer but over time these marks
will go away.
How can
Micro Pave 2000 be so cheap compared to asphalt?
Slurry
seals are not usually as cheap as our product but that is because we do
not need as expensive equipment or as many workers. Also most
sealcoating products available in Canada were manufactured in the USA
and with the dollar exchange it gets expensive. Not so with Micro Pave
2000. Paving manufactures it here in Alberta at a stationary plant.
What
causes the cracks in my asphalt?
All
pavement failure starts with a crack. Asphalt cracking is caused
primarily by the effects of sun and moisture and ground movements.
Asphalt is flexible when new, but with age it becomes more rigid and is
less able to tolerate vertical deflections. This causes a tension and
pulling apart in the pavement and before you know it you have a crack.
Once the crack is open, moisture is able to reach the pavement's
subsurface and soften it, or freeze and expand it. Soon the pavement
begins to deteriorate around the crack, creating a larger problem.
Proper attention to the cracks will prevent the problems from spreading
and double the life of the pavement. Treating the problem while it is
still small will pay big dividends later by delaying costly resurfacing.
When
should cracks be sealed?
The sooner the better. Any crack will allow moisture to penetrate to the
subsurface and the larger the cracks the faster this happens. The goal
of a good pavement management plan should be to keep the moisture from
entering the asphalt pavement; however, only isolated cracks should be
sealed, never alligatored areas.
How often
should a lot be cracksealed?
Since this is a maintenance operation, it can be done as often as
needed. Pavements on a yearly maintenance and repair plan, should budget
for this once a year.
Why do
you rout or cut the crack and make it bigger?
This is similar to why a dentist drills a cavity to make it bigger, so
you can better fill it. The regular cracksealing operation (which we do
not recommend because it is just a band aid solution to a problem that
requires stitches) involves trying to pour the sealant into isolated
cracks throughout the pavement. When routing is added to this operation,
all cracks are routed to a uniform width before injecting the sealant.
Routing provides a uniform reservoir to hold the material, thus widening
the crack, which reduces the degree of expansion during freeze thaw
cycles.
Why can't
alligatored areas be cracksealed?
When alligatored areas appear in a parking lot it means that water has
penetrated the sub-grade layer and the pavement can no longer support
the weight of the traffic. Cracksealing is not the solution at this
stage.
How long
does it take the material to dry?
The cracksealing material is applied at 300° F but cools to the touch in
minutes and can be open to traffic almost as fast without worry of it
tracking.
Will
sealcoat material stick to cracksealing material?
The two materials will bond but since the cracksealing material is
designed to flex through a wide temperature range, the sealer will chip
off from the crackseal. Expect a color difference between the two
materials.
What is
the standard size for a speedhump?
Speedhumps are typically 22' long by the width of the street. There are
6' ramps on either side of a 10' plateau in the middle of the speedhump.
What is
the standard size for a speedbump?
Speedbumps are typically 3-4' wide and rise to a height of 3".
Speedbumps should be at least 3' wide and be formed with a gradual
radius to prevent damage to vehicles.
Where
should speedbumps be installed?
Generally, speedbumps are installed in a parking lot to slow drivers
down and protect pedestrians. If possible, install speedbumps between
islands so that cars cannot drive around them.
Where
should speedhumps be installed?
Speedhumps are usually installed on streets. Condos or cities request
them to reduce speeding and cut through traffic on neighborhood streets.
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