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Elite Asphalt Paving Company in Maine strives to serve the Auburn, ME area with excellence! We’re a team of fully-certified professionals who tackle everything from complex commercial or large projects to smaller scale or residential jobs. Fueled by our commitment to excellence, we go the extra mile to make sure clients are completely satisfied with our work. Give us a call today to schedule a FREE consultation.
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DRIVEWAY PAVING WITH ASPHALT
It’s All in the Details
Looking for a reliable Asphalt Paving Company with extensive experience for your next project? At Auburn Asphalt Paving Company in Maine, we stand by the excellence of our work and provide clients with personalized attention based on their specific needs. If you’re looking for professional Asphalt Paving, please get in touch for your consultation.
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For a material to be useful for driveway paving construction, it must be both durable and cost-effective. One of the best materials that best fit this description is asphalt. With a big project like a driveway, it is important to get in mind both the project’s long-term cost as well as the up-front one. Asphalt driveways provide significant benefits in both respects. There are many advantages that come with asphalt driveways that you would like to know.
Most homeowners want a driveway material that is both relatively inexpensive to install and that will not cost a lot to maintain. Asphalt itself is cheaper, and the tools and materials needed to keep it in top shape are inexpensive as well. The installation cost for an asphalt driveway is also approximately 45% less than that of a concrete one. In addition, the homeowner can easily buy materials at a hardware store and apply them to patch their driveway if there is any damage caused.
Over the course of the year, the ground under a driveway will contract and expand depending on the temperature. Asphalt paving is relatively flexible when compared to concrete. In summer, it expands because of the heat and it contracts in winter because of the cold. Asphalt handles this easily with little or no damage, but concrete can be too hard. This hardness can cause cracking in extreme temperatures, leaving unsightly and unsafe gaps that can widen with age. When people use salt on roads to melt ice can also cause concrete driveways to crack, so those in areas which receive a lot of snow should consider asphalt for their driveway.
The time it takes to install an asphalt paved driveway is relative less when compared to the amount of time it takes to install a concrete one. Concrete can take as long as four days to pour and another four days to set; from start to finish, pouring and setting only takes two days with asphalt. This can be a benefit to builders on a time crunch and even more so for those in areas of inclement weather.
Snow will melt and get absorbed faster on an asphalt driveway when compared to one made of concrete. This is because asphalt driveways are black and is known that black color helps them to retain the heat, this can make winter maintenance easier and also safer for both commercial and residential settings. Concrete is not black and therefore does not have that benefit. Again, in areas which have heavy snowfall or freezing temperatures, this can be a major advantage asphalt has over concrete of course.
The first and most important benefit of an asphalt driveway is its affordability, both in the long and short term. Homeowners should consider the fact that if it is properly sealed and cared for, an asphalt driveway can last too much time, for upwards of 30 years, that is great.
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At Auburn Asphalt Paving Company in Maine, our clients are our number one priority and we go the extra mile to make sure they’re completely satisfied. With this service, we’re fully prepared to tackle even the most complex projects and stand by the exceptional quality of our work. Call us today and find out more about what we can do for you.
ASPHALT INSTILLATION
It’s never too late to learn something new, and when it comes to asphalt pavement driveway installation, there are many things that homeowners, commercial property owners, and municipality employees may not be aware of.
What does an asphalt pavement driveway installation requires? from demolition all the way to a smooth, and finally to get a new surface.
Step number 1: We should make demolition and removal
The first step in the asphalt installation process is to remove the existing surface, whether it is asphalt, concrete or pavers.
Demolition and removal is completed using heavy machinery, including small bobcats and forklifts and when necessary, front loaders and large dump trucks, debris is then removed.
Step number 2: Start grading and Sloping
The surface to be paved should ensure that water will run-off appropriately. Proper water drainage is vital to your asphalt because water is a major cause of structure damage, including potholes, cracks, and heaving.
Step number 3: Start preparing the Sub Base
You’d never guess that the most important part of your new asphalt surface is actually the sub base, this provides a stable surface to support the pavement. The sub base is a frost barrier to help reduce winter damage due to freezing and thawing.
During the installation, base thickness, base stability, and compaction are essential steps. If the sub base is not appropriately compacted, the asphalt surface on top will not provide years of durability.
Step number 4: Proof Roll, Undercutting and Sub Base Repair
Once the sub base is fully graded and fully compacted, we need to ensure the underlying surface is strong to support the new asphalt paved structure.
Undercutting can be used to repair soft spots. This process involves digging down below the surface, often 2 or 3 feet and replacing the underlying soft clay or soil with stronger aggregate material for durability.
Step number 5: Binder and Surface Course
Once the sub base is laid and any soft areas are identified and repaired, it is time to add the binder.
The binder layer is large aggregate mixed with oil, making it very strong and durable. The binder layer can be thought of as the strength of any new asphalt surface.
Step number 6: Start installing New Asphalt Surface
Now once the supportive structures of a new asphalt surface are installed, the top layer of fresh asphalt is added to provide a clean, smooth ride.
Surface asphalt is made up of small aggregate, sand and oil.
This combination of materials creates jet-black asphalt that, when installed appropriately, provides a smooth ride and a shiny, attractive finished surface.
Step number 7: Butt Joints and Transitions
It is not common to install an asphalt surface that does not connect to existing driveways, roadways or parking lots. As such, asphalt-paving contractors must find a way to smooth the transition from old surface to new. Butt joints are specific areas where old asphalt or concrete meets new asphalt pavement. These transitional areas often require special attention to ensure that the grading and water run-off is appropriate, butt joints are important to ensure drivers and pedestrians don’t get notice a difference in the surfaces.
Finally we are able to complete the Project: The Final Roll
Once the asphalt and butt joints have been laid, the entire surface is smoothed and compacted. Using a roller truck, the new asphalt pavement surface is compacted and smoothed.
This process steps ensures that no small bumps of aggregate or stone are left poking through the smooth new surface. Your asphalt paving contractor should follow these installation steps carefully to make sure your new asphalt surface will provide years of durability and functionally for your home, business, city or town asphalt driveway.
ASPHALT REMOVAL
Over time, your driveway will begin to show signs of damage. When this happens, it is crucial to hire a team of professional asphalt driveway pavers to remove the old structure and put a new one in. Far too many companies pave over old asphalt rather than replace it. However, this practice leads to even more significant issues. While asphalt driveway removal may be an intricate process, it is necessary to reap numerous benefits out of your new driveway.
Asphalt removal process saves you money over the years with fewer repairs. For minor issues, it is important to still be aware of when it is more financially prudent to replace the driveway entirely. While laying asphalt over old concrete will cost less, you will end up paying more for it in the long run. If your asphalt driveway sits on top of a faulty base, it’s more prone to developing potholes and cracks. After an inspection and consultation with our trusted contractors, you may find that a complete replacement will save you from costly repairs down the road.
Note, every driveway requires maintenance as it ages, but if you take the proper measures to lay the asphalt and keep the driveway in good shape, you will save more.
Removing the faulty base of your driveway and replacing it with new asphalt is required to create a strong and lasting structure. Although your upfront costs may be more when you invest in a new base, you’ll end up saving money in repairs in the long run. One Stop Asphalt, a trusted asphalt driveway replace and repair company located in Auburn , Maine, will help first evaluate your driveway to determine any underlying issues and provide an instant quote. With proper care and maintenance, your structure can last up to 20 years!
What causes asphalt problems?
You may be looking at your asphalt thinking, how did it get like this? Here are some common asphalt problems and what causes them.
Potholes: You probably see these on the road. Potholes are usually small and look like little bowls on the surface of your asphalt. This happens when asphalt materials have gone missing, usually due to water infiltrating the asphalt. Also, potholes can occur if poor asphalt material was used, or if it suffers from poor maintenance.
Depressions: These are like baby potholes. These small depressions are usually noticeable after a rainy day. You’ll notice water pooling up on your asphalt where it normally doesn’t. Depressions usually occur because of poor construction or when the pavement structure below has settled.
Raveling: You may notice the stone base of your asphalt separating from the surface of your asphalt. That’s called raveling. This problem is especially noticeable as the separation of stone from the asphalt gives it a rough texture. This happens when your driveway is constructed under bad weather conditions. Other causes include hardening, an inferior asphalt mix, or improper compaction of the asphalt.
Crescent-Shaped Cracking: These crescent-shaped cracks look like tears on the surface of the asphalt. Also known as slippage cracking, the cause of this kind of problem is the use of poor bonding materials underneath the surface of the asphalt.
Alligator Cracking: This one is obvious. It looks like alligator skin. This happens in areas where the load of materials being transported or stored on the asphalt is greater than what the pavement can actually handle. This can also happen when oxidation has set in, making the asphalt surface lose its flexibility.
Shrinkage Cracking: This looks like an even larger form of alligator cracks. This kind of cracking is caused by shrinkage, which causes the asphalt to lose its ability to bind, expand or adapt to different temperature changes.
Reflective Cracking: Let’s say you just had your original pavement resurfaced. Then, you see the same cracking on the surface of your newly resurfaced pavement. Then you have what’s called reflective cracking. This means that the cracks on the original surface have continued on the new one.
SHOULD YOU PAVE YOUR DRIVEWAY WITH CONCRETE OR ASPHALT?
Asphalt is one of the first materials that come to mind when it comes to driveways and for good reason. Asphalt driveways are great in so many different ways. They’re significantly cheaper to install compared to concrete driveways and they offer a lot of the same advantages, with a few main differences. For example, an asphalt driveway is more flexible than concrete, driveway sealing is faster and less susceptible to cracking and can be used immediately after installation whereas a poured concrete one is more expensive and needs to cure for about 7 days before it can be used. When properly maintained, an asphalt driveway can last between 12 to 20 years which is not bad but not as impressive as the 30 years that a concrete driveway typically lasts.
Maintenance is a very important factor to consider before installing an asphalt driveway. It’s one of the major cons that you need to keep in mind because without proper maintenance the driveway will not last nearly as much as it should. It needs to be sealed every 2 to 5 years and any cracks and holes need to be repaired as soon as possible in order for this to be worth the initial investment. Of course, there are also lots of pros to keep in mind. For example, asphalt driveways look nice and are versatile, being suitable for all types of homes. They’re easy to clean and they let water pass through and dink into the ground which means you won’t have any puddles anywhere.
1) Before installing an asphalt driveway, take a minute to analyze the situation. If you’re living in a hot climate, you should probably consider other options since asphalt doesn’t do well in this situation. Concrete on the other hand would be a suitable choice.
2) Asphalt driveways are better at hiding stains and spills than other types are. That’s thanks to their blacktop surface and matte finish which means they can also be cleaned more easily compared to concrete driveways which tend to show every scratch and spill.
3) Asphalt driveways are very versatile and flexible which allows them to complement just about any build style. Of course, they’re not very customizable which can sometimes be a disadvantage.
4) Keep in mind that although you can technically use an asphalt driveway immediately after it’s been installed, it actually takes a pretty long time for it to completely cure (anywhere between 3 to 12 months). During that time the surface is softer and easier to damage.
5) As mentioned before, asphalt driveways are not very customizable. You can’t really paint them or apply patterns to them so you’re stuck with the basic street-like appearance which in some cases can work out perfectly.
6) Asphalt is not the best choice if you’re living in an area with hot summers. The driveway can start to get sticky if the temperature gets very high which can create all sorts of other issues. In comparison, asphalt tends to be better for cold climates than concrete is because ice and snow melts faster on it in and in addition, it doesn’t crack or stain as easily.
7) Although an asphalt driveway can look a bit mainstream due to the dark gray to black look that it typically has, that can work out in your favor if the style matches that of your house. A matching roof can really tie the whole area together.
8) An asphalt driveway can look right at home is placed right next to the street. The transition would be seamless and that can help maintain an organic and harmonious design throughout the property.
9) Asphalt driveways require regular maintenance and deteriorate faster than concrete driveways. Nevertheless, they’re easy to repair and patched spots don’t stand out that much, eventually blending in quite seamlessly.
10) Asphalt and concrete driveways are similar in a lot of ways, with a few major differences that we highlighted above. The most important one however is the price. Installing an asphalt driveways is about 50% cheaper than a concrete one and that often makes any inconveniences worth the savings.
ASPHALT REPAIR AND/OR PATCHING
If your asphalt driveway lot has a lot of cracks, crevices, and potholes, one option to rejuvenate your lot is a hot asphalt patch. Asphalt patching is a quick, easy way to repair your lot’s damaged areas. Here’s what you need to know about a hot asphalt patch, including how it can be used in your parking lot repairs.
So, what is asphalt patch?
As the name suggests, a hot asphalt patch uses heated asphalt for asphalt repair. The asphalt is heated to a high temperature and then inserted into the crack or pothole. Equipment is used to compact and level off the hot asphalt so it’s uniform with the rest of the parking lot.
You can use an entirely new layer of asphalt for a hot asphalt patch, or you may opt to have new asphalt mixed with your lot’s old asphalt. The latter method cuts down on the amount of materials used for your asphalt repair, making it as environmentally friendly as possible.
When to Use a Hot Asphalt Patch
Asphalt patching is an excellent alternative if you only have a few damaged areas in your parking lot or if you’re interested in a repair alternative that’s less intensive than asphalt paving for your entire lot. If the rest of your parking lot is in good shape, it’s not necessary to invest in full asphalt resurfacing. Hot asphalt patches also help you maintain your parking lot so that it provides your property with maximum utility.
For example, assume you want to schedule parking lot striping, but some of your spaces have large cavities that render them unusable. Patching is an excellent alternative for these small pockets of damage. The patches will ensure there’s a smooth, uniform surface for your lot’s striping.
Regular parking lot maintenance is important for your asphalt to reach its full lifespan. If you leave potholes and cracks un-repaired, they will get worse over time. As moisture enters these damaged areas, the asphalt will degrade even more. This will worsen the depressions and eventually impact the structural integrity of your entire parking lot.
An asphalt patch is less expensive and less invasive than more in-depth repair options. You’ll only have to mark off the areas that require asphalt repair instead of closing off your whole parking lot.
If you have asphalt that needs a full-surface repair, a patch can temporarily fix the issues and give you a little bit more time to prepare financially and logistically for a longer-lasting repair.
What is the difference Between Asphalt Patches
A cold asphalt patch is another option for asphalt patching, but it’s only suited for periods of cold weather.
Cold asphalt patches are a form of temporary asphalt repair and are used for short-term or emergency fixes. Ideally, cold asphalt patches shouldn’t be used for more than a month. The gravel and asphalt are not heated; while the materials will fill in the crack or pothole, they don’t provide the structure offered by more permanent alternatives. Since they’re not heated, the materials won’t cure and provide your asphalt with the protection it needs from the elements and other sources of moisture.
If you live in a warm weather conditions, you’re better off sticking with a hot asphalt patch for your asphalt repair needs. For the best results, hot asphalt patches should be applied when the temperatures are warm. This will prevent the patch from curing too quickly and failing to properly conform to the damaged area.