Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Design Pavements Through An Asphalt Company Maryland Area

By Jaclyn Hurley


A properly installed asphaltic driveway and parking lot creates a good impression in your home and business. If you want to install quality driveways or parking lots, you can consult asphalt company Maryland area. The life expectancy of asphalt pavements is determined by the kind of materials used, and the skills applied. If well constructed, asphaltic pavements can have a life expectancy of about 25 years or even more.

The asphaltic material is composed of rock particles or the aggregate stones, the asphalt cement, and sand. This mixture can last for an extended period when laid down properly. The right mixture and compaction has to be applied to get quality structure. Newly constructed asphalt will be flexible because it retains most of the lighter hydrocarbon oils, which form part of the DNA structure of the materials.

The foundation of asphaltic structures like driveways and parking lot is made of gravel stones. The stones are made to provide stability within the structure and prevent premature failure. If the base cannot support heavy weights like vehicles, the structure is likely to come down crumbling. Additionally, if the base is unstable, there may be uneven movements that can lead to depression and upheavals.

When the gravel is laid in a thickness of about five to eight inches, it supports the blacktop pavement materials and allows the structure to last for long. A good foundation allows the driveways or parking lots to last for many years without experiencing major structural defects. Once you have constructed your pavements, you need to seal them in order to protect the blacktop.

The flexibility allows the material to withstand the changes in temperatures as well as the heavy weights. When it is hot, asphalts expand and when cold they contract meaning that they can move evenly. This minimizes the chances of cracking. However, since the material is constantly drying, it reaches a point where it hardens and becomes brittle.

In order to preserve its quality, it has to be seal coated. Applying a sealcoat on asphaltic material restores its visco-elasticity. It also helps protect the material from effects of sunlight and water. Sunlight heats the paving material and makes it dry fast. The oxidation process of that material is accelerated due to ultraviolet rays meaning that it ages fast than desired.

When the oxidizing process is over, you have reached the end of life with the driveway or parking lot. You have to construct another one. This may take more than thirty years depending on how you have been taking care of your driveways. The newly constructed asphaltic pavements have to be coated. The coating should only be applied when the blacktop has cured properly.

Putting at least two coats of sealing product on blacktop can help preserve its quality. The sealants act as membranes and prevent damage of your pavements. With a primed contractor, you can repair any damage that occurs on your parking lots and driveways. Asphalt suffers from defects such as cracks and potholes. Whereas some cracks may be sealed using crack sealers, others may require methods such as patching and overlays.




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