Suburban Asphalt Services

Asphalt Paving

Asphalt is the material of choice for most paving parking lots and driveways across the nation because of its strength, durability and cost effectiveness. With proper construction and maintenance, asphalt will withstand heavy use and last for many years.

In order to construct a quality asphalt surface to suit your needs Suburban Asphalt will first need to meet with you and determine the correct pavement plan. This plan will be determined by an inspection of the site, your needs and your budget. Factors we need to consider are vehicle weights, traffic flow, existing landscape, drainage, and usage, etc.

New Pavement Construction

Just as the name indicates, this process involves constructing an entirely new asphalt surface. First we must excavate the site to the proper grade and inspect this subgrade for stability. Next a stone base will be installed to the required base thickness. Then we will grade and compact this base and verify elevations as needed to ensure drainage of the site. Finally, the appropriate asphalt mix is installed and compacted to meet the customer’s needs. When all the asphalt paving is complete all necessary signage and line striping will be done to meet all ADA standards.

Asphalt Removal & Replacement

When asphalt has not been properly maintained or has just exceeded its life expectancy the old asphalt may need to be removed and replaced. This process usually involves complete removal of the old asphalt surface. Followed by an inspection of the existing base, additional steps may be needed to prepare the base. Conditions which may not be discovered until the old asphalt is removed are mud, shallow utilities, excessive moisture or an incorrectly installed subgrade. Our inspection will determine the most effective method to correct these conditions. Once things have been corrected the stone base is installed, graded and compacted. The new asphalt can then be installed and compacted with the correct rollers to finish the process.

Resurfacing

When asphalt has begun to show signs of surface deterioration and the base is still intact an asphalt overlay is an extremely effective solution. The average thickness of an asphalt overlay is 1.5 inches, but the type of asphalt and customer needs must be evaluated before an overlay can be installed.

Mill & Overlay

This is the most popular resurfacing option because it allows the surrounding finish elevations to remain the same. We begin this process by milling or grinding to a specific depth. The milled material is loaded on the trucks and hauled from the site. Once the milling is complete a new asphalt layer can quickly be installed. This new surface can be line striped and reopened to customers faster then any other paving method.

Pavement Overlay System

This is the preferred method of resurfacing for most property owners who plan to keep properties for a long time and want the parking lot to look good and last. The existing asphalt is repaired, milled and leveled to the specific grades. Then a distributor truck sprays hot asphaltic tack sealant uniformly to the specified areas. A Geotextile “Paving Fabric” will then be placed over the existing sealed surface and set into place. Hot mix asphalt is then installed over this membrane to the required thickness and compacted thoroughly.

This membrane when installed properly has the following benefits. It creates a moisture barrier, absorbs stress and reduces reflective cracking from the old surface to the new surface. The benefits from this Geotextile can increase new pavement life by up to 50% over traditional overlays. The pavement overlay system is commonly used in larger pavement projects.

Pulverizing

This process involves heavy equipment being brought in to grind up and crush existing asphalt and recycle it onsite to be used as a part of the new base. This process reduces trucking costs and recycles all material onsite. The size of the parking lot, surrounding elevations and existing conditions will determine if this is an option for your parking lot.

Asphalt Patching

Common causes of asphalt deterioration are drainage problems, excessive loads, and fluids from leaky vehicles. When asphalt starts to deteriorate Suburban Asphalt recommends fixing the problem in problem in one of three ways:

Remove and Replace - This is the method of choice when the base of the asphalt has been damaged. The area is sawcut at the edge of the deteriorated area, the asphalt and stone are removed and the base is inspected. New stone is installed as needed and compacted thoroughly to stabilized the base. Hot mix asphalt is then added to the proper thickness and rolled to match the surround elevations.

Mill and Replace – Deteriorating asphalt is milled to a specific depth and removed from site. The area is cleaned of all loose debris and a layer of tack (glue) is applied for proper adhesion of new asphalt. New hot mix asphalt is then added to the proper thickness and rolled to match the surround elevations.

Asphalt Skin Patching – This option is only recommended when the existing asphalt base is in good shape or the property owner is looking for an inexpensive quick fix. The first thing we need to do is remove any loose debris from the area and apply a layer of tack (glue). Asphalt is then added to the desired thickness and compacted by hand or mechanically depending on the application. Because skin patches are just added to the top of existing asphalt they sometimes appear a little raised and rougher then existing asphalt.

Sealcoating

Sealcoating is a vital element of pavement maintenance. Sealcoat is a coal and tar emulsion that is applied over existing asphalt surfaces to protect the surface from daily destructive forces.

Advantages of Sealcoating

Sealcoating protects against natural elements such as sunlight, snow, ice and salt.
Sealcoating protects from the deteriorating effects of oil, gas and hazardous chemicals
Sealcoating increase water runoff by filling in the asphalt pores and creating a smooth asphalt surface.
Sealcoating allows for easier sweeping, cleaning and maintenance of asphalt.
Sealcoating gives asphalt a new black finish enhancing the look of any property.
Sealcoating will increase the life of existing asphalt and save money by reducing pavement repair costs.

Sealcoating Schedule

Sealcoating should be done within 1 year of new asphalt being installed and never earlier then 6 weeks. Sealer should then be applied every 2-3 years depending on the traffic patterns, wear and tear, and the overall condition of your asphalt. Sealer is typically applied with a sprayer for the smoothest and most consistent application. Asphalt edges are typically done by hand with squeegees to prevent any overspray on concrete, garages, and landscaping. Any asphalt repairs should be made prior to beginning any sealer application. Oil and gas stains should be chemically treated with an oil spot primer to help sealer to adhere properly. Normal set up and drytime for asphalt sealer is 24 hours depending on weather conditions.

Crackfilling

Crackfilling is one of the best ways to reduce pavement deterioration. Properly filled cracks prevent water from entering the stone base under asphalt. Once this water enters the base it weakens everything and only gets worse when it freezes. As things expand and contract in winter large voids are created and eventually lead to potholes. When cracks are filled correctly they can dramatically extend the life of asphalt. This an inexpensive process that should be considered every fall before winter comes.

Spider Web or Alligator Cracking

Asphalt pavement breaks down overtime and is less able to tolerate stress. This causes tension in the pavement and results in spider web or alligator cracking. This cracking can be caused by structural weakening, aging, and oxidation. It is generally recommended that these excessively cracked areas be removed and replaced rather than filled or sealed.

Line Striping

A parking lot is one of the first things noticed by customers, clients, and visitors entering a facility. The color contrast of a newly striped lot is attractive and is a good indication of a well maintained property. A well marked parking lot directs traffic safely and efficiently through the parking lot. Suburban Asphalt can restripe your parking lot with the existing layout, stripe from blueprints, or assist new developing new parking lot layouts. We can also provide new stop signs, handicap signs, custom signs upon request and bollards for protection of utilities and doors.

Suburban Asphalt will work with the property owner and city planning commission to develop a parking layout that is safe, maximizes parking stalls and meets ADA requirements.