Friday, November 1, 2013

Why You Should Consult An Asphalt Company Maryland Area

By Allyson Burke


Asphalt material is used in construction of pavements because it lasts for long and has the ability to support heavy loads. Nonetheless, this material needs proper maintenance to last for many years. Different factors affect the quality and life of asphalt including sunlight, snow, water, salts, and gasoline products. By consulting an asphalt company Maryland area, you can install new asphalt pavements or repair the damaged ones within your premises.

Things like ultraviolet rays can cause problems in asphaltic pavements. Similarly, water, gasoline products, de-icing salts, and snow also wreck havoc on asphaltic paving surfaces. When you protect the blacktop of driveways and parking lots, it means that you are safeguarding the entire structure. A weak blacktop can affect the sub base. If the base is unstable, it means that the pavement is also unstable and it can start shifting and causing depressions.

Apparently, this oxidation process takes place in the rest of the asphalt life. It is until the oxidation is over that they life of the pavement ends. This takes many years and lasts the lifetime of the paving material. However, the oxidation is accelerated by environmental factors meaning that the blacktop can disintegrate fast than expected.

Ultraviolet rays are known to bake and heat the blacktop causing premature damages. When you allow sunlight to heat paving surfaces directly, it causes increased oxidization, which makes the paving surface to unravel. Water also causes damages when it enters the sub base of pavements. Asphaltic material is also damaged by de-icing salts used to clear snow from the surfaces in winter.

Although this is not a curative procedure or it does not cure defects in pavements, a sealcoat can be used to correct very small defects like the case of minor cracks and unraveling surfaces. The sealcoat acts as a protective barrier and prevents water from reaching the sub base of driveways and parking lots. The coating also prevents sunlight from directly heating blacktop and causing the surface to unravel.

In patching, a section of the driveway is removed and the asphaltic pavement is replaced. When cracks continue to worsen on paving surfaces, more water enters the subgrade layer. Vehicles also continue compressing the sub base and soon there is imminent failure of the parking lots and driveways. Mud pumps begin to show up from the cracks and this is the last stage before your road structure fails completely where you are compelled to construct a new one.

During installation, pavement surfaces have to be designed of properly compacted base. The soil and aggregate stones should be compacted to keep the base firm. During the compaction, a crown-to-edge slope is designed which makes the pavements slant towards the edges for proper draining of surfaces water. The water collecting on blacktop should drain away from the surfaces and be channeled to areas away from the road structures and buildings.

Asphaltic paving contractors help in maintaining the blacktop in good condition. The strength of blacktop goes a long way in preserving the quality of parking lots and driveways. Depending on the defect on pavements, the contractors use different techniques to correct them. In addition, sealcoats are applied to preserve the quality of blacktop. With help of an asphalt company Maryland area, you are able to install quality pavements and preserve them in good condition throughout their lifespan.




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