Services
Asphalt Additions Crack Filling
Asphalt Patching Hot Crack Sealing
Asphalt Paving Line Striping
Asphalt Overlay Sealcoating
Snow Plowing
Asphalt Additions
Many of our customers do not have enough turning or driving area or they need some additional parking. This will be similar to our asphalt paving description. The major difference is that these area are usually existing grass areas that have never been driven on before. We dig out grass and dirt to the proper depth. We install at least 3 inches of a stone sub-base, grade and compact. Finaly we will pave to match the existing asphalt. In most cases, we recommend that our customer seal the whole driveway after the asphalt hsa cured. This will make the asphalt match cosmetically as well as get the total parking area on the same maintenance schedule in regards to sealcoating.
Asphalt Patching
Asphalt patching is performed to correct isolated problems on your parking lot or driveway. We can do different types of patching to solve a variety of problems. Potholes, alligatored areas (multiple cracks in a defined area), and low spots can be fixed. Some of our customers need additional parking or an extension added so that cars don't drive off the edges.  Consistent maintenance will help prevent asphalt failure. However, when the asphalt fails patching isolated areas may be more cost effective than resurfacing. Each asphalt job is different and needs to be addressed as such. A Seal Pros, Inc. representative will guide you to the most effective and cost efficient method for your specific needs.
Asphalt Paving (see photos)
Many customers will have existing blue stone that they have driven on for many years. In many cases this will work as a good sub-base for paving. However, each job is different and will  require a representative to look at it and address the existing soil. A representative will first look at the grade of the area to assess how we will make the water flow. Water flow is one of the most important aspects of paving. Water continuously flowing towards a house foundation is a major problem waiting to occur.
The decision of how to grade the driveway will affect how much soil is to be hauled away from the property and how much stone is needed to be hauled to the job for grading and compaction. We always use string lines to ensure straight edges. After grading and compaction our experienced paving crew will pave the driveway with 3-3.5 inches of asphalt topping and then compact. Asphalt will compact 1/4 inch per every inch of asphalt laid. For example, a driveway that is paved with 3 inches will end up being 2 1/4 inch after compaction or paving w/ 1 inch will end up being 3/4 inch after compaction. Inches quoted are always quoted as an overall average thickness on driveways. We compact each edge manually with a lute, long paving tool, at a 45 degree angle for maximum strength. Any edges that meet other asphalt or concrete will be addressed to make sure that the new asphalt will meet with a smooth transition. We clean up and haul away all dirt and debris unless otherwise discussed with the homeowner. Finally, we put caution tape at the end of the driveway.
Asphalt Overlay
A typical asphalt driveway will have a lifespan of approx. 20 years. How much cracking exists will depend on the quality of the initial asphalt job and the maintenance schedule. A general rule for the industry is that an asphalt surface should be paved again if over 25 percent of the asphalt surface is cracked or broken. In this case will we will cut out or mill any areas around concrete or asphalt prior to paving. We refer to these as "tie-in joints." These tie-in joints are where the new asphalt will meet another hard surface. Cutting or milling these out will make sure that the transition from the new asphalt to the old asphalt or concrete will be smooth (no humps or bumps). We will then clean and tack the entire asphalt surface. Tack is a glue. Finally we will pave with 2 inches of asphalt topping and then compact. Paving with 2 inches over existing asphalt is standard for residential and commercial parking lots. If you are not sure of whether or not to seal or pave, call a representative to give you our honest assessment of what we recommend.
Crack Filling One of the most damaging things for any asphalt pavement is cracking. Cracks allow moisture to penetrate the pavement. In the winter this moisture can freeze causing a multitude of more  serious problems. In the warmer months weeds or grass can take root in the cracks causing extensive damage. There is one thing for sure; a crack is a future pothole waiting to happen. Professional crack repair using specialized hot applied materials is best. Not all cracks are created equal. If you have what is referred to as "alligator" or "chicken wire" cracking (terms used because the cracks resemble alligator skin or chicken wire) sealing won't help. This is characterized by numerous cracks close together forming a block pattern resembling the terms above. If this condition has existed long enough the area may be sunken slightly. These areas are already potholes and need professional repair. While they may not look like a pothole; all it takes is for one block to come out, and the entire area will soon loosen and come apart leaving a pothole. These areas should be professional repaired before this happens to minimize the damaged area and avoid more costly repairs later. Any cracks that have a width of 1/8 of an inch or more will be filled prior to sealing. After cracks have developed they are a yearly maintenance. The asphalt continues to expand and contract with the weather.
Pavement sealers are not suitable for filling cracks. You can put enough pavement sealer in the cracks to make it appear they are filled, but pavement sealers are made for the surface, not for cracks, and will quickly crack themselves and leave the crack open to damage again. If cracks are not continually maintained, water will penetrate the asphalt foundation and the crack will widen, deepen, and eventually become a pothole. (Excerpted from the National Pavement Contractor's Association - www.pavementpro.org.)
Hot Crack Sealing
Sealing cracks is the most economical way to prevent future asphalt deterioration and asphalt expenses. Small cracks of ¼ inch or less can be effectively sealed using a pourable sealant. Larger cracks have much more movement with changing temperature conditions and therefore need to be filled with a material that also has a very high elasticity. Our hot applied crack sealant will fill larger cracks up to 1-1/2 inches in width. First we remove dirt and vegetation using hand tools and our heat lance system. The heat lance dries the crack by forcing hot air into the crack at 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit at 1,000 pounds per square inch. This system also assures proper bonding of the hot pour crack filler by drawing liquid asphalt from the pavement to the edges of the crack and acting as an additional bonding agent. Crack filler is then heated to a pourable consistency approximately 350 degrees Fahrenheit in a melting unit with thermostatic control.
The crack sealant is applied directly to the crack and the excess material is banded over the crack form a tight seal over the surface. This material is extremely flexible and will move with the expansion and contraction of the pavement, and keep water out.
Line Striping
You can give your property a face lift by repainting the lines, curbs and traffic markings on the parking lot. You will see a noticeable difference and so will your tenants and their customers.
After sealcoating our crew will stripe while the parking lot is still blocked off. This eliminates extra hassle for your customers or tenants. We use the highest quality traffic marking paints and the latest equipment to get the job done efficiently and with the highest degree of quality.
Sealcoating (see photos) Sealcoating protects your pavement while providing a jet black finish that keeps it looking great. Sealcoating is a preventive maintenance. We recommend sealcoating every 2-3 years, however, some customers prefer every year because they love how it looks and they know the asphalt will last as long as possible. Following are the steps taken during the Seal Pros, Inc. sealcoating process:
1. The entire surface is cleaned with wire brushes and blowers, removing all dirt and debris.
2. All oil, gas and grease spots are treated to ensure proper adhesion of sealer and to also remove the asphalt of harmful damaging chemicals.
3. All cracks are filled with a rubberized crack sealer to prevent water penetration into the foundation of the driveway or parking lot.
4. We apply a coal tar emulsion sealer, which meets all Federal Government specifications R-P-355E. We mix 3-4 pounds of sand per gallon to provide an anti-skid surface. We also add a latex additive to provide the sealant with greater flexibility, which provides greater wear. Much like paint, sealer applied in two coats dries and cures much better than one thick coat application. Sealers are water-based coatings which cure through the process of water release (evaporation). A thin coat will release water much faster than a thick coat. If applied in one thick coat, sealer has a tendency to hold water and stay soft for a longer period of time, causing tracking.
5. Proper barricading of newly surfaced areas is provided and the proper curing time (24 to 48 hours) prior to being opened to traffic. For our residential customers, we use a premium mix and application process. We apply the sealer with a brush application, which takes much longer, however, the sealer goes on thicker  and neater and will last longer. Many fly-by-night companies cut their costs by using materials that don't come close to Sealpros. In addition to being thin, spraying in a residential setting can be messy and leave black tar on brick, concrete, and your garage. Our experienced sealers spread the sealer from the center to the sides. Their skill and care ensures that your brick, garage, and concrete will be tar free. For our commercial customers, we normally apply the sealant in two sprayed coats rather than by hand. The sealer is usually sprayed because it dries faster and is less costly per square foot than the hand application. We realize that businesses have special needs--primarily to continue to serve customers. While asphalt repair and sealing requires time to cure properly, we often do work on Saturdays and Sundays to accommodate our commercial customers and can block sections of your parking lot to allow as much access as possible. (Read about parking lot maintenance from the Asphalt Institute.)
Sealcoating is very important to maintain structurally sound pavements for the following reasons:
* Gas and oil can penetrate into the asphalt and break it down prematurely. This is because asphalt is also a petroleum based product. The gas or oil dissolves the Asphalt Binder that holds asphalt together. Coal tar is impervious to gas and oil and it keeps damaging fluids away from the asphalt allowing the rain to wash the pavement clean.
* Structurally sound pavements can dry out prematurely from the suns ultraviolet rays. It makes the asphalt cement brittle and as a result the asphalt fines and then the larger aggregate can ravel away. The coal tar forms a tough bond that does not allow the UV rays from the sun to penetrate into the pavement.
* Once the pavement has been weakened from the above two conditions, water can wash away the aggregates that are the strength of any pavement.
* Asphalt is not a completely waterproof substance. If water is left sitting on the pavement it can penetrate into the sub-base causing premature pavement failure. The coal tar reduces these affects by making the pavement much more waterproof and the jet black color raises the temperature of the pavement making water evaporate more quickly and makes ice melt more quickly in the winter.
A sealcoated pavement should remain free of traffic for 12-24 hours to allow the curing process to begin.
Sealcoating can save real dollars for pavement owners. Unsealed pavements will require repairs starting with the second year and could require a one-inch overlay as often as every seven years. Cost savings will be a substantial 65% if the pavement is maintained regularly. Estimated savings for a 10,000-sq.-yd. asphalt pavement are $127,000 over 15 years. (Source: National Pavement Contractor's Association).
Snowplowing
We offer this service to our commercial customers. Please call if you are interested in our salting and plowing services and a representative can provide you with a free custom proposal.
|
