Pavement Solutions are full-services pavement construction and maintenance company. Their construction, repair, and maintenance services provide nationwide parking lot paving and asphalt/concrete solutions for commercial properties.

The transportation network’s weather-related disruption carries high direct and indirect costs. Climate change exacerbates these costs. The use of carbon-neutral mixtures offers one solution.

Asphalt paving is the process of applying asphalt mixtures to roadways, parking lots, walking trails, patios, driveways and sports courts. This can include laying new surfaces, filling minor potholes, repairing major cracks and sealcoating existing pavement areas. Sealcoating is a protective coating that adds to the life of an asphalt surface and beautifies it.

Asphalt is a mix of gravel and stone, plus an asphalt binder made from petroleum or natural deposits. This binder holds the pavement together and resists water damage, uv rays, chemicals, and traffic stress. The asphalt binder degrades over time, and without a proper maintenance routine, the pavement will eventually need to be replaced. Sealcoating extends the life of an asphalt surface, saving taxpayer and stakeholder dollars.

Before the seal coat can be applied, all dirt and debris must be removed from the surface. This is important because the sealant will not adhere to dirty surfaces. Professional pavement contractors will use robust sweeping equipment and blowers to ensure the entire area is clean and ready for the sealant. Any linear cracks will also be filled using a hot rubberized crack filler.

Once the sealant is applied, it replenishes the oils within the asphalt surface, re-lubricating it and making it more flexible. This is important because asphalt needs to be able to expand and contract with the weather. Asphalt that is not properly lubricated will become brittle, causing cracks and other damage to the surface.

The sealant creates a barrier that protects the asphalt surface from harmful chemicals, such as automotive oil and gasoline. It also shields the surface from harsh winter elements, such as ice-melting salt and snow removal equipment that can scratch or damage the surface of an asphalt surface.

To get the best results, sealcoating should be done annually. It is recommended to have this service performed in spring or fall, before the weather turns colder and the harsh chemicals used on asphalt surface become too damaging. A good sealant can save you thousands of dollars in repairs and extend the life of your asphalt surface for years to come.

Crack Filling

Crack filling is a less expensive, more short-term repair solution that involves injecting hot asphalt sealer into existing cracks to fill them. It can be done as often as necessary, and should be part of any yearly maintenance plan for your pavement.

This treatment is intended to fill isolated cracks and help slow the deterioration of the pavement caused by water penetration. Left unfilled, these cracks will allow rain and moisture to flow through the pavement and erode the base materials causing failure and potholes. By stopping the entry of water, the process is slowed significantly and the life of the pavement extended.

It’s important to understand the difference between crack filling and crack sealing before hiring a contractor for the job. Not using the correct method can cost you in the long run, especially if you don’t take care of it right away.

Both crack filling and sealing can be beneficial for your parking lot surface, but it’s important to determine which one is best suited to your specific needs. A professional should evaluate the type of crack, expected movement and whether it’s a working or non-working crack before determining which repair method is appropriate.

There are several different crack filler products on the market, and the choice depends on the size of the crack, your budget and the climate where you live. The most common products are asphalt cements, liquid asphalt and cutback asphalts mixed with sand. There are also asphalt emulsions that may be rubberized to resist expansion and contraction.

Whichever product is used, it’s important to clean the crack thoroughly before applying. This will ensure that the crack filler sticks to the asphalt and helps prevent future problems with water penetration. It’s also a good idea to choose a high viscosity crack filler that resists sagging as it cools and shrinks.

It’s also a good idea to use a broom, pressure washer or power brush to clean off any loose debris or dirt before applying the crack filler. This will help the material adhere to the pavement and keep the broom from scrubbing off any of the crack filler. Black silica sand can be broadcast over fresh crack filler to prevent tracking and keep it from sticking to vehicles.

Repair

Pavement Solutions provides construction, maintenance and repair services for asphalt and concrete surfaces on commercial properties across the continental United States. The company focuses on providing high quality, cost-effective pavement surface improvements that enhance safety and increase functionality of commercial and residential property.

The company offers a wide variety of nonstructural surface treatments to restore the serviceability and life cycle of existing asphalt pavements. These treatment methods are designed to reduce deterioration, prolong pavement life and improve safety. They include chip surface treatment, slurry seal, thin overlays and fog sealing. Pavement Solutions also offers asphalt crack repairs. Performing asphalt crack repairs in a timely manner will help prevent potholes from developing, saving time and money down the road.

Structural: This type of distress indicates problems with the structure of the pavement including weakness at the base and subgrade levels which may cause the pavement to heave or settle. Generally, this is not an easy problem to solve and will require excavation, removal and replacement of the affected area.

Functional: This type of distress is caused by excessive load weight and climate/environmental conditions. These conditions may result in fatigue failure of the surface which can produce block cracking, longitudinal/transverse cracking and reflection cracking. In these instances, asphalt preservation treatments will not perform efficiently.

Once the type of distress and condition of the pavement is determined, the proper nonstructural surface treatment can be applied. The Asphalt Institute has educational webinars/seminars, technical publications and a pavement preservation toolbox designed to assist agencies with data collection, forecasting and long-term planning for the best use of pavement preservation techniques. Extending the service life of existing pavements saves government/municipal agencies and private businesses dollars and labor requirements.

Replacement

Many of our Nation’s roadways are nearing or have reached the end of their design life, yet still carry traffic that far exceeds their original design criteria. Targeted overlay solutions can significantly extend the life of concrete and asphalt pavements, saving taxpayer or stakeholder dollars while reducing maintenance costs. In addition, State and local highway agencies can utilize performance-engineered overlay mixtures and construction procedures that improve the long-term durability of existing roadways while enhancing safety for the traveling public.

Pavement Solutions offers construction, maintenance and repair services for all types of concrete and asphalt parking lots, roadways and driveways on commercial and industrial properties throughout the contiguous United States. We also offer residential paving construction and maintenance. Learn more about our complete service offering here.