Denver Asphalt Paving Questions
WHAT IS YOUR SQUARE FOOT PRICE?
Depending on the size, location and scope of work,asphalt price per square foot can vary greatly. In today’s market, new installed asphalt price per square foot can vary from @ $75/sf to several hundred dollars. Every job is unique. Contact Black Gold Paving Solutions/Citywide Enterprises for a free, accurate, expert assessment of your Denver paving project, or call (303) 791-8300.
HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO STAY OFF OF IT AFTER YOU ARE DONE?
On new asphalt, we recommend 12 hours for the asphalt to cool down and harden. When seal coating, the manufacturer recommends a 24 hour cure time before opening to traffic. Concrete depends on the additives in the mix, but typically concrete needs 72 hours to cure.
WHY SHOULD I CONSIDER PAVE STONES?
They are not only beautiful and come in a variety of shapes, finishes, sizes & colors, but they require virtually no maintenance and include a lifetime product guarantee. Plus, they can be installed any time of year and require no “cure” time.
HOW THICK A PAVEMENT SHOULD I HAVE?
Structural integrity is improved by the thickness of pavement. A geotechnical report will determine the proper type of design required. This could entail a sub-base course and asphalt or a full-depth asphalt pavement. A design could have depths anywhere form 2” for a walking path to 12” for a fire lane.
HOW LONG DOES ASPHALT LAST?
Industry standards and proper design anticipate life expectancy to be with regular maintenance around 15 to 20 years. In order for the pavement to provide a 20-year service life, at least one major corrective overlay can be expected. Also, filling cracks and seal coating as necessary (usually every 1 to 4 years) will extend the service life.
DO I NEED VEGETATION CONTROL?
We highly recommend this application in most cases. This will help prevent damage to pavement due to organic growth. Some species such as yucca plants, tree roots, shrubs etc. must be removed.
CAN YOU PAVE OVER CONCRETE?
You can put asphalt pavement over concrete, with the understanding that reflective cracking may occur.
CAN CRACK SEALING PRECEDE A SEAL COAT OR HOT MIX OVERLAY?
Will crack seal material have a negative reaction with the new surface material? Crack sealing prior to rehabilitation is a good idea. The majority of complaints concerning crack sealer problems arise when an excess of material is left on the surface of the pavement either due to overfilling or expansion of the sealant. The best method to treat cracks is to route a vessel 5/8" x 5/8" or 3/4" x 3/4" and use a modified joint sealer, using care not to overfill the joint. The top of the sealant should be left about 1/8" to 1/4" below the top of the crack.
WHEN IS A TACK COAT NECESSARY?
Almost always. On rare occasions when a pavement is being constructed which each succeeding lift is placed only a short time later, a tack coat may not be necessary, however, a good cheap insurance policy is to always use tack coats.
WHY IS TACK COAT NEEDED?
To assure a bond between the succeeding layers of pavement.
WHAT IS RECYCLED ASPHALT AND HOW CAN I USE IT.
We are happy to report that asphalt is the most recycled material in the world, even more than aluminum. It can be reintroduced into the hot mix process for new asphalt or it can be crushed into an aggregate pavement. This application may be used as a low cost alternative to hot bituminous asphalt (ie., driveways, storage areas.)
SHOULD A NEWLY PAVED PARKING LOT BE SEAL COATED?
No. A well designed and constructed low traffic volume pavement, such as a parking lot, should not require sealing for approximately 1 to 4 years - depending on severity of climate and quality and mix design of original work.
WHEN SHOULD A PARKING LOT BE SEALED?
Sealing is effective to renew old asphalt surfaces that have become dry and brittle with age, to seal small surface cracks and to inhibit raveling (loss of surface aggregate). So, sealing should be done as soon as any of these distresses are noted.
WHAT TYPE OF MAINTENANCE SHOULD I DO AND HOW OFTEN.
The primary cause for deterioration of low traffic volume pavement is loss of integrity of the asphalt or concrete and sub-grade failure. High volumes can create pavement rutting and smooth, polished surfaces. Preventive maintenance treatments will typically preserve the original or existing pavement by providing a protective seal and improving skid resistance through a new wearing course.
ANNUAL PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE IS CRACK SEALING AS NEW CRACKS APPEAR.
The owner should budget for a preventive treatment at approximate intervals of 3 to 5 years to reduce oxidative embrittlement problems. Typical preventive maintenance treatments include slurry seals and crack sealing.
5 to 10 year corrective maintenance may be necessary, as dictated by the pavement condition, to correct rutting, cracking and structurally failed areas. Corrective maintenance may include full-depth patching, milling and overlays.
Contact Black Gold Paving Solutions/Citywide Enterprises to answer any questions you may have about your Denver paving project, or call (303) 791-8300
