Not all asphalt has the same lifespan. Some goes way before its time.

Others have long and fruitful lives. To understand how long asphalt lasts, you need to know how it’s being used and how it’s being maintained.

Thinking about investing in a new asphalt parking lot for your growing business? That’s great. Asphalt is a terrific option for your next parking lot, you’ve made a good decision.

There’s a lot of mystery around storm drains. They can be a bit of a puzzle. Inherently they’re mysterious because a large part of storm drain systems exist underground. You can’t see them. And when things go wrong, it’s not always readily apparent. Most people wouldn’t notice an early detection sign if they stared right at it. And then there are the concerns around liabilityWho do I go to for answers?  Do I hire an engineer, use government specifications, get an opinion from a contractor specialist?. So many questions. They’re puzzles I tell you. See? Mysterious.

You’ve come to right place.

Asphalt may only be one word, but it’s a substance made of many components. Each has their own impact on the cost to produce asphalt, and ultimately the price asphalt customers will pay to purchase their asphalt. The method to produce asphalt, the raw materials involved, even the price of the fuel used to transport it all have a role to play. 

Experience Counts To Avoiding Mistakes In Porous Asphalt

Porous asphalt has gained in popularity due to the great environmental benefits it offers, but proceed with caution! Without the proper planning and installation experience, you can do more harm than good.

How to Get the Best Deal on Asphalt for Your Next Project

Asphalt is one of the most affordable and cost-efficient paving choices. When an asphalt road, parking lot or other surface is properly paved, and the correct maintenance techniques are followed, asphalt is capable of lasting for decades.

Installed correctly, asphalt may be less visible to everyday users than other aspects of a construction project. Yet its functional role is crucial to the safety and overall impression of users, whether you’re building a road, a parking lot or a driveway. Potholes, cracks or poor grading creates a negative, and possibly unsafe, experience for customers, guests, residents and other users.

Ensuring a high quality asphalt installation is important to the project’s end result. Finding a balance between cost and value within the project’s budget, and determining how to get the most bang for your buck, are often key parts of project planning.

So what factors affect the cost of asphalt, and how can you be sure you’re getting the best deal and value?

Will Applying a Sealant Affect the Long-term Wear and Tear of Asphalt?

There are differing opinions in the asphalt industry on whether or not sealer is needed.  While some professionals believe that sealants will protect and preserve an asphalt surface, others feel that sealants do nothing but create layers of build-up that can contribute to cracking and water damage.

However, both sides do agree on one thing:

1. The quality and durability of an asphalt driveway or parking lot is a primary result of the manner in which the asphalt was initially laid: if proper grading enables good drainage, and if a strong and solid base was established.

Asphalt vs. Concrete Paving: The Choice is Clear

The majority of commercial and residential driveways are finished with one of the two most cost-effective materials on the market: asphalt or concrete. If you're paving a new driveway or parking lot, or refinishing an existing one, you’re probably wondering about the relative benefits of these common options. Asphalt has many benefits beyond its price, which is typically 30 to 40 percent less than concrete. Asphalt paving is ideal for streets, highways, pathways, parking lots, industrial sites, recreational trails, agricultural uses and even 
corrective and preventive maintenance on concrete (PCC) pavements.

Repair vs. Replace: How To Determine What Your Asphalt Surface Needs

Over time, asphalt can lose integrity. Simply because a driveway or parking lot is showing wear and tear, serious cracking, or standing water does not necessarily mean it needs to be replaced. Not every driveway or parking lot needs to be completely rebuilt from the sub-base up.

If the surface has become heavily oxidized but the base remains structurally sound, the property owner can choose to have the area resurfaced (also known as overlaying) with a new layer of asphalt. Resurfacing a driveway or parking lot is a great way to boost curb appeal without investing a lot of money.

How Important Is It To Seal Cracks In An Asphalt Surface?

It is important to implement an asphalt maintenance plan as soon as new pavement is completed. It is impossible to construct a pavement that does not develop cracks after a certain amount of service time. In regions with regular freeze and thaw cycles, cracks may appear after each winter. Crack filling beginning once cracks develop will keep asphalt in the best possible condition. 

Asphalt Pavements can Contribute More LEED Credits than Other Pavement Types

Believe it or not, asphalt can be a worthwhile contributor to obtaining points for LEED certification. While recycling asphalt to be removed from a site or using recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) as a construction material are certainly prime opportunities for earning LEED points, even traditional hot mix and warm mix asphalt can support LEED certification goals.