Throughout North America, asphalt has become virtually synonymous with an economical, aesthetic, durable pavement. Parking lots, rural roads, interstate highways, and city streets are just a few examples that indicate the amazing versatility of asphalt paving. If you look around the Birmingham metropolitan area, you will likely discover many more examples of asphalt pavements that are currently in use. With effective maintenance and timely repairs, these asphalt pavements will continue to provide many years of useful service.
What Should People Know About Asphalt Paving?
Asphalt paving services include the installation of a pavement where none has previously existed as well as the demolition and reconstruction of an existing pavement. Asphalt paving companies in Birmingham typically include asphalt overlays, also known as asphalt resurfacing, in this category as well. The ease with which an asphalt pavement can be resurfaced is an important reason to be proactive about asphalt maintenance and repairs. An effective program that includes regular pavement inspections, periodic sealcoating, and the prompt repair of significant cracks and potholes increases the likelihood that an asphalt paving company can resurface a pavement in a cost-effective manner.
What Is Asphalt Resurfacing?
Resurfacing is a technique that a Birmingham asphalt paving company can use to renovate an old pavement, repair certain types of distress or damage, or correct some drainage issues. The overlay will look and function almost identically to a brand-new pavement, but resurfacing is much less expensive than reconstructing a pavement or building a new one. To be cost-effective, the existing pavement must have a substantially intact foundation. Most Birmingham asphalt paving professionals do not recommend resurfacing pavements with foundation damage that affects more than about 30% of the total area. Technically, an asphalt paving contractor can resurface a pavement with more extensive foundation damage. However, a trustworthy asphalt paving company will let you know that the cost of exposing and repairing the foundation might make a removal and replacement a wiser business decision.
Before recommending specific asphalt paving services, reputable contractors or their designees will inspect the existing pavement. When inspecting asphalt paving in Birmingham AL, contractors will want to determine why the pavement needs resurfacing. In some cases, such as a pavement that is more than 20 years old, the reason may be relatively obvious. However, if the Birmingham asphalt paving is less than 10 years old, time is unlikely to be the culprit. Instead, the damage could be the result of inadequate drainage, neglected repairs, overloading, insufficient maintenance, soil instability, or several other actions or inactions. An experienced asphalt paving contractor knows that the new overlay will suffer a similar fate unless the root cause is identified and corrected.
Once asphalt paving companies in Birmingham are ready to begin a resurfacing project, they typically start by cleaning the pavement to identify any additional damage that may have been hidden under dirt or debris. Normally, the next step is to bring in a milling machine to grind away a specific, predetermined depth of asphalt pavement. Although many milling machines can remove the full depth of the pavement, most Birmingham asphalt paving overlays only require removing less than three inches of the existing pavement.
After removing the predetermined depth of pavement, contractors conduct an inspection to see whether additional asphalt paving services are needed before continuing. Sometimes, cracks, potholes, or other damage goes deeper than what the milling machine removed. If so, the contractor will repair the damage, usually by sawing out the damaged area and installing a patch. However, in some cases, crack sealing may be all that is required. Contractors will also determine whether it is necessary to remedy any drainage issues, and, if it is, they may need to address the issues before moving forward. They will also make any necessary spot repairs to the foundation before they proceed.
Once the contractor has completed all of the preliminary steps, it is time to install the overlay. Often, contractors apply a tack coat to strengthen the bond between the milled pavement and the new asphalt courses. Whether the job requires a tack coat or not, the next step is to install and compact a number of asphalt courses to adequately return the pavement to its original elevation. By ensuring that the elevation remains the same, your Birmingham asphalt paving contractor is able to retain your curbs, catch basins, drains, transitions, and other features at their appropriate exposures.
The Surface Masters Will Be Happy to Assist You With a Variety of Concrete and Asphalt Paving Services
The Surface Masters is a respected, award-winning company with a reputation for extraordinary craftsmanship, exemplary service, and professional project execution. Our services include asphalt paving and resurfacing, milling and reclamation, asphalt repairs, sealcoating, crack sealing, pavement markings, and concrete and curbing work. To ask us for a free, no-strings-attached job quote, you can either submit our online form or call 470-557-8985.
