Asphalt parking lots are attractive, economical, and safe, but they will need help to retain those advantages. If you are responsible for creating a budget for your paving services, you may find it challenging. However, there are two things you can do to simplify the process. The first is to divide your Birmingham asphalt paving budget into short-term and long-term expenses. The second is to categorize the services you need as maintenance, repair, or rejuvenation procedures.
What Is the Difference Between Short-Term and Long-Term Birmingham Asphalt Paving Expenses?
Your company may have specific guidelines that define these terms. If not, you might want to apply the same yardstick that most asphalt paving contractors use. Typically, a short-term expense is a cost that you will incur within two to three years. Long-term spending, which overlaps with capital expenditures in many organizations, is usually a cost that you will not incur for at least 10 years. Budgets for short-term expenses are usually prepared or revised annually. The funds for long-term expenses are often allocated annually by creating a reserve account to ensure that the funds are available when they are needed in 10 or 20 years.
What Maintenance Procedures Should Be Included in a Birmingham Asphalt Paving Budget?
Unless your company has a different definition, you should treat all asphalt maintenance procedures as short-term expenses.
1. Ask a reputable asphalt paving company in Birmingham to inspect your pavement every spring and autumn to identify and repair significant cracks.
2. Ask your asphalt paving company how long you must wait to sealcoat your new overlay or pavement. After the waiting period has elapsed, have a reputable asphalt paving Birmingham contractor sealcoat your pavement before its first anniversary.
3. Asphalt paving contractors normally let clients know how often they should apply fresh sealcoating. The interval is based primarily on the traffic that your pavement receives. Asphalt paving in Birmingham normally needs fresh sealcoating about every two years.
4. Petroleum-based vehicle fluids can have an extremely detrimental effect on Birmingham asphalt paving. If you are waiting for your pavement’s initial sealcoating, you should have puddles of oil and other vehicle fluids removed every month. After your initial sealcoating, you can reduce the cleanings to every three to six months.
What Are Considered Birmingham Asphalt Paving Repair Services?
Most Birmingham asphalt paving contractors receive more requests to fix potholes than perform any other type of repair. Although there are different asphalt paving services for repairing potholes, the most common method is a remove-and-replace patch. Patching is also a popular method for repairing alligatored asphalt, correcting certain drainage problems, and addressing some types of pavement distress. Asphalt repairs are normally considered short-term expenses, but that is not always the case.
What Are Restorative Asphalt Paving Services?
Even with great maintenance, the pavements installed by Birmingham asphalt paving contractors can wear out or suffer major damage. Restorative asphalt paving services, which are often capitalized or amortized, are procedures that return damaged pavements to new or like-new condition.
1. An asphalt paving company can often restore a faded, often-repaired, old pavement by overlaying it. The basic process that Birmingham asphalt paving contractors typically follow is to mill the pavement to remove the top two or three inches of asphalt. Hopefully, milling will remove all damage. If not, the asphalt paving company will repair any additional pavement damage to prevent its pattern from transferring to the overlay. Asphalt paving contractors then install and compact as many courses of fresh asphalt as are needed to restore the pavement’s original elevation. Parking lots that are extremely busy or support heavyweight vehicles frequently require overlaying every 10 to 12 years. Parking lots that receive little traffic or do not support heavyweight vehicles typically need an overlay every 15 to 18 years.
2. Restorative asphalt paving services can also include the construction of a replacement pavement. Typically, an asphalt paving company in Birmingham will demolish the existing pavement and remove the rubble before proceeding. If the original pavement failed due to issues with the subgrade, the contractor may remove and replace some of the soil, then compact it. Depending on the project’s specifications, the asphalt paving company may install an aggregate base and base coat. Next, the contractor will place, work, and compact the number of asphalt paving courses specified for the project.
The Surface Masters is a leading Birmingham asphalt paving company with an impeccable reputation for service, craftsmanship, and integrity. In addition to asphalt paving and overlaying, we offer asphalt patching and repairs, milling and reclamation, sealcoating, crack sealing, pavement markings, and concrete services. If you are interested in receiving a free quote, let us know by calling 470-557-8985, completing our online form, or emailing Info@TheSurfaceMasters.com.
