FAQs
Learn more about our asphalt services by exploring some of our frequently asked questions.
What are the benefits of Sealcoat?
Sealcoating protects your asphalt from heat, freeze & thaw, moisture, UV rays and gives your business a fresh, new look.
What are the 3 stages of a pothole?
Sealcoat wears off causing your asphalt to lose the protection needed to protect the surface, a single crack starts to form, many cracks form in a small area called, "gatoring" which will soon cause the whole area to break down.
What are the 4 ways to replace a parking lot?
- Remove all asphalt down to the
subgrade and regrade before replacing
- The Mill & Pave method which mills out the top half of the asphalt and replaces with fresh asphalt
- The Chipseal method which creates a strong barrier between the old and new asphalt with a combination of asphalt tar and stone, chips rolled into the old surface before adding the new asphalt
- Asphalt Overlay which just adds a layer of asphalt to the existing surface
When should I repave my parking lot?
- If you see sand standing in multiple sections of the lot, that is your asphalt coming up.
- If 20% or more of your parking lot is filled with potholes, it would be a more cost-effective, long term solution to repave than to keep filling holes.
- If you have a massive amount of cracks that lead to "gatoring", you are better off replacing the lot.
How to protect my asphalt?
- Blow the parking lot clean every month. Gravel and other forms of debris left on the pavement can damage the lot when cars drive over it. The wheels can push the gravel and debris into the asphalt causing cracks and potholes.
- Maintain your parking lot with sealcoat to protect the asphalt from the harmful effects of heat, UV Rays, freeze/thaw, and moisture.
What is the difference between a sinkhole and a pothole?
- Potholes begin as cracks in the asphalt. Over time, the cracks get bigger and more numerous until “gatoring” occurs. If left unattended, the cracks will eventually dissolve into loose asphalt and then form a hole.
- Sinkholes are easy to spot because you will notice that the asphalt appears to be sliding into the hole. In addition, if you put a yard stick into the hole, you will notice that the depth and width of the hole is large relative to the opening at the surface where the wall of the pothole ends at the opening at the surface.
Why are some cracks large and some are small?
- In most cases, a larger crack is in a more advanced state than a smaller crack.
- When cracks start to form, they begin as hairline cracks that you probably won’t see. They grow larger over time.
- Cracks really grow in Winter. Asphalt will receive rain in the day when temperatures are above freezing. If the water is still in the crack at night, it will freeze in the crack and expand.