Monday, March 10, 2014

Install Paved Driveways With Help Of Asphalt Company Maryland Area

By Jaclyn Hurley


A properly installed asphaltic driveway and parking lot creates a good impression in your home and business. If you want to install quality driveways or parking lots, you can consult asphalt company Maryland area. The life expectancy of asphalt pavements is determined by the kind of materials used, and the skills applied. If well constructed, asphaltic pavements can have a life expectancy of about 25 years or even more.

The asphaltic material is composed of rock particles or the aggregate stones, the asphalt cement, and sand. This mixture can last for an extended period when laid down properly. The right mixture and compaction has to be applied to get quality structure. Newly constructed asphalt will be flexible because it retains most of the lighter hydrocarbon oils, which form part of the DNA structure of the materials.

Crushed gravel stones or aggregates make the foundation, which supports the blacktop. The foundation has to be compacted properly in order to support heavy loads. Properly constructed foundation promotes stability of the structure ensuring that it lasts for long. If the contractors lay about five to eight inches of crushed stones beneath asphaltic layer, this offers greater stability.

An asphalt material is composed of sand, rock particles or aggregate stones, and the asphalt cement that holds the materials together. This kind of cement material is flexible and durable. With a new asphalt material, it has greater flexibility and it expands and contracts evenly without undergoing a lot of structural stress.

If a driveway foundation is weak, you are likely to experience things such as potholes in the near future. Once you have laid down your driveway, you need to sealcoat the blacktop. Coating the outer surface with sealant products offers a protective barrier. Although asphalt is a durable material, it also comes with its own challenges. This is one material that will experience problems of accelerated oxidation when exposed to ultraviolet rays.

Sealing the surfaces ensures that your drives and parking lots are not damaged easily. The sunrays are prevented from heating blacktop directly, something that enhances the life of your structure. After about six to twelve months following the installation of driveways, you will need to sealcoat the outer layer.

Before sealing, the new asphaltic material has to cure and dry out the excess oils. Applying sealing products in an uncured material will not adhere well to the surface. If the surface is sealed too quickly, the hydrocarbon oils will make the materials to be too flexible. Applying a sealant product on driveways before the blacktop cures makes the material to be too flexible. This means that it will show greater marks over time.

You will need about 6 to 12 months before the new blacktop cures properly to allow for seal coating. If you apply a seal coat too quickly, the surface will be too flexible, and it may form highly visible marks over time. When paving the driveways, you need to put at least two coats of quality sealer and the process is repeated after every 2 to 5 years. If you take good care of your asphaltic pavement, it will definitely add character to your home or business.




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