Asphalt paving is one of the most prevalent types of paving in the US, Ohio included. There is a good reason for this:
- Affordable and durable: Asphalt paving is exceptionally affordable. Because the competition between companies is steep, with most of them offering cost-effective services, you can be sure that hiring a contractor won’t burn a hole in your pockets.
- Sustainable: This means they do not wear out quickly and can last a lifetime. Asphalt pavements are recyclable and can easily be recycled, which is another great reason they make for a highly sustainable paving method.
- High resistance to extreme weather conditions: Asphalt pavements are incredibly durable and can bear all kinds of wear and tear. This means that they can easily withstand the intense pressure caused by snow, ice, rain, etc., without any signs of damage.
- Low maintenance: Compared to other surfaces like concrete, asphalt doesn’t require any special care and maintenance, which means that most road-related tasks are easier to carry out.
- Easy to repair: Repairing asphalt pavements is also an inexpensive process, especially when compared to concrete surfaces. All required for repairing asphalt pavements is a new layer of asphalt, and the problem is solved.
Simple chip sealing and seal coating will do the trick. We’ll look at these later in the article.
Types of Asphalt Paving
When you are deciding on what type of asphalt paving to use, these are your three main options:
Hot Mix Asphalt
This paving is installed at extremely high temperatures to bond together well. This is one of the most common forms of pavement in America because it has a lifespan of around 20-30 years and the installation process is incredibly quick.
Cold Mix Asphalt Paving
This type of asphalt paving involves large aggregates (pieces of stone) and a petroleum-based liquid that acts as a binder to hold everything together until it can be set firmly.
It has the same lifespan as standard hot mix asphalt, but it does take a while longer to do its job and is only effective in climates that don’t go below freezing.
Polymer Modified Asphalt Paving
This type of asphalt paving does not need large aggregates. The liquid used for this form of blacktop pave uses a polymer instead.
This helps prevent rutting (uneven pavement) and shoving (uneven pavement after long usage periods). It does not last as long as hot mix asphalt, but it is very effective in climates with a deep freeze.
Commercial and Industrial Asphalt Paving; Are They Different from Residential Paving?
Asphalt paving is most popular for home driveways, but this does not mean it can’t be used in large commercial or industrial settings.
Commercial asphalt paving has to meet specific criteria that home driveway paving doesn’t have to follow, the most important of these being skid resistance.
A commercial or industrial parking lot must be able to avoid skidding when tires are driving over it because this could cause a severe accident.
The industry standard is to have a commercial asphalt paving with a coefficient of friction of at least 0.60, ensuring safety while also allowing the lot to remain functional.
Another kind of asphalt paving is required- a hot mix asphalt with higher durability. This type of asphalt paving can hold up to heavy truck traffic and has a lifespan of around 20-30 years which is longer than the typical hot mix asphalt used for parking lots and road surfaces.
Seal Coating
This method is an excellent way to repair minor cracks and prevent water from getting underneath your asphalt.
It entails spreading a layer of hot liquid asphalt over the surface of your driveway, which can strengthen weak areas and prevent further deterioration.
If you have done this correctly, your driveway should not only look nice, but it will be protected for up to 5 years. Some benefits of seal coating include:
- It’s cheaper than having to replace your asphalt completely
- It doesn’t require heavy machinery (no need for a dump truck)
- You don’t need to dig up all of your blacktop and start over
Chip Sealing
This method is similar to seal coating because it involves applying an emulsion made of liquid asphalt to your driveway.
It does, however, entail spreading small pebbles or “chips” over the top of your driveway instead of just liquid asphalt.
This is an excellent option if you have driveways with heavy traffic because it makes for a good protective layer that will prevent water from seeping through and cracking the surface underneath. The main benefits of chip sealing include:
- It’s a cheaper alternative to complete asphalt installation
- It doesn’t require heavy machinery
- Allows you to maintain the original condition of your driveway
Work With Our Team of Experts
Are you pouring a new asphalt driveway? Filling a crack in your blacktop pavement? Whatever you need to be done with asphalt paving, call the asphalt paving experts at Swartz Paving, LLC in Sandusky, OH.
We’ve been in the business for over 10 years, so you can trust us to do the job right. We guarantee the best prices in the area! Our professionals will come to your location and give you a free estimate.
Why choose us?
We provide all levels of paving service
- Our asphalt is the highest quality
- We offer free estimates and no hidden fees
- We offer all types of repairs (crack, seal coat, chip)
- With over 10 years of experience and a 100% satisfaction guarantee, why would you go anywhere else?
Don’t hesitate to contact us today! Choosing us will save you time, money, and headaches. Call 419-528-9536 for an estimate.
FAQs
How often should seal coating be performed?
Since the process allows for better water penetration into the asphalt surface, you must have seal coating or chip sealing done at least once every 2-3 years. It can also be done with a repaving job if the pavement has gotten too damaged.
The cost ranges between $1-$3 per square foot depending on the size of your parking lot, driveway or road. Get multiple quotes from different companies before settling on one!
What is the typical life expectancy of asphalt pavement?
If you decide to repave your asphalt surfaces after ten years, you can expect it to last for as many as 15-20 more years. This process will save you from completely redoing these surfaces after a few years and can even make them last longer.
How much does it cost to repave asphalt?
The cost of complete asphalt pavement replacement can vary greatly depending on the size of your driveway or parking lot. You should expect to pay anywhere between $5-$10 per square foot for this service.
Of course, you might have to spend more if you’re replacing a larger area. Repaving is an affordable alternative to outright asphalt paving services; it costs less than half the price but only lasts for ten years before requiring another repaving job!
What does it cost to seal coat?
The cost of having your asphalt pavements (parking lots or driveways) sealed ranges between $1-$3 per square foot, depending on the size of your surface.
Depending on how rough your roads are (since chip sealing is only meant for smaller asphalt patches), you might have to get this service done more than once every 2-3 years.
What is the best time to repave asphalt driveways?
The best time to have your asphalt surface replaced is before it gets damaged beyond repairs.
You can opt for a simple repaving job that costs less but only lasts for ten years or an extensive one that completely removes all existing layers of asphalt to replace them with new ones.
That way, you wouldn’t have to do this again for another 15 years!
