Property Managers, Are You Following Best Practices for Commercial Paving Maintenance?

A well-implemented piece of commercial paving is an investment into your property which can improve its value and last for years to come – if it’s properly maintained.  Due to the number of stresses that an asphalt installation will deal with, it’s inevitable that it will need maintenance from time to time.

It’s vital to stay on top of your commercial paving maintenance, because that’s what ensures small problems don’t grow into big problems.  Nearly anything that can go wrong with asphalt starts off small.  If you take care of it when it’s cheap and easy to fix, you’ll save yourself a lot of time and money in the long run.

Four Must-Follow Best Practices of Commercial Paving Maintenance

1 – Regular in-person evaluations

Don’t rely on visitors or workers to report issues with your driveway, parking lot, or other asphalt installations.  Have someone directly survey your asphalt, in person, looking for defects such as small cracks or the beginnings of potholes.  It’s the best way of catching them early.

2 – Fully document any issues

Keep a log of your parking lot surveys.  The four most important pieces of information to keep are:

  • Location of the problem
  • Type of problem (crack, pothole, patch deterioration, etc)
  • Physical size of the problem area
  • Severity of the problem

This will ensure you can properly prioritize your repair efforts.  Also, it will be easier to notice if problems keep occurring in one spot – which often indicates a larger issue below the ground.  Take photos with your smartphone to monitor the problems.

3 – Address any problems promptly

Honestly, we can’t emphasize this enough: Every day an issue with your asphalt goes unaddressed is only adding money to the repair bill.  Any commercial paving problems should be addressed as soon as reasonably possible.  Some problems can still be repaired during the winter, so don’t wait for spring.

4 – Develop a long-term maintenance plan

Some aspects of asphalt maintenance should be considered as recurring.  The pavement should be well-cleaned at least annually.  Every five years, you’ll want to lay down a new coat of sealant.  Every ten years, you’ll want a slurry coat, which is a sealant coat that also replaces some lost gravel at the top.

Making this a firm plan helps guarantee it will happen on schedule, as well as ensuring you’re budgeting for maintenance in the future.

Need Asphalt Repairs?  Contact Mt. Pleasant Blacktopping

We have over sixty years of experience manufacturing and working with asphalt.  We can help you maintain the asphalt pavement on your business property, call us for an estimate.

 

Four Important Things to Look for In A Commercial Asphalt Paving Contractor

Choosing the right commercial asphalt paving contractor can be a major decision, which will have years-long ramifications for your property.  The right paving contractor will work with you to find the perfect solution for your grounds and needs, and ensure you have the finest pavement around your business that will last for decades with minimal maintenance.

On the other hand, a poor contractor can leave you with blacktop that’s unpleasant to drive on or unsafe for car or foot traffic, hurting your reputation with customers, employees, and visitors as well as decreasing your property value.  Like other structural elements of your business property, pavement and concrete walkways will be examined when you go to sell your business.

When you’re looking for an asphalt company, these are some of the key signs they are worthy of your business.

Four Things You Want in A Commercial Asphalt Paving Company

1 – Experience

As in all areas of construction contracting, experience is what generally makes the difference between an adequate job, and an excellent job.  This is particularly true with so many contracting newcomers entering the field, chasing the latest construction boom.  If your asphalt contractor has decades of experience, you’re in good hands.

2 – Modern computerized CAD systems

The days of sending out surveyors to figure out everything by hand have passed.  Quality pavement contractors will be using modern CAD systems and other computer aids to bring you the most precise possible plans for laying your asphalt.

3 – Access to many mix types

Asphalt is not one-size-fits-all.  In fact, it’s common for mixes to be created specifically for single jobs, so that the laid blacktop will meet all the client’s requirements.  The more types of asphalt mix your contractor has access to, the better.

If they make their own asphalt, it’s a bonus for you, since it will help guarantee quality in the final product.  Good asphalt suppliers should have quality control programs to test mixes daily.

4 – A willingness to educate 

Asphalt pours can be optimized for different needs, so a good contractor will take time to really talk with a client about their options.  For example, stone matrix asphalt is particularly costly to install at first but could potentially bring better ROI in the long term due to its low maintenance costs.  Your contractor should be discussing these issues with you.

Ohio has Trusted Mt. Pleasant Blacktopping for Over Sixty Years

Since 1954, we’ve been providing top-quality asphalt contracting, complete site work, installation, and repair services to some of the largest entities and municipalities across southern Ohio.  We handle pavement needs around your business, new residential construction with complete site work, and thoroughfares in your city or county.

Contact us today to discuss your asphalt needs!

 

 

 

Top 5 Things You Should Consider Before Hiring an Asphalt Paving Company

Top 5 Things You Should Consider Before Hiring an Asphalt Paving Company

Laying pavement might seem like an easy task, but like most things, it’s a lot more difficult than it seems at first.  A lot of factors go into paving, ranging from finding the right asphalt mix to ensuring it will be a sturdy foundation for the type of traffic it will need to withstand.  A truly great asphalt paving company can be legitimately hard to find, but it’s necessary to ensure your paving project will go smoothly.

If you need a paving job done, whether for your home or business, here are some of the most important factors to consider before signing an asphalt paving company to do the work.

Five Things You Want to See in An Asphalt Contractor

1 – Legitimate licensing and insurance

Always ask to see a contractor’s paperwork before hiring them on.  There are a lot of “fly by night” organizations doing shoddy construction work and then moving on before they can be held accountable.  Never let anyone work on your property who isn’t licensed by the appropriate state boards and is carrying full insurance against both personal and property damage.

2 – Experience

How long has the asphalt paving company been in business?  Can they point you at notable or high-profile work they’ve done?  Do they have a portfolio of great projects on their website?  The more experience an asphalt contractor has, the better.  If they’ve only been in business a couple years, it’s probably best to keep looking.

3 – Testimonials

Do they have any past clients who’ll be willing to testify to the quality of their work?  In this case, older clients would be better.  The true test of a paving job is whether it can stand up to years of use and weathering.  If they don’t have any testimonials lined up, that’s a red flag.

4 – Their hiring process

When you’re interviewing candidate companies, be sure to ask about their hiring process and labor policies.  How do they screen out candidates?  Do they do background investigations and drug tests?  Look for the highest possible quality in the workers.

5 – Get multiple estimates

It’s rarely a good idea to only get one estimate – get several from various companies you’re talking to.  Don’t go with the lowest bidder, either, particularly if they’re much lower than the other bids.  They’re either cutting corners or planning to hit you with surprise fees.

Mt. Pleasant Blacktopping

For quality asphalt paving in Ohio, contact Mt. Pleasant Blacktopping to get started on your project!

The Most Common Factors Which Can Harm Commercial Asphalt Paving

What’s Wrecking Your Commercial Asphalt Paving?

When you have a commercial asphalt paving installation, it’s going to need periodic maintenance and repairs from an asphalt paving company.  However, there’s a lot you can do to help reduce the amount of maintenance that needs to be done!

By understanding what causes harm to your blacktop, you can avoid those factors and significantly extend its lifespan.

The Most Common Factors Which Can Harm Commercial Asphalt Paving

1 – Standing water 

Commercial paving is robust and weather-treated, but one thing it is simply not designed to do is hold water for long periods of time.  A standing puddle of water will quickly eat away at the sealant and start working its way into the pavement itself.  That’s how cracks begin.

If you spot standing water on your asphalt frequently, that usually means there’s a dip or depression at that spot.  You’ll want to call in an asphalt paving company to re-level your blacktop, and ensure water flows away without settling.

2 – Heavy vehicles

The heavier the vehicle, the more it’s going to tear up the surface it’s driving on.  This isn’t an issue with standard cars, but it will become more and more of a problem as you allow larger vehicles, like big rigs and delivery trucks, onto your blacktop.  And heavy machinery can chew it up incredibly quickly.

Whenever possible, keep heavy vehicles off your asphalt.  If it will be unavoidable, talk to your asphalt contractor about extra-sturdy asphalt blends for heavy traffic areas.

3 – Poor initial laying

This is why you should do a lot of research before hiring an asphalt paving company.  If the contractor uses the wrong mix of asphalt, doesn’t properly prepare the soil below, or doesn’t allow the asphalt to set long enough, the result will be a failure-prone blacktop.  In some cases, the only solution is to rip it out and start over – at significant expense.

But, perhaps the biggest factor in asphalt paving damage is…

4 – Ignoring small problems

The best time to fix a small crack in your pavement is right now.  Aside from installation issues, nearly all big problems with an asphalt surface begin as small problems.  Minor cracks or the beginnings of potholes can be fixed cheaply and easily.  But once they’ve gotten bigger, the costs rapidly spiral upwards.

For reliable commercial asphalt paving and repairs, contact Mt. Pleasant Blacktopping – trusted by Ohioans for over sixty years.The Most Common Factors Which Can Harm Commercial Asphalt Paving

Five Good Reasons to Add Commercial Asphalt Paving to Your Business or Community

When it’s time for your next commercial paving project, think of asphalt!  Commercial asphalt isn’t just a highly popular option for paving, it also brings a number of benefits that people often don’t think about – particularly when compared to concrete.

An investment in asphalt could be more beneficial than you realize…

Five Reasons Commercial Paving with Asphalt Makes Sense for Businesses and Communities

1 – Create a quieter drive.

Asphalt lowers noise levels!  Simply put, asphalt is naturally “grippy” and therefore even a smooth asphalt surface provides great traction for both vehicles and pedestrians.  On the other hand, concrete must be made bumpy to provide traction, and that significantly drives up the noise factor whenever cars drive on it.

Speaking of which…

2 – Asphalt has better traction.

It is extremely difficult for asphalt to get into a state where it does not provide traction, usually requiring a full coating of wintry ice.  It does not get slick when wet, which makes it a much better alternative to concrete in rainy areas.  Plus, asphalt is easier to de-ice in the winter as well, and without cracking.

3 – Asphalt is simple to repair.

Concrete proponents like to talk about the longevity of concrete, but there’s a big downside there: concrete is very difficult and expensive to repair, often requiring large new pours to fix even relatively minor cracks or potholes.  Asphalt might wear down a bit more easily, but it can be patched by a commercial paving company in a matter of minutes. Regular maintenance is important to keep it in top shape and will save you money in the long run.

4 – Perpetual pavement extends the lifespan.

Want to get even more value for your commercial asphalt investment?  Get “perpetual pavement.”  Essentially, it’s a multi-layered form of asphalt with very hard lower layers and a relatively softer layer on top.  This makes it extremely simple to repair, allowing an area of pavement to last decades – or longer – with only minor maintenance.

5 – Asphalt is eco-friendly, more than people realize.

People sometimes mistake asphalt for being ecologically harmful because it contains a small amount of petroleum, usually only around 5% of the product.  However, asphalt is 100% recyclable – and the vast majority of the asphalt laid today is recycled.  Asphalt contractors are among the biggest recyclers in America!

Mt. Pleasant Blacktopping Can Meet Your Commercial Asphalt Needs

Whether the project is large or small, we have the experience to do it right.  You can also be assured the job will be done with a safety-first mindset.  Quality work done on time and on budget.  Contact us directly for an estimate.

5 Reasons to Choose Asphalt Rather Than Concrete for Your Pavement

Should you choose an asphalt paving company to handle your pavement, or is concrete/cement the better option?  This is a question which nearly any property-owner will face at some point or another, whether they’re installing roadways, parking lots, or even just a driveway at their own home or business.  In truth, this is not a question with a simple answer.  Both asphalt and concrete have their distinct advantages, in different situations.

So, in today’s blog, let’s look at the situations where asphalt is the right choice.

Five Times You Want an Asphalt Paving Company for Your Pavement

1 – You are in an area which sees cold winters.

Asphalt is much better at handling cold weather, whereas concrete will tend to crack due to water seeping into it and then freezing.  In addition, many common substances used to de-ice roadways – particularly salt – can outright eat away concrete.  Asphalt is definitely the better choice for northern climates.

2 – You need a quick installation.

Asphalt is much faster to install and is ready to drive on immediately after being laid and steamrolled flat.  An asphalt driveway could be finished in an afternoon!  Concrete, on the other hand, requires a week or so to cure before it can be used, or else the entire paving could fail.  Mt. Pleasant can install new pavement or seal asphalt over the weekend when your business is closed.

3 – You want a smooth, quiet ride.

Concrete must be deliberately made rough to provide sufficient traction for cars, which also makes it louder and bumpier to drive on.  Asphalt is naturally “grippy,” so its smoother surface is more pleasant for motorists.

4 – You want a recyclable, easily-repaired pavement option.

It is true that concrete tends to be a bit more durable over the long run than asphalt, but there’s another side of that coin:  Asphalt is far easier to repair.  Often, all it needs is a quick patch.  Also, it’s easier to rip out should you ever want to repurpose the land, and it’s 100% recyclable.  Mt. Pleasant uses recycled materials whenever possible which is better for the environment.

5 – You have rough land which is hard to work with.

Concrete requires a very well-prepared surface for it to properly set, and even minor imperfections can ruin the work.  Asphalt requires some grading and smoothing of the underlying soil, but it’s much more fault-tolerant.  The best outcome comes from the best preparation.  Mt. Pleasant Blacktopping will work the land to give your job the best pavement result around your property.

Get Quality Blacktop from Mt. Pleasant Blacktopping

We’ve served the Fairfield area for decades, with the best in asphalt products.  Contact us today to consult on your next project.

Reasons to Buy Asphalt Paving Services for Your Fairfield Residential Apartment or Rental Property

Your rental property must be expertly maintained to meet the expectations of residents and remain beautiful for years. Our team at Mt. Pleasant Blacktopping have years of experience in the industry and understand how to help you make the best choice for your property management.  We’re highlighting the value that asphalt paving work can bring to your Fairfield residential apartment or rental property.

Durability

One of the key reasons many local building owners turn to residential asphalt paving is durability.  The material is designed to provide a superior level of durable performance over many years, helping you save thousands of dollars on property maintenance.

Simple Repair Work

Another key advantage of asphalt paving services is that they offer simple repair work.  Rather than having to stop all activities in and around the building, the work can be completed in just a few hours and with a limited impact in the area.  It’s easy for a qualified professional to simply remove and repair a section of the asphalt.

Cost-Effective

Asphalt also remains one of the most cost-effective surface options for those adding new areas to their property.  The product can last for a considerable amount of time with proper care, meaning that building owners and property managers can save thousands of dollars on property maintenance in the long-term.

Aesthetics

Another great benefit of using asphalt paving around your Fairfield residential apartment building or rental property is that the product is designed to limit wear and tear over many years.  You’ll retain the same high level of appeal around your building.  This offers a worry-free approach to apartment and rental property ownership.  It keeps the property beautiful for tenants over many years and your property care becomes highly respected.

Our trusted team at Mt. Pleasant Blacktopping can help you make the right choices for your apartment or rental property.  To discover more about blacktop and our full range of commercial and residential asphalt paving services in Fairfield, contact us here.

 

Five Good Reasons to Add Commercial Asphalt Paving to Your Business or Community

When it’s time for your next commercial paving project, think of asphalt!  Commercial asphalt isn’t just a highly popular option for paving, it also brings a number of benefits that people often don’t think about – particularly when compared to concrete.

An investment in asphalt could be more beneficial than you realize…

Five Reasons Commercial Paving with Asphalt Makes Sense for Businesses and Communities

1 – Create a quieter drive.

Asphalt lowers noise levels!  Simply put, asphalt is naturally “grippy” and therefore even a smooth asphalt surface provides great traction for both vehicles and pedestrians.  On the other hand, concrete must be made bumpy to provide traction, and that significantly drives up the noise factor whenever cars drive on it.

Speaking of which…

2 – Asphalt has better traction.

It is extremely difficult for asphalt to get into a state where it does not provide traction, usually requiring a full coating of wintry ice.  It does not get slick when wet, which makes it a much better alternative to concrete in rainy areas.  Plus, asphalt is easier to de-ice in the winter as well, and without cracking.

3 – Asphalt is simple to repair.

Concrete proponents like to talk about the longevity of concrete, but there’s a big downside there: concrete is very difficult and expensive to repair, often requiring large new pours to fix even relatively minor cracks or potholes.  Asphalt might wear down a bit more easily, but it can be patched by a commercial paving company in a matter of minutes. Regular maintenance is important to keep it in top shape and will save you money in the long run.

4 – Perpetual pavement extends the lifespan.

Want to get even more value for your commercial asphalt investment?  Get “perpetual pavement.”  Essentially, it’s a multi-layered form of asphalt with very hard lower layers and a relatively softer layer on top.  This makes it extremely simple to repair, allowing an area of pavement to last decades – or longer – with only minor maintenance.

5 – Asphalt is eco-friendly, more than people realize.

People sometimes mistake asphalt for being ecologically harmful because it contains a small amount of petroleum, usually only around 5% of the product.  However, asphalt is 100% recyclable – and the vast majority of the asphalt laid today is recycled.  Asphalt contractors are among the biggest recyclers in America!

Mt. Pleasant Blacktopping Can Meet Your Commercial Asphalt Needs

Whether the project is large or small, we have the experience to do it right.  You can also be assured the job will be done with a safety-first mindset.  Quality work done on time and on budget.  Contact us directly for an estimate.

Reasons to Buy Asphalt Paving Services for Your Fairfield Residential Apartment or Rental Property

Your rental property must be expertly maintained to meet the expectations of residents and remain beautiful for years.  Our team at Mt. Pleasant Blacktopping have years of experience in the industry and understand how to help you make the best choice for your property management.  We’re highlighting the value that asphalt paving work can bring to your Fairfield residential apartment or rental property.

Durability

One of the key reasons many local building owners turn to residential asphalt paving is durability.  The material is designed to provide a superior level of durable performance over many years, helping you save thousands of dollars on property maintenance.

Simple Repair Work

Another key advantage of asphalt paving services is that they offer simple repair work.  Rather than having to stop all activities in and around the building, the work can be completed in just a few hours and with a limited impact in the area.  It’s easy for a qualified professional to simply remove and repair a section of the asphalt.

Cost-Effective

Asphalt also remains one of the most cost-effective surface options for those adding new areas to their property.  The product can last for a considerable amount of time with proper care, meaning that building owners and property managers can save thousands of dollars on property maintenance in the long-term.

Aesthetics

Another great benefit of using asphalt paving around your Fairfield residential apartment building or rental property is that the product is designed to limit wear and tear over many years.  You’ll retain the same high level of appeal around your building.  This offers a worry-free approach to apartment and rental property ownership.  It keeps the property beautiful for tenants over many years and your property care becomes highly respected.

Our trusted team at Mt. Pleasant Blacktopping can help you make the right choices for your apartment or rental property.  To discover more about blacktop and our full range of commercial and residential asphalt paving services in Fairfield, contact us here.

 

6 Steps Fairfield Asphalt Driveway Contractors Take in Their Projects

By understanding more about the work of your local Fairfield asphalt driveway contractors, you can appreciate the time and effort that it takes for great looking projects.  Our trusted southern Ohio team has many years experience in the industry, and in this latest post, we’re highlighting six steps that Fairfield asphalt driveway contractors take during their project.

  1. Demolition

The first step in the process is the demolition.  The old driveway and pavement must be removed before it can be replaced.  Teams will use heavy machinery such as forklifts to haul away the old material.

  1. The Grading Process

Once demolition has been completed the grading process can start.  In this preparation step, the soil and grounds are graded to ensure proper layout at the location as well as that water runoff from rain or car washing goes in the right direction versus sitting on the driveway or pavement.

  1. Subbase Placement

Now that the grading process has finished, the subbase is placed.  Subbase is often the main load-bearing layer of pavement and is necessary for surfaces with vehicle traffic.  It is also an important layer of protection between the soil and the asphalt to protect against frost and freezing.

  1. Binding

The binding aggregate and oil are then added to the project.  This layer provides a firm structure and adds durability and strength to the final driveway or road project.

  1. New Asphalt

Next, it’s time to lay down the new asphalt.  Fortunately, the process of pouring the new asphalt can be completed quite quickly.  The fresh asphalt is poured and compacted to create the new driveway or road.  For hot-mix asphalt applications, the material remains at a high temperature, around 350 degrees, in the truck.  It is laid down before it loses its heat.  A mix of asphalt containing small aggregate, like crushed limestone, and sand is laid to settle into the shiny, smooth, and durable surface.

  1. Curing

The final step in the driveway laying process is curing.  The curing process will take several hours, and the driveway may not be ready for use for 24-hours.  Make sure to ask your contractors to determine when the area is ready for use.

Our team at Mt. Pleasant Blacktopping can help you add that ideal asphalt driveway to your property whether for your home or business.  The team may be able to complete projects over the weekend when your business is closed.  To learn more from our trusted Fairfield asphalt driveway contractors, contact us today!