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.

The foundation of asphaltic structures like driveways and parking lot is made of gravel stones. The stones are made to provide stability within the structure and prevent premature failure. If the base cannot support heavy weights like vehicles, the structure is likely to come down crumbling. Additionally, if the base is unstable, there may be uneven movements that can lead to depression and upheavals.

When the gravel is laid in a thickness of about five to eight inches, it supports the blacktop pavement materials and allows the structure to last for long. A good foundation allows the driveways or parking lots to last for many years without experiencing major structural defects. Once you have constructed your pavements, you need to seal them in order to protect the blacktop.

The flexibility allows the material to withstand the changes in temperatures as well as the heavy weights. When it is hot, asphalts expand and when cold they contract meaning that they can move evenly. This minimizes the chances of cracking. However, since the material is constantly drying, it reaches a point where it hardens and becomes brittle.

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 have to repair cracks immediately you see them since they can allow water, another destructive element, to enter the sub grade of pavements. Water has its own set of problems different from the sunrays when it enters the sub grade layer of pavements. Water could freeze inside pavements and create enlarged openings or cracks, which eventually form potholes when the frozen water melts away. You need to seek help of a primed contractor to construct and maintain asphalt pavements.




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