Paving is the method of pavement-laying. Various materials are used for such purposes. These days, most paving contractors use asphalt for pavement projects. Usually, asphalt is black in color and has an evenness that is similar to that of cement. The uniform consistency of cement can be obtained by adding bitumen, filler, and sand. Let’s look at some of the steps involved in asphalt laying and paving service.
Demolition and Removal
This step involves removal of the surface that currently exists, which might be:
Pavers
Concrete
Asphalt
Demolition and removal can be done with heavy equipment, such as forklifts, small bobcats, etc. and even large dump trucks and front loaders - whenever needed.
Grading and Sloping
As water is the primary cause of heaving, cracks, potholes and other damages, it is important to ensure that water runs off asphalt in a proper way. In this step, the surface is readied for proper drainage of water. Automatic motor graders and laser guided transits are used for this purpose.
Readying the Sub Base
The sub base is the most vital area of a new asphalt surface and provides new pavement with a stable support. It can reduce damage in winter caused by thawing and freezing. Compaction, base stability, base thickness and installation are the essential steps. Unless the sub base is compacted by asphalt laying and paving service contractors in a proper way, the upper asphalt surface will not last for a long time.
Proof Roll
Asphalt laying and paving service contractors do this to make sure that there is a strong underlying surface that can give support to the new asphalt. In this step, a heavy quad-axle dumb truck needs to be driven over the whole surface.
Soft spots in the sub base can be repaired with undercutting, which includes digging 2 – 3 feet under the surface and using robust aggregate material to replace the soil or soft clay that lies beneath. Some companies also use alternative techniques such as plowing or geo-grid for this purpose.
Binder and Surface Course
The binder is added after laying the sub base, and identifying and fixing any soft spots. The vast binder layer is combined with oil, to make it durable and extremely strong. This layer makes new asphalt surfaces sturdy and strong.
Setting up a new asphalt surface
After asphalt laying and paving service providers install the supportive structures of the newly created asphalt surface, pavers add a top layer of fresh asphalt that ensures a smooth and clean ride. The surface asphalt is composed of oil, sand, and small aggregate. Such a blend of materials leads to an asphalt surface that is jet-black in color. When set up in a proper way, this ensures an attractive and shiny finish to the surface as well as a seamless ride.
Butt Joints and Transitions
An asphalt surface that is being installed always has a connection to already existing parking lots, roadways, or driveways. Thus, asphalt laying and paving service contractors who pave asphalt surfaces need to look for a way to make the transition to new surface from old surface much more seamless. It should not look odd.
Butt joints refer to the spots where old concrete or asphalt connects with new asphalt pavement. The transitional spots need special kind of care, to make sure of appropriate water run-off and grading. Butt joints are essential to make sure that pedestrians and drivers do not spot any difference between the old and new asphalt pavement surfaces and there is a seamless connection.
A asphalt laying and paving service contractor needs to follow all the above steps of installation to ensure that the newly laid asphalt surface stays functional and durable. If even one step is missing, it would mean that the surface won’t last long. The process of installation needs to be followed by a thorough inspection of the surface, and a full estimate.
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