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Speed bumps in and around parking lots, apartment complexes, and office buildings can help ensure the safety of employees, customers, and/or residents. And if you’re considering having speed bumps installed on your property, it’s important to choose a knowledgeable and experienced paving contractor to get the job done right.

While you don’t want the raised pavement to make people feel like they’re riding on a roller coaster or running over a boulder, you do want the speed bumps to remind drivers to slow down and be careful. This would be especially important if your pedestrian traffic includes children, the elderly, people with disabilities, or employees walking around your building at lunchtime or during work breaks.

Here in the Fort Worth area, United Asphalt Paving offers expertise in speed bump installation for commercial properties and public facilities. We use best practices for installing speed bumps to make sure they’re durable, smooth, and conform to industry standards.

We Focus on the Details

In a nutshell, here’s the process we follow when installing speed bumps:

• In addition to thoroughly cleaning the surface of the existing asphalt, our installers carefully measure and mark the area with chalk.
• We then create a two-inch notch around the perimeter of the planned speed bump area to stabilize and secure the bump, which typically consists of up to one ton of asphalt material.
• Applying a layer of liquid asphalt (also called tack oil) to the speed bump site also helps prevent potential slippage or instability.
• After the asphalt is poured, one of our crew members uses a vibratory plate to smooth out and flatten the edges (and other parts) of the speed bump.

With quality control being one of our main priorities at United Asphalt Paving, we make sure to sweep away loose asphalt and fix irregularities, such as rock pockets. If the pre-existing asphalt surface is uneven, our crew takes the time to address that first. 

After overlaying the speed bump on the parking lot or driveway, we typically return in about a month to do finishing touches, such as applying sealcoat and a painted stripe.

So, when it’s time to install a new speed bump on your Fort Worth property, you know who to call: United Asphalt Paving!

Knowing the basics of proper driveway paving can help you make intelligent decisions about choosing the best contractor for your needs. While it’s nice to feel you’re saving money when planning a home improvement project, hiring a contractor who cuts corners or uses shoddy materials will end up costing you more in the end. This is why you need a basic understanding of what’s involved in a typical driveway paving project–and it all starts with the driveway base.

Think of a driveway paving job as more of a long-term proposition than a short-term fix. Even though a cheaply installed driveway may look great in the beginning, a contractor who doesn’t grade properly or uses low-quality materials is sure to disappoint you when your driveway deteriorates a year or two down the road. For this reason, you need to make sure you’re getting a strong, solid base on which to build your driveway. 

You Deserve a Driveway That Lasts

First, a dependable driveway contractor takes the time to properly excavate and remove underlying clay, topsoil, and organic material. Then, they apply the necessary gravel and asphalt to the driveway area.

Based on the quality and composition of the soil, a good paving company will apply the correct amount of crushed gravel or Con-Bit (recycled concrete and crushed gravel) to ensure that the driveway is installed on a solid and well drained foundation.

However, if you’re lucky enough to have sandy soil on your property, then that may eliminate the need to expend the paving contractor’s time and materials on laying down gravel or Con-Bit prior to paving your driveway. Make sure you notify your paving contractor if this is the case.

Have questions or need a quote? Feel free to call or email us at United Asphalt Paving. Based in Fort Worth, we’re a family-owned business that uses only premium materials and offers professional paving and excavation services to businesses and homeowners throughout the Lone Star State.

Chip seal paving has become more and more popular over the last few years, especially here in Texas. But why? What are the benefits that set it apart from standard asphalt paving? 

Let’s take a look at how chip seal paving is different, and then explore the benefits of this type of paving.

What Is Chip Seal Paving?

Chip seal paving is made of the exact same materials as standard asphalt pavement. The only real difference comes from the way it’s constructed. Chip seal paving is constructed by placing small chips on a layer of heated asphalt. The paved area is then compacted to get the chips in the best position to adhere to the asphalt. Then, excess chips are swept away from the top. 

Unlike regular asphalt paving, chip seal paving provides an excellent barrier to prevent moisture and water from getting into the pavement. Chip seal pavement self-seals, so there’s no need for crack sealing. However, chip sealing is only ideal for areas of low traffic, and cannot stand up to more than about 2,500 vehicles per day rolling over it.

Benefits of Chip Seal Paving

Chip seal paving comes with a lot of benefits. For one, it’s less expensive than regular asphalt by a large margin. This means that roads can be maintained very easily and at a low cost. It’s also quicker to apply and doesn’t require the same prep that asphalt does, so it’s easier to keep roads operational. 

In addition, chip seal provides great skid protection and eliminates the formation of black ice. The sealing process provides a moisture barrier that can keep the pavement looking great for longer, without cracks or holes. For the most part, any cracks are self-repaired by the chips moving back together (even in warmer weather). 

All of these benefits also come with a great look: many people in the Fort Worth area find that chip seal provides a better look in addition to being less expensive.

To inquire further about chip and seal (a.k.a. “tar and chip”) paving and how it might work for you, contact United Asphalt Paving in Fort Worth today!

Potholes are nuisances that can weaken your asphalt, damage your car’s suspension, and make your ride less than smooth. But what causes potholes? It’s more than just constant pressure and cars driving over the asphalt – and here’s how it happens.

Ice, Salt, and Asphalt Damage

Potholes form when groundwater contracts and expands under the surface of the asphalt. 

See, when it rains or snows, water can seep into even the tiniest cracks in the asphalt (especially in asphalt that is already old, eroded, or damaged). This water gathers under the surface of the pavement itself. While these pools of water can cause problems of their own, this isn’t what causes potholes. 

Instead, it’s freezing temperatures that do it. The water that’s already sitting beneath the surface of the asphalt expands when it freezes. This means that it takes up more space, pushing gravel and even loose asphalt out of the way in order to do so. 

Then, when the temperature gets warmer, the ice melts again, leaving behind large, empty spaces under the surface. Unfortunately, the resulting structural weakness can’t hold up to the weight of heavy vehicles, so as more cars drive on it, it cracks and caves in, forming a pothole.

This happens more frequently in the spring, as temperatures above and below the ground fluctuate to a great degree, leading to quicker freeze-and-thaw cycles. Salt spread on the roadways does the same thing, as it lowers the temperature that water freezes at. This forces water to freeze and thaw more rapidly, leading to more potholes in the long run.

United Asphalt Paving Can Repair Potholes!

To make your life easier and safer, we’re fully equipped to repair potholes in Fort Worth and the surrounding area. Give us a call to learn how we can use a hot patching method to fill in potholes and restore the structural integrity of roads, driveways, and more!

Over time, your asphalt driveway is going to suffer some damage. It doesn’t matter how well you take care of it or what measures you take to ensure that it lasts forever; there are going to be cracks and holes at some point.

But how do you know when it’s time to completely replace your asphalt driveway? Some factors to consider are the age of your driveway, the number of potholes and cracks it has, and the size of these potholes and cracks. Now, let’s take a closer look at what these qualities mean for your asphalt. 

The Age of Your Asphalt

Asphalt is only meant to last about 20 years, although asphalt that undergoes regular maintenance can last up to 25 years in mild climates. So, if your asphalt is at or close to this age, it might be a good idea to consider replacing it entirely.

This is because weather and everyday use gradually wear away at more than just the asphalt’s surface. After around 20 years, the underlying foundation of your driveway will likely be significantly worn down, as well. The materials throughout every layer of your pavement will be degraded. At this point, repairing your driveway probably isn’t feasible.

Surface Cracks and Potholes in Your Asphalt

As time passes, your driveway will eventually begin to crack and may become pitted with holes. Some of these surface imperfections are easy to repair and don’t require a full replacement. However, if the cracks or holes are very wide and/or deep, it may indicate a more serious problem with the foundation of your pavement.

Small imperfections can be easily fixed. But the presence of larger, structural damage, plus the advanced age of your asphalt, might dictate that you need to completely replace it. In this circumstance, the amount of time, labor, and money required to repair the asphalt simply isn’t justifiable, so replacement is the smarter investment.

Get Expert Advice Today!

Can’t tell whether your asphalt’s condition is better suited for repair or replacement? Don’t hesitate to reach out. When you need advice or a quote on driveway repair or new driveway installation, call United Asphalt Paving. We’re happy to help property owners in Fort Worth and surrounding areas of Texas.