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Not all asphalt problems are equally urgent. Before starting any asphalt repair job, it’s important to distinguish between damage that poses a significant structural threat and damage that is merely superficial. If the damage is compromising the structural integrity or future safety of your pavement, then the necessary repairs should be completed ASAP.

Which begs the question: What does it look like when asphalt damage is threatening the overall stability of your driveway or parking lot?

Keep reading to find out!

Asphalt Repairs That Can’t Wait

Tiny surface cracks in a driveway or slight crumbling along an unused edge of a parking lot are not considered urgent (although they should still be addressed at some point).

However, large, deep cracks and potholes do pose a more acute threat and should be fixed immediately. Here’s why:

1. Rainwater and moisture can penetrate deep holes and cracks and cause them to expand as the temperature fluctuates.
2. Excess water may also trickle down deeper into the pavement, weakening the foundation. A weak foundation causes more cracks to form.
3. Deep and/or wide potholes in particular pose a substantial safety risk on your property. Not only are they a tripping hazard for pedestrians, but they could also damage vehicle tires and wheels.

So, if you observe any such deepening or expanding asphalt cracks or potholes, those are what we’d call urgent problems. In such cases, you need to patch up, saw cut, or restore the asphalt ASAP. Fortunately, United Asphalt Paving is here to help!

Call our asphalt contractors today for service in Fort Worth, Houston, and beyond!

You finally bit the bullet and invested in a new driveway. It had to be done. Your old pavement had so many lines and cracks that it looked like the shell of an armadillo!

Needless to say, you’re thrilled about your newly paved driveway. And now that it’s looking sleek and smooth, you can’t wait to use it. But not so fast!

Did you know that new asphalt can actually take up to 72 hours to fully dry? The exact amount of time will depend on outdoor conditions, including temperature and humidity, but 72 hours is the industry’s standard estimate.

During this drying period, it’s vital that you avoid walking or driving on your new asphalt as much as possible. Park your vehicle on the street and plan an alternative pathway to your front door.

Then, once your pavement is fully dry, you’re still not 100% in the clear. There’s an additional curing process that can take up to a full year. 

While it’s curing, your pavement will be particularly vulnerable to environmental damage. So, while you can drive, park, and walk on top of your newly paved driveway, you should take extra steps to protect it. Make sure you avoid parking your car in the same place repeatedly or setting heavy equipment on it, as the asphalt may easily warp and dent before it’s completely cured.

We know it sounds annoying to treat your driveway with kid gloves for an entire year, but trust us—you’ll be happy with the longevity you get from your driveway when you follow proper maintenance procedures early on. 

Have any questions about asphalt upkeep, repairs, or new paving? Call United Asphalt Paving in Fort Worth today!

The short answer? As soon as possible.

Whether it’s a pothole, crack, or crumbling asphalt, your damaged pavement needs to be repaired right away. It will only get worse the longer it’s left alone.

This post will explain why asphalt repairs are so urgent (especially in commercial environments) and why United Asphalt Paving is the crew for the job. Keep reading to learn more!

Why Asphalt Repairs Are So Urgent

It’s a lot easier and cheaper to make moderate asphalt repairs immediately than to sit and wait and completely resurface pavement that’s had years’ worth of cumulative damage.

This is because minor faults and cracks will expand as the surface is continually exposed to water over time. Not only does water erode the asphalt, but it also expands and contracts with temperature fluctuations.

That effect is compounded by the continuous wear-and-tear of traffic—particularly on roads and parking lots—turning small defects into substantial decay.

Writing for Asphalt (the official magazine of the Asphalt Institute), John Davis explains it more concisely: “Cracks become potholes and potholes become craters.”

In other words, the longer you let distressed asphalt fester, the worse the outcome will be. Smart property owners will stay ahead of major disrepair by fixing asphalt cracks and breaks as soon as they’re detected. 

Call United Asphalt Paving!

Based in Fort Worth and serving the entire Lone Star State, our crew is ready and equipped to tackle any asphalt repairs you need. We have 25+ years of hands-on experience in the paving business, so you can rest assured we’ll provide you with the optimal solution for your asphalt cracks, potholes, and more.

Call today to schedule an appointment! Do it now before the temperature really drops.

Folks who aren’t experienced in the world of paving might not know this, but asphalt comes in a variety of different types and mixes. Which type of asphalt mix you use will largely depend on the location and purpose of your pavement.

Thankfully, United Asphalt Paving is here to figure that out for you.

Our experienced paving contractors will carefully select the right mix of asphalt according to several environmental factors, such as:

• What size loads will the pavement be supporting?
• How much ambient noise should the pavement absorb?
• How much rainfall will the pavement be exposed to?
• Does the pavement need to control for water runoff?

Once we’ve evaluated the function and performance needs of your proposed project, we’ll be able to determine the most appropriate type of asphalt to install. Your chosen asphalt will be one of the following:

• Perpetual pavement: Used primarily for roadways, perpetual pavement consists of three layers engineered for long-term durability and ease of resurfacing.
• Porous asphalt: You’ll see this type of asphalt mainly used in parking lots. It’s great for vast, level surfaces because it enables storm water management and drainage by letting water pass through the surface, into the recharge bed, and finally into the soil underneath.
• Stone mix asphalt: Also known as “quiet asphalt,” this type of pavement can reduce noise pollution by up to 50%! That’s why it’s often used on residential roadways that pass through closely settled neighborhoods.
• Hot mix asphalt: This type of asphalt is the most common paving material for home driveways. It cools down quickly, is easy to repair, withstands drastic temperature fluctuations, and has a smooth, polished finish.
• Warm mix asphalt: Not as popular as hot mix, warm mix is the eco-friendly alternative. Its manufacturing process requires less fuel and produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions. It’s also easier to pour at lower temperatures, which makes it suitable (and more affordable) for shipping over long distances. Best of all, it’s safer for the health of our pavers!

If you want to find out more about the different types of asphalt mix, give us a call! United Asphalt Paving is the team of knowledgeable paving contractors in Fort Worth that you can trust for honesty, integrity, and expertise. We’d be happy to listen to your project specifications and give you our recommendation. 

Anyone who’s ever lived in Texas—especially the Fort Worth area—knows that the heat and sun can be punishing. It causes surface damage to almost everything that gets exposed to it, including asphalt surfaces. 

In fact, Texas’s high UV index and even higher temperatures are acute threats to the condition and longevity of paved roads, parking lots, driveways, and more. That’s why it pays to have a local paving contractor who grew up in the Fort Worth region and knows what it takes to protect asphalt from the heat and sun. Thankfully, that describes United Asphalt Paving to a T.

Putting Our Regional Expertise to Work

Established in 1995, we’re headquartered in Fort Worth, which is our primary service area. Additionally, we extend our services to the Houston metro. This is to say that we cover a lot of ground here in Texas, and it enables us to learn more and more each day about the climate’s effects on paved surfaces. 

For example, did you know that Texas’s strong UV rays cause pavement to dry out and crack, much like skin? Cracks alone may not seem like a huge deal, but that’s not entirely true. Unfortunately, when even the tiniest crack line forms, it becomes easier for water and moisture to creep inside the asphalt and start causing more serious damage. Therefore, pavement in this region requires a specially formulated sealer that contains antioxidants and other UV-fighting components.

Again, this is why it’s so important to work with a locally owned and operated paving company that understands exactly what your parking lot or driveway needs. At United Asphalt Paving, we take our intimate knowledge of the local climate and convert that into action, delivering smart solutions to combat UV damage and keep your pavement in good health.

To get the best asphalt paving, resurfacing, and expansions in Fort Worth and Houston, give us a call today!