Uncategorized

When you’re on the hunt for a local asphalt contractor—or any service provider, really—what qualities do you look for? Most people would place quality work, fast turnaround, and responsive customer service at the top of their list. 

Little do they know, all of those popular qualities have one thing in common: They stem from industry experience.

See, the only way to guarantee consistency with regard to quality control, customer attention, and project timelines is to have several years of experience in the field. Firsthand experience provides insight and teaches lessons like nothing else can. 

And that’s why United Asphalt Paving feels incredibly happy to boast about our 25+ years of experience in the paving industry. We know that our decades of on-the-job training have produced a culture of excellence in every aspect of our work. From speedy completion schedules to durable paving finishes to happy, loyal customers, the fruits of our experience are plain to see!

However, it’s not experience alone that makes our asphalt paving services superior to others in Fort Worth and Houston. It’s the combination of experience and family history.

Paving is in our blood. We come from several generations of paving contractors, and we were raised on the values of hard work, integrity, and kindness. That’s why we understand not only how to perfectly perform sealcoating, asphalt patching, driveway installation, and other services, but also how to serve customers with compassion and professionalism.

The result is our unique blend of technical expertise, satisfying results, and down-to-earth service. No wonder we’re the go-to paving company in Fort Worth and beyond!

Give us a call to find out more. We’d love to tell you our story.

Maybe it has something to do with Murphy’s Law, but stains and spills always seem to have a way of showing up on your asphalt driveway! Even if you try to be careful, something’s probably going to happen to mar up your otherwise nice-looking driveway.

Oil spills can occur in a variety of ways, especially if you have a snow blower, a lawn mower, or an older vehicle that leaks fluid. Other possible causes of unsightly driveway stains could be piles of wet leaves or a mulch delivery that was dumped on your asphalt and left there for too long.

Regardless of the culprit, there are some tried-and-true methods that will effectively cover up, minimize, or remove almost any stain from your driveway. Keep reading to find out more!

Tips for Removing Driveway Stains

Although sealcoating your driveway is a surefire way to cover up driveway stains and other flaws, you could certainly save a lot of money by attempting to clean it yourself. Before contacting a local paving or sealcoating company, here is a series of cleaning steps you might want to consider to get rid of the driveway stain on your own:

1. Thoroughly spray down the area with a garden hose or an adjusted power washer.
2. Apply soap, dishwashing liquid, or diluted vinegar to the stained area.
3. Scrub with a bristled brush.
4. Rinse with the concentrated spray setting on your garden hose.
5. Repeat this process one or two more times as needed.

Cleaning Fresh Spills on Your Driveway

You’re at a slight advantage if you catch an oil spill that’s just happened, as opposed to trying to play catch-up after it’s been there a while.

After you’ve used an old rag to soak up as much of the spill as possible, sprinkling some non-clumping cat litter on the spot can help absorb more of the remaining spill. After a few hours (or even overnight), you can then sweep away the debris, hose down the area, and follow up with the five-step process outlined above.

In many cases, this simple and inexpensive asphalt cleaning method will significantly improve the appearance of your driveway. However, if you’re dissatisfied with the results or would like to consult with an experienced driveway professional, don’t hesitate to give us a call at United Asphalt Paving.

With over 25 years of experience in the field, you can count on us for sound advice, reasonable prices, fast turnaround time, and an array of essential paving services that homeowners and businesses in Houston and Fort Worth need.

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!