Uncategorized

Having somewhere for water to drain is critical to the structural integrity and health of your pavement. Otherwise, when water is given time to collect, form puddles, and seep into your asphalt, it will inevitably erode your pavement and cause major damage.

Therefore, when you want to ensure your asphalt lasts as long as possible, you need to use a thorough asphalt paving contractor like United Asphalt Paving. We specialize in installing asphalt driveways and parking lots with proper drainage systems in place—because we prioritize longevity and performance for all of our asphalt projects. 

To find out more about why drainage is such a vital aspect of any pavement installation project, keep reading!

Why Does Drainage Matter for Asphalt?

When water has nowhere else to go, it will start causing trouble for your pavement. Here’s how:

• The prolonged presence of water on the surface destroys asphalt over time because it corrodes the bond between the asphalt binder (which is oil-based) and bits of rock and sand. This deterioration is what often leads to potholes.
• In addition, when water seeps through the asphalt and sits below the surface, deep structural issues can begin to show. The water gradually erodes the aggregate base and subgrade, which leads the entire structure to crack and crumble under the constant weight of vehicles.
• Freezing temperatures in the winter present their own set of problems if proper drainage isn’t established. This is because water will find its way into tiny cracks in the asphalt, freeze, and expand—which then causes the cracks to widen and lengthen. The result is major cracks and potholes.

As you can see, it’s absolutely crucial to make sure an effective drainage system is in place before you install asphalt. If you don’t, water will eventually degrade the surface and internal structure of your pavement, which will only create more headaches and expenses for you down the road.

As the old saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!”

Any questions about how United Asphalt Paving ensures sufficient drainage for asphalt driveways and parking lots? Don’t hesitate to shoot us an email. We always love an opportunity to brag about the quality of our paving services!

Looking to expand your business’s existing parking lot? United Asphalt Paving can help with parking lots of all sizes in Fort Worth and Houston!

Whether you’re a restaurant owner trying to create more room for parking and outdoor dining, or you’re a commercial property manager struggling with your shopping plaza’s limited parking availability, our paving contractors will have the expert solution for you.

Parking Lot Paving and Expansions Done Right

See, when it comes to parking lot expansions, it takes genuine expertise to ensure seamless integration of new and old asphalt. It’s not easy! And it definitely shouldn’t be attempted by an amateur paving contractor. Rather, it’s a job best left to experienced pros like United Asphalt Paving. 

Here’s what our process looks like for a typical parking lot expansion:

1. Precise saw-cutting. We create a smooth, even edge where your old asphalt ends so the new asphalt can be installed adjacently without a noticeable seam.
2. Sub-base installation. Laying a strong, stabilized gravel foundation is a critical component of your new parking lot. A solid gravel base will support your asphalt and prevent it from collapsing underneath the weight of all those vehicles that drive and park on it every day. 
3. Proper drainage installation. If we’re adding more surface area to your parking lot, then we also need to add more drainage capacity. Without an optimal drainage system in place, water runoff will have nowhere to go and will eventually cause damage to your parking lot’s asphalt.
4. Surface leveling and edging. Once the hot asphalt has been laid down, our paving professionals will use rollers and compactors to create a smooth, even surface and clean, sharp edges. The result is a sleek finished product that you’ll be proud to have in front of your business.

So, when you need to expand your parking lot in Fort Worth, Houston, or anywhere in-between, United Asphalt Paving is the crew you can count on. Our local, family-owned paving company will go the extra mile to give you the gorgeous parking lot you deserve. 

Call now for an estimate!

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!