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HOT MIX AHSPALT
Q. Can you asphalt over concrete?
A. Yes. However, cracks can transfer through the new surface rather quickly. Concrete and asphalt expand and contact differently causing cracking. The plus side is cracks can be easy and cost effective to fix.
Q. How thick should asphalt be laid?
A. On new installation a minimum of 5" over a well compacted sub grade. On an overlay 2" of hot asphalt mix is the minimum recommended.
Q. How soon can I drive on a new asphalt surface?
A. In most instances as soon as installation is completed.
Q. Why does asphalt fade?
A. First is to realize that when you look at your asphalt based surface you are not looking at asphalt you are looking at what is called bituminous concrete. Asphalt is the oil aka the binding agent in the paved surface. Ultra violet sunrays bake out the oil in the upper layers of the pavement causing your surface to fade and eventually become brittle.
SEALER APPLICATIONS
Q. How soon should I seal pavement after installation?
A. You must wait for approximately 90 days for asphalt to cure. It should be sealed within 2 years. A key thing to remember is that when surface begins to fade it is time to seal.
Q. Why should I seal my asphalt based surface? Are there really any benefits?
A. Yes there are benefits to sealing asphaltic based surfaces. Sealer is designed to protect against fading and break down due to ultraviolet sun rays. In addition it protects against water penetration which also erodes asphaltic based surfaces.
Q. How thick should I put sealer on?
A. A common and devastating mistake made by many is applying sealer manually to thick. This causes cracking and breaking of the sealer thus leaving your surface unprotected.
Q. After sealing how long should traffic stay off the surface?
A. In warm conditions sealer dries quickly. There are also quick drying additives used by Approved Paving to speed drying times. Twelve hours is usually more than sufficient for drying.
Q. Will sealcoating seal cracks?
A. No. Hot applied rubberized crack sealer should be used to seal cracks before sealcoating.
CHIP SEAL (AKA OIL AND CHAT)
Q. Can chip seal be applied over hard paved surfaces?
A. Yes it is common for a cost effective alternative to hot mix overlays. However, it does not add structural value to pavement.
Q. What are the benefits of chip seal?
A. Chip seal water proofs hard surfaces, adds skid resistance and seals minor cracks which prolong pavement life.
Q. What type of equipment should a contractor have to properly perform chip seal?
A. A distributor truck with a working spray bar. Not just a hand wand. Hand wands are not recommended to achieve the proper amount of oil. A chip spreader is necessary to achieve an even surface. For proper compaction a "pneumatic tired roller is crucial. Anything less than this equipment is unacceptable.
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