Year-round weather threatens the structural integrity of homes, commercial buildings and roads. Asphalt roads and driveways take the brunt of heavy rain, snowplows and hot, ultraviolet rays. Learn how seasonal shifts in weather affect your asphalt driveway or parking lot and what you should do to prolong the life of your pavement. (more…)
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Archive for the ‘Road Repair’ Category
How to Maintain an Asphalt or Concrete Parking Lot
Regular parking lot upkeep doesn’t just involve fixing cracks or repairing potholes, but it helps ensure that people have a safe surface on which to drive, park and walk. With the right parking lot repair plan, you’ll improve your parking lot’s appearance, functionality and longevity. And by keeping up with the right maintenance, you’ll make a difference for your wallet, too.
So, how should you care for your parking lot? Check out our recommendations for how to appropriately approach your parking lot asphalt repair. (more…)
How to Repair Asphalt Potholes with UPM® Cold Mix
It’s no surprise that potholes appear in asphalt blacktop and concrete. These year-round holes not only blemish driveways, sidewalks and roads but also create unsafe driving conditions for motorists. However, repairing a pothole doesn’t have to be impossible. Pothole patching is an easy repair that nearly anyone with the right tools can accomplish. (more…)
Are Potholes and Road Salt Damaging Your Car?
Potholes are an inconvenience to drivers, especially in regions with cold, harsh winters. Potholes form when water seeps into cracks, expands, and erodes the pavement. Damaged pavement can force drivers to slow down, stop, or swerve across traffic lanes.
While road salt helps prevent accidents on icy roads, it also exacerbates pothole erosion and causes rust on vehicles over time. Learn how potholes and road salt can harm your car this winter—and what you can do to stay safe and prevent further damage. (more…)
How Do I Prevent Snow Plow Damage on Asphalt?
Residents in the snowbelt, a name given to the Great Lakes region in North America, experience heavy snowfall season after season. In fact, it’s not uncommon to see 60–110 inches of lake-effect snow per year. Even if you live outside of this cold and blustery area, unexpected wintery conditions can still wreak havoc and cause delays for drivers.
As snow accumulates—sometimes up to several inches per hour—you need to react quickly.
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What Causes Potholes and Road Deterioration?
It’s no surprise that potholes and road deterioration increase during winter and spring. While harsh winter weather contributes to pothole formation, it’s not the only culprit. Did you know that road salt plays a part as well? Road salt can further damage already deteriorated roads—especially in areas impacted by frequent freeze-thaw cycles. Explore how potholes are formed by road salt, and learn what you can do to keep your pavement in good condition.
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Asphalt vs Concrete: Which paving material should you use?
It can be hard to know whether to use concrete or asphalt pavement when performing repairs. Neither material is better than the other, and some are ideal for specific projects. When deciding between concrete vs asphalt roads or parking lots, you’ll need to consider a few pros and cons.
Often, people choose their paving material based on upfront costs. Many people want an economical or cheap solution. Sometimes the right pavement choice can also be a bargain; however, this is not always the case. The costs of concrete and asphalt fluctuate regularly, you will end up with a short-term solution and added material costs if you select a paving material that satisfies your wallet but not your paving needs.
You Want a Product that Works in Wet Conditions; We Went a Step Further
Testing UPM® Permanent Pavement Repair Material Underwater
Permanence. When it comes to pavement repair products for filling potholes, patching utility cuts and repairing roadways, the ideal solution is a permanent one.
There are a number of factors that influence the permanence of a pavement repair solution: workability, cohesion and film thickness to name a few. One of the most important factors, given the unpredictability of both Mother Nature and potholes, is stripping – or whether or not the mix will perform in wet conditions. (more…)