Paving

When is it time for new concrete?

What does your sidewalk look like at the moment? Are there any cracks? It’s always a good idea to check sidewalks and think about what it is that you see, including dangerous hazards. Maybe you only see a chalk drawing left by some neighbor’s children or your own. There is also a chance you could see the outline of a hopscotch game numbered with a delicate touch. You may even have one of those sidewalks where someone left their initials or handprints in while the cement was still wet.

Cement itself has earned a distinct reputation over time. It is associated with toughness, durability, and a sort of permanence wherever it sits. For something to be set in concrete is to have it be confident that it will not be moving from that spot for the foreseeable future of all those around it. It’s what makes it such a commonly used part of our daily lives and such a mainstay presence in our neighborhoods and home. We don’t just have it in our sidewalks, but in our patios, our outdoor patios, and even in the very foundations of many of our homes.

While cement is very sturdy, it is not completely indestructible. The forces of nature and humankind both have the ability to wear and deteriorate your concrete structures.

So that lends itself to the all-important question: what do you do when you need new concrete? Well, as with so many other home improvement projects you can try your hand at it. However, the harsh truth is that not everyone out there has the natural aptitude and patience for learning all of the finer points of a complicated and delicate process which by its very nature is going to be set for a long time whether you do it right or wrong. Even if you have the time and energy to redo the concrete, once set, you’re now investing more time and money in the project than you planned to save in the first place.

If you are concerned about running into that issue, or if you simply are the kind of person who wants a trusted professional to do it right and to do it right the first time then you have to have the right kind of individuals. You need professionalism; you need customer service and experience so that you can walk away from your dealings with them knowing that you dealt with a reputable and reliable business. The kind of business that seamlessly integrates exceptional customer care and service with excellent craft results for all desired jobs.

At the end of the day, you need someone who says “whatever you need, we’ll get it done right!”

When Should You Have Your Driveway Paved?

When it comes to having a driveway paved, choosing the right time to do so can be just as important as choosing the right contractor. Having your driveway paved can work wonders for your home. Many get a new driveway to Increase its aesthetic and curb appeal as well as its overall lifespan. It’s important to understand the many factors that affect asphalt and concrete installation to guarantee the quality of your driveway.

A new paving job increases a home or businesses aesthetic and curb appeal, as well as its overall lifespan. It’s important to understand the many factors that affect asphalt and concrete installation to guarantee the quality of your driveway.

Temperature

The ideal temperature for paving asphalt is roughly 70 degrees Fahrenheit. For most areas of the country, this makes late spring and early summer the best time to have your driveway paved. Hot mix asphalt needs to be between 175 and 275 degrees to compact and set correctly. With warmer temperatures, this is easier to maintain. Whereas areas with cooler temperatures, compression becomes more difficult and shortens the time span for installation.

Similar to asphalt, concrete driveway paving should occur in more mild temperatures. In colder weather (below 32 degrees) you risk the water affecting the materials used in your concrete mixture. The materials could freeze, expand, and cause unsightly and damaging cracks in your driveway. With warmer temperatures (above 90 degrees), you risk the top layer of the concrete drying before the lower layers. In the long run, this can cause potentially costly damage to your foundation.

Humidity

Humidity can have a significant impact on both asphalt and concrete paving. The higher the air humidity, the less moisture the air can absorb. The newly laid asphalt or concrete will take longer to dry in humid weather. Hot, humid weather exposes new asphalt to more potential problems during the setting process. Generally speaking, you will want to have any paving work done in less than 90% humidity.

Sunlight

Having adequate sunlight will also affect the quality of your asphalt or concrete driveway. Putting it simply, the more sunlight, the better. Sunlight creates and renews heat, which ultimately leads to quicker cure and dry times. Call your local paving company and schedule for the summer; you’ll both be happy.

Windspeed

Wind speed greatly affects the drying and curing of your newly laid asphalt or concrete. How? By replacing saturated air with fresh air. When fresh asphalt or concrete is laid, water molecules will accumulate in the air just above your new driveway as it’s drying. With zero wind these water molecules will continue to build up in the air, causing that air to become saturated and just like with high humidity, it will slow the drying process. A gentle breeze will cycle out this air, keeping it

Hiring the Right Professionals

As you’ve probably gathered by now, when it comes to asphalt and concrete, time is of the essence. The longer it sits without being properly compacted, the more prone it is to structural problems. Problems such as a less stable foundation and costly repairs. When hiring a contractor for your paving project, make sure to have a conversation with them about their equipment and timeline as well as the current weather conditions in your area. Sometimes all you may need is a Sealing of your existing pavement!

The Great Debate: Should You Get an Asphalt or Concrete Driveway?

So you have an ugly old, cracked driveway. After being pestered to get it fixed, it’s time to replace the whole thing. You love the look of concrete, but you’ve heard it’s too expensive, and not the right choice for your location.

What do you do? What provides the best look and durability for the money? Asphalt or concrete?

Let’s Start with Durability

ASPHALT: The downside of asphalt. If you live in an area that gets a lot of snow, you could be in for a problem. Asphalt surfaces often develop sinks holes every winter. Some asphalt driveways have to be slurried about every summer if you experience a mild winter perhaps you can get away with two seasons.

What is slurried you ask? Good question. It when a seal made of a mixture of water, asphalt emulsion, aggregate (very small crushed rock), and additives are smoothed on top of an existing asphalt pavement surface.

The idea is to help preserve and protect the underlying pavement structure and provide a new driving surface. You’ll often see this happening on your streets where road crews are covering a surface that has developed significant cracking and potholes.

CONCRETE: What about concrete? The big problem with concrete driveways is cracks. The reason why concrete becomes uneven and broken is not the concrete itself. In most cases, it is the shoddy preparation work done before the concrete was ever installed.

These are sometimes called frost heaves. The “ground” below the concrete expand when it freezes. This process lifts the driveway and the concrete gets smaller or bigger cracks. When it’s getting warmer, the “ice” underneath the concrete melt’s and the concrete reverts to its “normal” position. But the problem is that the concrete has now cracked where the water seeps inside.

How Does Weather Affect Your Choices?

Asphalt driveways are your best choice if you live in a colder climate. Here’s why. Continuous exposure to high temperatures makes the asphalt soft. That’s when cracks and grooves may appear on the driveway, and as we saw above, it is much easier and less costly to fix cracks in asphalt than in concrete.

Concrete driveways are a great choice for hotter climates. So if you live in a cold climate but still prefer concrete, the base of the driveway must be filled with compact gravel. It is essential to building the ‘concrete-bed” properly so that the frost can’t freeze the ground below the concrete and lift the driveway up.

What About Cost?

If you are considering asphalt, you are looking at about $2 to $5 per square foot. For a standard-size driveway, you are somewhere in the range of $700 to $1,800.

If you want to go for something more eye-pleasing, a stamped asphalt pattern will run you about $3 to $9 per square foot.

Concrete, on the other hand, runs about $3 to $10 per square foot for a plain driveway. Where a customized driveway will run the costs from $15 to $25 per square foot.

Call Limitless Paving and Concrete

We can accommodate any asphalt and/or concrete repair needs or new jobs you may have.Whether you have a parking lot, driveway, roadway, sidewalk or anything else, we want it to properly reflect the pride and hard work you put into your business every day.

Limitless Paving and Concrete is a full-service asphalt and concrete paving contractor proudly serving the Baltimore MD, Rockville MD, Gaithersburg MD, and Frederick MD areas.
(301) 327-2226

(301) 327-2226