14 Feb

How Long Does An Asphalt Driveway Last?

Bitumen, a petroleum-based substance, is used to bind aggregates like sand and gravel together to form the thick, gooey substance known as asphalt. The other components are joined together by bitumen to create a durable surface. These paving mixtures with a range of aggregate sizes and types are frequently used for asphalt driveways.

The Benefits of Using Asphalt to Build Residential Driveways

Asphalt is favored over other building materials for residential driveways because of its strength, adaptability, and affordability.

Extreme temperatures and weather are no match for the strength and durability of it. Its superior impact resistance makes it the perfect choice for regions with high traffic or cold climates that frequently experience freeze/thaw cycles. Compared to driveway materials like concrete, brick, or stone pavers, asphalt driveways are comparatively affordable. Additionally, asphalt roads have a long lifespan and require little upkeep. To further increase their longevity, they can be resealed every 2-3 years.

A method called asphalt sealing is used to shield surfaces from the sun, water, and oxidation. A longer lifespan and new-looking asphalt surface are also benefits of this treatment. To assist in filling in small cracks and holes, offer an additional layer of weather protection, and increase overall durability, sealing entails placing an additional layer of protection over a paved surface.

Expected Asphalt Lifespan and Contributing Factors to Durability

Depending on the environment and wear and strain from vehicle usage, an asphalt driveway will typically last 25 to 30 years. The life expectancy of the driveway may be fewer than ten years in colder climates, while it may last up to 30 years in warmer ones. The quality of the installation, the kind and volume of traffic on the driveway, routine maintenance, and weather conditions are just a few of the variables that might determine how long the driveway lasts.

The longevity of an asphalt surface is significantly influenced by the quality of installation. It can quickly deteriorate and disintegrate if it is not placed correctly because of weathering, water saturation, and other environmental variables. The lifespan of your driveway can be decreased by up to 50% as a result of poor construction techniques. Your driveway can last years without needing repairs or replacement if it is installed properly. Before installing the final layer of pavement, a skilled contractor can engineer a solid base layer beneath the asphalt top to provide optimal stability. By paying particular attention to detail during installation, you may have a long-lasting and resilient driveway.

In addition, the quantity and kind of traffic moving through can have a variety of effects on the pavement’s longevity. That’s because additional traffic puts a greater strain on the asphalt, which causes the surface to deteriorate with time. Regularly used driveways can last up to 30 years before needing to be completely replaced. With a projected lifespan of about 15-20 years, your driveway can degrade more quickly if it is exposed to heavier vehicles like cars or trucks.

The longevity of asphalt pavement can be increased by doing routine maintenance. Without upkeep, the material can easily deteriorate from exposure to the environment and become brittle. As a result, there will be cracking and water seepage, which will further damage the area by causing potholes, eroding edges, and poor drainage.

The longevity of asphalt pavement can also be greatly influenced by the weather. If roads are not adequately maintained, dramatic temperature changes, persistent rain, and snow can all harm them. Extreme heat or cold can make asphalt fragile and susceptible to cracking, whereas the opposite is true for extreme cold. Some of the protective coatings on top that assist in maintaining its integrity can be washed away by heavy rain. Additionally, snowfall can build up on top of driveways, adding additional weight that may need to be blown away with a snow blower or shoveled off by hand.

As previously noted, regular care is essential to maintaining the condition of your driveway for as long as feasible. Regular inspection and patching of any cracks or potholes are necessary. Sealing your driveway is also essential to prevent damage from UV rays, oil spills, and freeze-thaw cycles. To extend the longevity of your driveway, sealer should be placed every two to three years. Finally, keeping your driveway’s drainage system in good condition will assist in stopping water from collecting on the surface and harming the asphalt.

These recommendations will help you maintain your asphalt driveway so that it will survive for many years to come. Your driveway may endure up to 30 years or longer with appropriate installation, routine maintenance, and proper drainage.

Maintain your driveway

We must emphasize this. To get the most use possible out of your asphalt driveway, you must properly maintain it. Make it a routine to sweep the driveway and look for cracks and other issues. Call us right away if you notice a crack so we can fix it before it worsens.

Trees that are growing towards your driveway may need to have their branches pruned since their roots can damage the foundation by encroaching beneath it.

Finally, mist the asphalt with cool water to reduce heat-induced cracks on hot days. For all of your asphalt needs, contact Jireh Construction’s specialists.

18 Nov

Lifespan of an asphalt driveway: the long and short of it

Asphalt driveways can last 15 to 30 years, though this depends on a lot of factors.

Deciding on a driveway can be a tough decision, but when you compare asphalt and concrete, there are some clear benefits to choosing asphalt driveways. Unlike concrete, asphalt driveways are easier to install and drain water more effectively. This should be your choice if you live in a climate where it rains often. An asphalt driveway can also increase the value of your home. Sure, hiring a pro to pour asphalt can be expensive – reaching anywhere from $4,750 + on average, but these driveways will last 15-30 years!

What impacts the lifespan of an asphalt driveway?

When you’re seeking a professional contractor to help with your asphalt projects, there are many factors to consider. These factors all have an impact on the lifespan of the asphalt.

Proper installation

Though easier to install than concrete, laying down an asphalt driveway is not without risk. However, there are steps that can be taken to mitigate the higher level of difficulty. A competent contractor will have to design the driveway and prepare the foundation to minimize cracking. To avoid any issues in years to come our experts at Jireh Construction manually rake the area before laying down a leveled and properly graded surface. We go the extra mile to create a great experience for our customers, and we never cut corners. We will work with you for years to come.

Extreme weather conditions

Our experts at Jireh Construction also know that if you live in an area where you experience extreme weather conditions like very cold winter months, the driveway is susceptible to cracks but not to worry. Our solution is to use hot-mix asphalt, which does a pretty good job resisting cracks caused by the freeze thaw cycle. This mix should be used on small cracks to avoid becoming big ones during cold winter months to avoid costly repairs later on.

Type of usage and thickness

Your average residential asphalt driveway is typically 3 inches thick, but that’s not always enough for heavier vehicles like campers, trailers, or trucks. If your home’s driveway needs to withstand the weight of these higher-sized vehicles on occasion, it should be 4-5 inches thick. This will provide a durable surface and significantly extend the life of your asphalt.

When our experts come out for initial consultation we will discuss with you your requirements and suggest the best thickness for your driveway.

Tips to improve the longevity of asphalt driveways

You probably don’t want your asphalt driveway to last only 15 years, which is why you can be proactive and take steps to make it last 30. Here are some that may help.

Let the Driveway Dry and Cure

Wait three days (72 hours) after a fresh asphalt driveway is poured before any cars are driven or parked on it. Wait five days to walk on a freshly paved driveway, and then use caution when you do. An asphalt driveway can take 30 days and up to one year to harden and cure – so wait until the pavement has fully hardened before you park large vehicles on it. Watch out for problems with gas or coolant leaks during this time because they could both damage your newly paved driveway.

Seal it Up

Asphalt is naturally porous, so it needs a coat of sealant six to 12 months after the initial installation. If Sealed too soon it can cause permanent damage to the pavement, so contact a sealant professional to ensure the asphalt is hard enough to absorb the seal. A high-grade sealant will protect your driveway from moisture, gasoline, grease, oil, road salts, anti-freeze, and many more potentially dangerous substances.

One can apply sealant on their own, but make sure the temperature is above 55 degrees Fahrenheit before laying down a coat of the sealant. One should also check the weather for a forecast of clear skies for three days after applying the sealant. Precipitation and frigid temperatures could endanger the seal coat. Repeat this process every two to three years.

Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance

We cannot stress this enough. You must properly maintain your asphalt driveway to ensure you squeeze the most time out of it. Make a habit of cleaning the driveway and inspecting it for cracks and other irregularities. If you spot a crack, call us immediately to patch it up before it becomes a bigger issue.

You may also want to trim trees and remove roots that are running toward your driveway, as these roots can crawl underneath the foundation and wreak havoc.

Finally, spray the asphalt with cold water on hot days to minimize heat-induced cracks.

Call the asphalt experts at Jireh Construction for all of your asphalt needs.

25 Oct

How to hire the best paving company for your asphalt driveway

Your home appears incomplete without a driveway. It gives the space a more sophisticated and neat look. Moreover, a driveway adds functionality to the area. You can use that space to park, walk, or play. You can also increase your property’s resale value by paving a driveway. There are many benefits of having a driveway. However, the quality and build of the driveway are very crucial. If your paving company does not deliver a good job, your driveway might appear bad and get damaged quickly.

This is why choosing the best paving company for the task is very important. If you Google ‘best paving companies near me, you will get a massive list of companies on the screen. To ensure that you pick the best paving company, here are a few critical factors you must keep in mind while choosing:

Check all the necessary aspects.

You must never choose a paving company randomly based on the name. Only opt for reputed paving contractors if you want a great driveway. There are a few common characteristics found in all reputable paving companies. As a wise homeowner, you should check for the following features after searching for ‘paving companies near me:

Experience – It is always wise to select an experienced paving company. This is because the experience will allow the experts to perform even complex tasks efficiently. As a result, you will not have to worry about mistakes. Even though you can get cheaper deals from inexperienced contractors, it is always recommended to select the contractors with many years of
Positive feedback – Before you hire any paving company, you should check the feedback provided by previous clients. This will help to understand the quality of service offered by them. You can easily find feedback online on plenty of websites. Otherwise, you can ask your neighbors or friends for recommendations.
Insurance coverage – Home improvement projects are always risky. If you are working with a good paving company, it will offer complete insurance coverage against damages caused to your property accidentally. As a result, you will not have to worry about paying for any damages.
Availability of experts – In some cases, you will notice that the paving companies hire subcontractors for the project. This means the firm you hire for the project does not perform it. This could be an issue as the hired workers might not be experienced. In case any warranty-related problem arises, responses will be slow as well.
Licensed – You should always hire a licensed paving company for the task to ensure safety. You can ask for the license before hiring.

Check if they are making adequate preparation.

All professional paving companies understand the importance of staying prepared. This makes the overall task more efficient. If a driveway has been created without good prep work, it will start showing signs of damage early. Discuss the prep work details, from excavation and base materials to compacting processes.

If you are hiring a paving company to work on your resurfaced driveway, discuss with them the other tasks they will perform. Before the driveway is covered with paver material, it should be covered in tack-coat. Also, the driveway should be appropriately cleaned beforehand. Otherwise, the newly paved driveway can get damaged.

Compare all quotations and choose the best deal.

One crucial factor determining which paving company you should choose is your budget. You may find considerable differences in prices. Some companies charge more because of the experience and reputation they hold. Small companies tend to charge less so that they can gain more clients. However, it is always better to choose a reputed paving company. Sometimes small contractors tend to skimp on the driveway thickness so they can charge a lower price. Building the driveway may be cheaper initially, but it can get damaged much faster and cost you much more on repairs over the years.

While inquiring about the quote, also ask about the thickness of the asphalt. This will also help you in the decision making process.

Ask for a guarantee

You should always ask about the company’s guarantee. Almost all paving companies offer guarantees. The paving company should provide a minimum one-year warranty against all materials and artistry. You will want this for repairs related to installation, quality of materials, or for any other issues that may arise.

Before hiring the paving company, discuss all the terms in detail. Ask them about precisely what the warranty covers. The guarantee for workmanship includes bad workmanship, taking wrong measurements, sloppy edging, etc. On the other hand, the contract for materials includes signs of dents, cracking, and premature degradation of the asphalt.

All of the points above are important when you are hiring a great paving company. Make sure you do not rush with the decision after searching for ‘the best paving company near me on Google. Always read about the guarantees and project specifications provided by the paving company. Jireh Asphalt & Concrete Inc. is one of the best paving companies you can hire for your residential asphalt driveway. They have over 30 years of experience in asphalt paving.

26 Jul

Asphalt Maintenance and Repair: 5 Dos and Don’ts

Repaving is only one aspect of asphalt upkeep and repair. Repaving should typically be your last option. You may do a variety of things—or avoid doing them—to increase the lifespan of your asphalt pavement. But the most important upkeep component is being proactive; you must keep your good pavement in good condition. This entails taking care of your pavement before any significant wear and tear occur.

5 Dos and Don’ts

Five DOs and DON’Ts for maintaining and repairing asphalt maintenance are listed below.

AVOID letting your asphalt oxidize

Oxidation happens when your asphalt is left unprotected and exposed to oxygen and UV radiation. The asphalt, formed of sand and particles, breaks down because the binder (or glue) holding it together degrades. Asphalt that has been oxidized also becomes more fragile and prone to cracking. You can tell when your asphalt is oxidized because it will be gray instead of the new asphalt’s dark black tint.

AVOID allowing sprinklers to spray water onto your driveway

Ensure that any sprinklers near your parking lot don’t spray water directly onto the asphalt. Water is one of the key reasons why pavement deteriorates. If water seeps into your pavement, it will soften the base course, resulting in depressions that will eventually become potholes (which will then allow even more water into your pavement).

AVOID placing large loads on your asphalt

Garbage trucks and other large vehicles place a tremendous amount of strain on your pavement. The stress of the large truck will only exacerbate any existing cracks or damage to the base course in your asphalt surface. If you must have large trucks on your asphalt maintenance, you might choose to add a concrete pad where they frequently travel.

DON’T disregard pavement upkeep

Minor problems with asphalt maintenance quickly grow into bigger ones. Asphalt will oxidize if it is not protected, which will cause cracks. Cracks allow water to enter your base course, and potholes and depressions in the pavement result in your basic course’s integrity being threatened. However, you may stop your asphalt from deteriorating to that degree if you take prompt action to fix cracks and other problems. Seal coating, crack filling, oil stain cleaning, pothole repair, and striping and marking are typical pavement care jobs.

Don’t select the offer with the lowest price

You can be obsessed with the lowest price when searching for a contractor to complete the task, whether it be seal coating, crack filling, pothole repair, etc. But it’s important to make sure you’re comparing apples to apples and not apples to oranges. Due to the possibility of varying task scopes, two bids may have distinct pricing ranges. To find out why to read our “DO.”

On to the “Do’s” now:

DO sweep the tarmac on your driveway at least once a year

Sweeping your asphalt will remove loose pebbles from the surface, enhancing the aesthetics. Additionally, it enables you to check your asphalt for cracks and depressions that can point to early pavement deterioration. The earlier you can take preventative measures like crack filling and seal coating, the sooner you can identify degradation indicators.

DO apply a sealant to your asphalt every three to five years

The surface of your asphalt is shielded from oxidation and water penetration by a sealcoat, which functions as a barrier. Like sunscreen, really. A sealcoat protects your asphalt surface in the same way that sunscreen protects your skin. A sealcoat must be reapplied, though, much like sunscreen! In most circumstances, you should be fine if you sealcoat your asphalt every three to five years. If your parking lot has heavy or continuous traffic, you might need to do it sooner.

DO fix cracks as soon as you can

Water can seep through cracks in your pavement, eroding your foundation course. If your base course fails, your pavement will develop more cracks, which can cause alligatoring and potholes. As a result, it’s crucial to stop water from entering spaces, and quickly patching fractures is essential.

Even if you’ve used a patching substance, DO plan to fix any potholes that you see

The majority of materials used to fix potholes are readily degraded. In these circumstances, you may have to return in a month or two to repair/repatch the same pothole. Even though our Instant Road Repair pothole filler gives you longer relief (about a year), you still need to fix the pothole in the end. A pothole develops when the base course is harmed; keep in mind. The base course is not repaired; the hole is filled to stop further water infiltration. When we say “repair” the pothole, we mean remove the damaged area, pour new asphalt, and then re-compact.

DO make the job scope clear when requesting quotes

You can receive two dramatically different quotes from two separate contractors if you inquire about pricing without providing a scope of the work. Contractor B may offer a price for crack filling, pothole repair, and seal coating. In contrast, Contractor A may only provide a price for seal coating. Of course, Contractor A will charge less, but Contractor B might offer a more thorough pavement upkeep plan.

You must take into account what needs to be done. You might need to repave some portions of your asphalt because they are severely damaged. While a third location might need cracks to be patched before seal coating, another region might only require a sealcoat. Due to numerous factors, assessing your asphalt pavement and developing a work scope before inviting bids is crucial.

We aid you in defining the work’s scope

For asphalt maintenance and repair projects, our professionals will work with you to understand the extent of the project, prepare the specifications for you, request bids, and assist your property management staff in evaluating the specs and bids if need be. Call us, and we’ll visit your site, and help you with next steps on your project, with our years of technical expertise in assisting clients like you.

Whether you are ready for a small or large project, you can always trust Jireh Construction to deliver the best results at the most affordable price. Call us today to learn more!

CALL 425-678-3632 FOR A FREE QUOTE

20 Apr

Best Uses for Asphalt and Concrete?

Asphalt and concrete are both great paving materials. Between the two, they offer paving solutions for almost every imaginable situation. However, each material has areas where it excels along with weaknesses, so you should assess each paving project independently to determine which one is best.

In this post, we’ll discuss the best uses for asphalt and concrete as paving materials and factors to consider. Read More →

18 Apr

8 Ways of Maintaining Your Asphalt Parking Lot

parking Having a perfect parking lot will make sure that your business will be able to keep the customers happy. Every business owner needs to know how to maintain the parking lot to remain in good condition. You can ensure that your asphalt parking lot will always be in good condition with proper maintenance. Here are some of the ways of maintaining your asphalt parking lot. Read More →

10 Apr

Tips On Parking Lot Maintenance

Running a brick-and-mortar business requires more than just maintaining the building…you have to keep the parking lot in good shape as well. A parking lot in disrepair can repel customers faster than the smell of a rotten egg. No one wants to deal with possibly damaging their vehicle or tripping and falling over damaged and broken asphalt.

In this post, we’ll go over our top tips for maintaining your business’ parking lot so that it gives your potential customers the best impression possible before they even walk in the door. Read More →

20 Mar

What is Asphalt Stabilization?

You can’t just dump fresh asphalt on the ground and expect it to level itself out into a durable and smooth surface. There’s a lot of preparation that goes into laying an asphalt surface before even one drop is poured. One of the most important steps is asphalt stabilization.

Asphalt stabilization is the process of preparing the ground to be topped with an asphalt surface. Asphalt stabilization falls into two main categories – physical and chemical. Read More →

10 Mar

Preventative Maintenance on Asphalt

Now that you’ve laid down your new asphalt driveway, parking lot, or roadway, you want to keep it looking it’s very best. Preventative maintenance is the only way to ensure that your asphalt surface will stay smooth and safe for decades to come.

There are three levels of preventative maintenance that we recommend for all asphalt surfaces – patching, seal coating, and resurfacing. Read More →

20 Feb

The Importance of Asphalt Restoration

Asphalt Restoration When you spend thousands of dollars on laying a new asphalt surface at home or at your business, you want to do everything possible to keep it in great condition. That’s why performing routine preventative maintenance is so important. By completing regular asphalt maintenance, you will:

Save money by prolonging the life of the asphalt
Save time by not having to find and schedule an asphalt contractor to completely restore your existing asphalt
Prevent the stress of having to live or do business without a dedicated parking lot

Asphalt restoration and maintenance are much easier than removing and replacing an entire asphalt surface due to unrepaired damage. The steps to routine asphalt maintenance include: Read More →

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Jireh Construction Services, is a family owned business we have more than 10 years of experience in asphalt & concrete projects, this is the best place you can trust with great prices & best quality our honesty distinguishes us.