ASPHALT ANSWERS
Knowing when to just pave over existing asphalt or completely remove the old surface can mean the difference in a quality job
Set Yourself
Up For
Success
BRIAN HALL
P erfection . It ’ s what we all strive for , whether it ’ s on the jobsite or in our personal lives . Sometimes we get close , many times we fall short , but the pursuit never should cease . When talking to contractors , I always tell them , “ give yourself the best chance to succeed .” Athletes study film , work out and diet . Corporate executives budget , attend seminars and react to trends . Our military and first responders spend much of their time preparing so that nothing surprises them when an emergency arises . So why should an asphalt contractor be any different . From the crew to the foreman to the estimators , we all should prepare for any type job or any surprise on any job . This month , we ’ ll explore ways to make sure we ’ re ready when the truck hits the job .
Estimating the jobs . The success of a paving job goes far beyond length , width and depth . This only holds true if you care about referrals and repeat business , of course . When looking at a job , it ’ s most important to evaluate why you are paving the area in the first place . If it is new construction , how was the base constructed . Base failure is the biggest cause of asphalt erosion so a proof roll is a must . On overlay jobs , reflective cracking is our biggest enemy . When a customer understands what might happen if you allow alligator cracks to remain under an overlay job , it makes it much easier to apply the proper warranty .
Bringing the right equipment . I ’ m not talking about the heavy pieces here like your paver , roller or skid steer , I ’ m referring to the auxiliary equipment such as blowers , pressure washers or brooms . When we do an overlay job and allow dust , leaves and miscellaneous trash to remain on the paving surface , the finished product will certainly suffer . The main reason being that the tack will adhere to the dust and trash instead of the paving surface causing certain failure . Having a broom and leaf blower on hand to clear the surface while we are waiting on asphalt can mean the difference between a good or great job . Another prominent issue in overlay jobs is the presence of oil , grease or other substances on the surface to be paved . While it may be hard to completely remove these coatings , a pressure washer with the proper cleaners can www . callape . com [ 24 ] 1.800.210.5923