Professional Asphalt Overlay Bristol VA company

There are some people who become sentimentally attached to a car, and they cannot imagine that they would ever get rid of it. However, after 12 or 15 years, the car begins to need frequent repairs, and these repairs keep increasing in cost. Eventually, the owners realize that the cost of keeping the car on the road far exceeds its tangible value. Although there is little chance that you are sentimentally attached to your asphalt pavement, the rest of the scenario is as true for your pavement as it is for a beloved car. There simply comes a time when it is no longer fiscally wise to keep sinking money into an unsightly, barely usable pavement. Before you commit to a reconstruction, however, let the experts at Tri-State Asphalt Paving evaluate your pavement’s suitability for an asphalt overlay.

What Is an Asphalt Overlay?

An overlay is one or more courses of hot mix asphalt that are placed on top of an existing pavement. The new courses are compacted to make the asphalt dense and strong. If the existing pavement is asphalt, the procedure is sometimes referred to as resurfacing.

What Are the Advantages of This Service?

Overlays are so similar to newly constructed pavements that few people can tell the difference. Your overlay will have a smooth, level surface, and your curb ramps, drainage grates, gutters, curbs, and other features can be retained at their original elevation. An overlay will also have the same luxurious, dark color that is the hallmark of asphalt pavements. However, the price of an asphalt overlay is significantly less than the cost of a reconstruction. Furthermore, your resurfacing project can be completed much faster, so there will be less inconvenience to your customers, employees, or tenants.

What Might Make a Pavement Unsuitable for an Asphalt Overlay?

When we evaluate a pavement to determine whether it is suitable for an overlay, the main question we want to answer is whether an overlay is the most cost-effective option. The biggest factor in this decision is the extent of the damage that will need to be repaired before installing the overlay. Potholes, cracks, and other pavement damage that does not go more than three inches or so into the structure can normally be removed by a milling machine. Deeper damage may involve repairing the cracks or patching the potholes. However, the structural integrity of the pavement’s supporting foundation is also critical. If the foundation has become destabilized or weakened, it must be repaired. Alligator cracking is usually a sure sign that the foundation has been damaged. If the area of alligatored asphalt is relatively small, a full-depth patch may be a viable solution that still allows the installation of an overlay. However, if virtually all of the pavement is suffering from alligator cracking, a reconstruction might be more cost-effective.

Does an Asphalt Resurfacing Require Any Maintenance?

Overlays should be given the same care as new asphalt pavements.

1. Wait the recommended time before giving vehicles access to your pavement.
2. Apply sealcoating as soon as the asphalt has exhausted its excess oil.
3. If vehicles drip fluids on your pavement, sop up the puddles quickly, then scrub the spot thoroughly.
4. If cracks form in your overlay, they should be repaired promptly to forestall additional damage.

Tri-State Asphalt Paving is a family-owned business based in Bristol, Virginia. We have been providing top-quality work to businesses, churches, homeowners, and schools since 1998. We have an exemplary reputation for integrity, craftsmanship, and service. In addition to asphalt overlays, we offer asphalt paving, parking lot maintenance, asphalt driveway paving, asphalt sealcoating, parking lot paving, asphalt repair, and concrete paving. If you would like to request a free quote, call either 276-451-1895 or 276-494-1406, submit our online contact form, or email Admin@TriStateAsphaltVA.com.