Myths About Concrete Constructions Busted

Concrete is a strong, versatile material that can be used to build anything from a walkway to an entire building and more. However, while it plays a big role in construction, there are some myths about concrete and concrete paving that are still believed by many. Here are some of the most popular:

Myth: Concrete is always a gray color

Fact: While concrete installation services do start out as gray, it doesn’t always have to end that way. Mineral colors can be added to the concrete mixture while it’s still wet and blended in to give the concrete a different color when it hardens.

Myth: You can use acid to strip a concrete sealant

Fact: This is by far not true. In fact, acid is a chemical that can severely damage concrete and should not be used to strip any sort of sealant. Instead, a sealant stripper or solvent should be applied.

Myth: Concrete and cement are the same thing

Fact: Although these two terms are often used interchangeably, cement is actually an ingredient in the concrete used for concrete paving. Other ingredients include water, aggregates (like sand and crushed gravel), paste, and additives.

Myth: The higher the compressive strength, the more durable the concrete

Fact: Concrete is available in a variety of compressive strengths (2,500 psi – 10,000 psi) and while you may think the strongest concrete is the most durable, that’s not entirely true. Although it’s an important characteristic, durability depends on the elements that can break the concrete down (such as freeze-thaw cycles or sulfate reactions). The best way to keep your concrete durable is to reduce its permeability.

Myth: Concrete is impermeable

Fact: Actually, concrete is porous – even the most dense types. This means that water and other substances (whether they’re in liquid form or vapor form) can pass through concrete. How long it takes for them to penetrate the material depends on its density, so water may seep through in just a few minutes or it may take months.

Myth: You can lay concrete any time of the year

Fact: Concrete is a durable material, however, it won’t fully dry unless it’s poured in the right conditions. Laying concrete when the temperature is below freezing or it’s incredibly hot can prevent the mixture from hardening properly. For best results, our concrete paving company suggests doing it in spring or fall.

Myth: Specify a concrete mix by the number of bags of cement.

Fact: Mixes should be specified based on performance requirements, not just cement content. Mixes should be specified based on performance requirements, not just cement content. Some in the concrete business still call out concrete mixes based on the number of bags of cement, but bag counts don't accurately describe the desired properties of the concrete.

Although most cement today is delivered to the ready-mix producer in bulk, but how much cement is necessary to get high-quality concrete? It depends on the intended use by the affordable concrete installation services Birmingham. To maintain economy and avoid adverse effects on workability, shrinkage, and internal temperature rise, high cement contents should be avoided. 

Read This To Avoid The Asphalt Paving Scams

You will find bad people in every industry and asphalt paving industry is no different. These lunatic people take advantage of unsuspecting homeowners and offer them a new driveway for what seems to them a reasonable price. The fraud asphalt companies in Birmingham AL often make false promises regarding the services they will provide and may offer no legal contract.  Many times when their work is completed, it is of such poor quality that it must be removed and redone, leaving the homeowner to pay additional costs to fix the driveway properly.

Don't let this happen to you or someone you know. Here are three tips to avoid falling victim to these criminals.

Do Your Research

If you are truly interested in having work done, do it on your own terms. Be suspicious of someone who approaches you directly to do the repair work. If someone knocks on your front door and says, "We have a load of asphalt that was left over from paving nearby, and we can pave your driveway at a bargain rate if you’ll pay cash," don’t take them up on it. Asphalt that is "left over" from another job will be too cool to make a good pavement for your home.

It's a good idea to get at least two written estimates from local contractors before authorizing any work, and ask for the names of references to call. Checking references can save you money in the long run.

Legitimate Companies Readily Display Credibility

Many asphalt sealing contractors near me are very proud of the work they do and display the logo of their company on their trucks, equipment, crew and more. Be suspicious of advertisements that do not prominently feature the business name and local contact information.  Don't be afraid to contact the Better Business agency and ask for a record of complaints filed against the company.

Also be sure to ask for a current certificate of insurance evidencing both liability and workers compensation insurance. Any reputable contractor will be happy to comply.

Get agreement in Writing

Before agreeing to have any services rendered, get a written contract that outlines the responsibilities of both the homeowner and the contractor.

Also know what quality of product is being used on your pavement. Ask the contractor for printed information on the types of professional-grade sealer they use on jobs. Preferably, this information should come directly from the manufacturer.

A customer who is well educated will be able to make informed decisions when these type of companies come knocking at their door. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Not only will you end up paying once for a service that ends up being unusable, you will also have to pay again to get it fixed.

If you encounter someone you suspect is trying to defraud you, tell them "no," close the door, inform the police department immediately. 

Benefits of Asphalt Pavement

Most of the pavements are made of asphalt. Thus paying attention to what our pavement is made of should be important. There are various advantages to using asphalt versus another type of pavement materials. Some benefits include saving time, money, and preventing environmental issues.

An asphalt road can be paved fast and efficiently without waiting too long to drive on the pavement. This is an advantage especially in busy parking lots or streets that cannot be shut down for a long time. 

 

Here I will list down in this Blog, some of the benefits of asphalt pavement construction.

Very Economical

Asphalt is a low-cost building material. It is less expensive, not just in actual cost, but also in terms of the time it takes to complete construction. Asphalt is so quick and easy to use that it saves the public, government and contractors’ time, and time is money.

In the long run, asphalt will give people more value for their money since asphalt roads last longer. Especially considering the wear and tear that roads accumulate daily, asphalt roads are a good investment. Additionally, since asphalt can be paved faster than concrete, asphalt will cost less.

Durable

Asphalt is a reliable weather-resistant material and can be designed for low and high traffic conditions. It can withstand the harshest of weather and the heaviest of semi-trailers. Asphalt can also be designed to fit a specific purpose!

Asphalt Paving Safety

Asphalt’s safety feature is related to its smooth-like finish. It offers drivers skid resistance, reduced splashback and a better visual distinction between road markings. Asphalt also helps keep roads free from ice and snow.

Maintenance

There is not much to do for maintenance after asphalt installation. Asphalt is quick and easy to repair. By maintaining cracks and resealing roads, driveways and highways regularly, major degradation can be delayed. Asphalt dries so fast that roads and highways will not be blocked or held up for very long.

Even when major degradation does occur, asphalt can be re-laid. Asphalt can be maintained easily and effectively, thus the need for new asphalt pavement is reduced. In essence, the sustainability of asphalt gives it “green” qualities. Besides, asphalt is made from recycled materials. The water dissipation qualities of porous asphalt can be used to divert polluted water away from natural bodies of water.

Recycle

Asphalt is a recyclable material, it can be used over and over, and its life-cycle never ends. Asphalt roads can be dug up and then re-used again. This is what makes asphalt such a popular, modern-day material. When we use it we are preserving our natural resources, by reusing the same material over again.

This also helps reduce our waste dilemma, it means less material is being turned into waste, and hence, landfill! Asphalt also saves the environment since it will not run into our waterways when it is spilt, as asphalt turns into solid mass quite quickly.

Hope this Blog helped provide important insights and advantages of Asphalt pavement.

What are the Advantages of Asphalt Resurfacing?

Your driveway adds to the beauty of your home. It is an aesthetic feature of your property that increases its value. But if your driveway is old and cracked up at various places, not only it decreases the value of your property but also makes it look shabby. However, you will be glad to know that the asphalt driveway maintenance is so easy and affordable. Here is the reason why asphalt resurfacing should be done:

Long-lasting

Asphalt driveways have long-lasting feature and if taken proper care of and resurfaced from time to time, it does not need to get replaced which also means that it is cost-effective.

Better view

Champion asphalt resurfacing gives it a better view and more appeal to visitors in your company as everything contributes to brand identity. Well-Built brand identity will translate into more sales, the main aim of any business.

Cost-effective

Repairing small damages is more cost-effective in the long run as compared to repairing large damages as it will cost more. It also saves time as small damages can be repaired immediately.

Various options for asphalt resurfacing available:

Yes, you heard it right. There are many options for asphalt resurfacing according to your convenience:

Geotextile Reinforced Resurfacing

This fabric acts as a waterproofing material, while also adding structural support and strength.

Leveling Binder

In low areas, hot asphalt is applied at various depths to adjust the levels whilst increasing strength.

Butt Joint

Areas which require the resurface to connect into other surfaces asphalt is removed along the outside to allow an appropriate depth of asphalt on the edge.

Transitional Milling

Similar to butt areas which require the resurface to tie into other existing surfaces, asphalt can be milled and replaced to create appropriate depth and transitions. An asphalt milling machine is used to remove any unnecessary pavement by a grinding process. The excess can then be taken and recycled, making the process environmentally friendly.

Extended life of the driveway

Newly resurfaced Asphalt improves the drainage. The new driveway is all smooth without any puddles and holes making it more comfortable for the people to walk. Apart from that, we would like to tell you that an Asphalt driveway should have a proper drainage system so that the water does not stand in the middle so that the driveway remains dry. Wet asphalt needs to be repaired some quickly.

To prevent over-sealing

Asphalt sealing refers to a process to apply a protective topcoat to your driveway. According to contractors for asphalt resurfacing in Birmingham when this is done too much, it can result in extensive cracking of the surface.

Resurfacing offers a good alternative to sealing, allowing you to apply a new layer of asphalt that can be sealed in the future for more protection.

These are some of the advantages of resurfacing your driveway and giving it a better-improved look.

Guidelines for Choosing the Best Asphalt Paving Company

Looking for getting asphalt pavement to be build around your house? Great! But you must be very careful when it comes the time to decide the company you want to give responsibilities to for installing Asphalt pavement around your home.

When you are giving your time and money to get the asphalt pavement to be build around your home, you want it to be installed the right way, isn’t it? You also want to make sure that the company can handle any maintenance that needs to be performed after the paving job. Here are some important tips for choosing the best asphalt paving company. 

 

Reputation!

Before you go ahead and hire an asphalt paving company, you would want to make sure that the company that you are considering hiring is reputable and respected in society. The way to check this is to go through the references. Get in touch with all the former clients of the company and ask them about their experiences.

Also, ask whether the estimated quote was the final price or they had to pay more. This is a great way to find out if a company is worth hiring. You can also check out the paver sealing companies working style from the pictures they post on their website.

Appointment With the Owner

Another great way to be able to judge a company you’re thinking of hiring is to interview the owner or the person who will be supervising the paving.

Ask them important questions – like whether or not they are insured, licensed and bonded. Find out what kind of asphalt they will be using and why they use a particular kind. Ask them to walk you through what happens during paving and how long it takes to complete.

It will help you get a lot of information about the company. However, if the owner or the manager does not care to answer your doubts and hurries you of citing his busy schedule, you should look for another company because the company that does not have enough time for its clients, it says enough for the kind of work they will do.

Get an Estimate

Have someone come to your home that represents the company and get an estimate? Most places will provide you with a free one. Find out each thing they quote a price for and ask them why it’s necessary. Some Asphalt paving champion contractors will quote unnecessary work just to get more money out of you. If they don’t have a great reason for doing the work, move on to the next company.

So, these are some of the guidelines that help shortlist an asphalt paving company. These are very important steps as you do not want to spend money on a company that does not do its work right.

Follow the tips mentioned above and get a skilled paving company install a asphalt pavement around your house.

Tips For Hiring The Best Asphalt Driveway Paving Company

When you are all set to construct a Asphalt Driveway around your home, then starts the real fight!

So what is this fight? The fight is with this huge corporate world, where you need to find the right asphalt driveway paving company. See it is simple that if you are going put your hard-earned money and time in getting a driveway paved, you want it paved correctly! 

 

You also want to make sure that the company can handle any maintenance that needs to be performed after the paving job. Here are some important tips for choosing the best asphalt paving company.

Make Sure that the Company is Reputable!

Before you hire an asphalt paving company, make sure that it is reputable and has done some fabulous job. The best way to find this is why checking out the references. Just call their most recent clients and ask them how was their experience of working with the company and whether the company’s quote was their final payment.

You can even check the company’s website you are considering, to check out some of their work. Yes, you heard it right, many asphalt paving companies in Birmingham in Al upload the pictures of their work on their website, making it easy for you to judge that whether you want to hire them.

Have an Appointment With the Company’s Owner

Another great way to judge a company is by making an appointment with the owner of the company or whomsoever will be supervising your paving job. Ask him/her a lot of questions like whether or not they are insured, licensed and bonded. Find out what kind of asphalt they will be using and why they use a particular kind.

Ask them to walk you through what happens during paving and how long it takes to complete. Never hesitate in asking the questions, because, at the end of the day, it is you who will be putting your hard-earned money in the job.

Get an Estimate

Have someone come to your home representing the company and get an estimate?

Most of the companies will provide you with a free one. Find out each thing they quote a price for and ask them why it’s important.

So, be also very clear about questioning when a doubt arises in your mind because there are many champion asphalt construction that may try to quote unnecessary work and try to make some extra money. So, if you find it just unnecessary without any strong reason, better move to the next company. It will help you save your time and money!

So, these are some of the important tips that would be very helpful if you are looking forward to hiring an asphalt paving company.