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NVM Paving & Concrete, Inc.

Northern Virginia Paving Company

Asphalt & Concrete

Understanding Parking Lot ADA Compliance

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Is Your Parking Lot ADA Compliant?

When folks without disabilities go out into the public sphere, they might overlook any environment’s impact on a person with disabilities. Without the proper treatment, buildings and businesses can be inaccessible to people with disabilities, leaving them unable to conduct their business. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), there are standards for accessible design in public places that must be adhered to. ADA deals with public accommodations, which directly speaks to ADA-compatible construction of commercial parking lots. At NVM Paving & Concrete, we understand the value of these standards, and we know what it takes to address ADA needs to create an accessible lot.

Barrier Removal

According to regulations, business owners need to remove potential barriers that might hinder a person’s inability to safely and freely navigate the parking lot area. For instance, a raised garden that separates a parking lot from the building it serves constitutes a barrier and needs to be removed or updated.

Effectively, this section of the ADA declares that a person with disabilities can maneuver from the lot to the building’s entrance. This is most commonly achieved by designating parking spaces close to the building specifically for people with disabilities. For lots with 25 spaces, one must be ADA accessible. For lots with 50 spots, two spots must be accessible, including one for a van. The bigger the lot, the more accessible spots there must be.

Program Access 

This refers specifically to state and government-controlled entities, and it simply means that people with disabilities can easily access federal or municipal buildings. We’re now used to seeing these situations in lots everywhere, with designated spaces close to the building’s entrance and depressed curbs that remove the lip, which creates accessibility.

Contact us at 703-423-0471 or email us for all your commercial parking lot needs, from installation to maintenance. We work on all types of commercial properties and are ready to work on yours, too.

How To Save Time and Money with an Asphalt Parking Lot

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Asphalt Parking Lots

When it comes to managing a commercial building, there are a lot of factors that require your consideration. Unfortunately, for many property managers, one of the responsibilities that fall to the wayside is the maintenance of the parking lot. At NVM Paving & Concrete, we believe that you shouldn’t have to worry about your parking lot. To avoid ongoing concerns, building owners should consider an asphalt parking lot.

Asphalt Is Safer and Smoother

On the one hand, asphalt has a smooth appearance that may increase your business’s curb appeal. The fact that it remains smooth and durable also increases the safety rating. When you have a parking lot riddled with potholes and cracks, you run the risk of guests or staff injuring themselves on the premises.

Accidents in your parking lot can cost you money in lawsuits and damages. They can also damage your building’s reputation. Asphalt is skid-resistant and causes markings to look more vibrant. People are less likely to have accidents when using an asphalt parking lot.

Asphalt Requires Less Downtime

Downtime can harm your business. Most business owners do not have time to shut down their business for prolonged periods. If you have a poor-quality parking lot, odds are you will run into problems in the future. You may be more likely to require repairs or a complete replacement sooner than you would with other materials.

We install asphalt quicker than other materials to keep business losses due to construction down to a minimum. Likewise, asphalt requires less maintenance. During the winter’s freezing and thawing cycles, it holds up and only needs occasional sealcoating to prevent cracks.

When it comes to your business’s time and money, you cannot afford to waste either. At NVM Paving & Concrete, we understand the importance of a long-lasting, durable parking lot. Call us today at 703-423-0471 or email us to find out how an asphalt lot can save you time and money.

Important Facts: Pavement and Temperature Changes

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Temprature Changes

As the temperature changes into winter weather, the professional paving of your parking lot is essential. While paving your parking lot might seem like a straightforward process, it contains crucial elements of chemistry and engineering. That is because just any mix of materials won’t hold up in changing conditions. The variable weather of the D.C, Maryland, and Virginia areas, which receive everything from blazing hot days to freezing temperatures, demands a precise mix of materials put down in optimal conditions.

At NVM Paving & Concrete, our professionals use a quality mix of liquid asphalt and base layers. The materials form bonds that cause aggregates to join together into quality asphalt. Over time, due to pressures from the weather, this bond weakens.

The Impact of Heat

During the hot summer months, direct sunlight and heat can cause the surface of a parking lot to expand. Once this happens, cracks begin to develop, which can lead to significant issues. As cracks widen, water will enter and penetrate the subsurface layer of asphalt, and the added moisture erodes the materials and destroys the integrity of the lot. Air gaps can also form, causing depressions on the surface, making it unsafe for pedestrians or vehicles to move around freely. Over time, the parking lot will develop potholes forcing you to repair them or completely repave them, which means this will be costly.

The Impact of Cold

During the winter months, temperatures can fluctuate above and below freezing, and while there may not be any precipitation on the ground, there could still be moisture under the surface. When snow, rain, sleet, or hail enter a cracked asphalt area and the temperature warms, water seeps through. Once the temperatures drop again, the water freezes and expands, pushing the cracks further apart. This continuous freeze and thaw process can widen already made cracks and cause significant and dangerous damage like potholes.

The standard freeze and thaw process is part of nature, but it can slowly wreak havoc on paved surfaces. As moisture penetrates the asphalt and temperatures drop during the winter months, the ice pushes outward. This has the power to gradually weaken the layers of the parking lot, resulting in the formation of cracks and potholes.

Rain can also be problematic in cold weather, especially if the paved surface has a significant slope. A steep incline can result in the rain running down the liquid asphalt and eventually eroding the material’s top layer. Over time, the paved area can wear away and become mainly rock and aggregate.

For all your pavement construction needs and maintenance solutions, contact us by calling 703-423-0471 or emailing us. 

What Should You Consider Before You Hire a Paving Company?

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What to Think About

Your parking lot receives traffic every day, which can cause the surface to wear out. To make sure the asphalt is safe for your customers and employees, you need to have the surface repaved every so often. At NVM Paving and Concrete, we know that hiring a paving specialist can be an overwhelming process. But, with these three things to consider, hiring a paving company will be easy as pie.

Ask About the Cost

Your business does not have an infinite budget to cover maintenance costs, so you want to ensure that a paving company can provide quality work. When you interview professionals, ask for an estimate with a full breakdown of the price. Typically, paving companies use the size and condition of your parking lot to determine how much the job will cost. If your lot is not in good condition or the company needs specialized equipment to do the job, the cost may increase. Knowing exactly what you are paying for and the kinds of fees you should expect will allow you to track your budget.

Ask About Credentials

At NVM Paving and Concrete, we understand that not every company will have the expertise that you are looking for. Do your due diligence and look at the professional licenses each company has so that you know what they are qualified to do. Additionally, it is important for paving companies to both understand and meet specific guidelines for handicap parking and pedestrian safety.  This will create a smooth flow during heavy traffic and prevent any collisions.

Ask About the Timeline

As you interview paving companies, ask how long it will take to complete the job. You may have to close your business to account for the construction. Inclement weather and the time of year can also make a job take longer and you need to know how the timeline may affect your business.

If you are ready to repave your parking lot, we are ready to help you. Contact NVM Paving and Concrete at 703-426-0471 so we can help you start the process.

How Does Weather Distress Asphalt?

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Weathers Affect on Asphalt

Maintaining the asphalt pavement on your commercial, industrial, and multi-family properties can be a challenge if you are unaware of how the elements play a role in the overall lifespan. Rain and snow are more apparent culprits of asphalt distress but did you know that the sun can also cause additional wear and tear on paved surfaces over time? Extreme temperatures on either side of the spectrum, hot and cold, can also impact your asphalt. Learn more about how seasonal weather can affect your asphalt to ensure that you have the proper care and prevention measures in place. 

How Rain Distresses Asphalt 

In exceptionally wet climates, or even during prolonged rainy seasons in temperate climates, rain is notorious for seeping in and causing damages. Water will make its way in under the base or find its way into small cracks, causing structural damages that require expensive repairs or replacement if left unattended. 

How Sun Distresses Asphalt 

The intense UV rays from the sun are damaging to everything, and asphalt is no exception. Sun damage can lead to fading, requiring frequent restriping or resurfacing. Sun and extreme heat can also cause cracks and soft spots on the asphalt, leading to structural damage down the road. 

How Snow Distresses Asphalt 

Snow and extreme winter weather are the most distressing weather for asphalt. Snow and freezing temperatures cause the same water damage as rain does and include additional frost heave and freeze/thaw cycles that create potholes. Snowplows combined with salt and de-icing chemicals are necessary to make roadways safer, but these practices also contribute to freeze/ thaw cycles and create significant asphalt damages. 


To find out how to protect and repair the asphalt on your commercial, industrial, and multi-family properties from damages caused by weather conditions, contact NVM Paving & Concrete.

The Cost-Saving Benefits of Sealcoating

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Save Money With Sealcoating

Maintaining your commercial property is a significant investment already. You spend both time and money making sure that your business is running smoothly and effectively. When it comes to budget, careful measures must ensure that intelligent decisions will pay off over time.

Paving your property is a significant asset and cost to your business. Don’t waste money by letting it go to disrepair; sealcoating helps protect and prolong the life of your pavement. Find out more cost-saving benefits of sealcoating and how to schedule efficiently for lasting results. 

Protect Your Budget 

Allocating money for paving your commercial property can be a considerable investment of sums, but it is worth it over time. Keep in mind that you must protect your budget by maintaining your pavement to avoid unnecessary allocations for the same job. Budget once for complete paving and then for maintenance sealcoating only. Sealcoating is significantly less costly than repaving. 

Protect Your Pavement 

In most of the areas we serve, clients experience a regular influx of snowfall, ice, and freezes. Sealcoating can help protect your pavement from weather damages. Without sealcoating, water may seep through cracks or under the surface, creating potholes and structural damage. Regular sealcoating efforts can mitigate freeze/thaw cycles prevalent in the late winter and spring months.  Preventable repairs are especially costly. 

Protect Your Image 

The whole reason you paved your commercial property in the first place was to increase curb appeal. Maintaining your effort is necessary to control the first impressions of clients and business associates that come to your property. Remember, you only get to make a first impression once. The difference between getting an account or not can be in the details. 

Protect Your Routine  

Scheduling routine maintenance in advance and on time is the best way to ensure that you will keep up with sealcoating. Schedule your sealcoating within the first year after your new pavement installation and then every two to four years afterward, unless you notice any additional issues. Preventative care is less costly than treatment. 

Contact NVM Paving & Concrete to learn more about sealcoating or schedule a consultation for your commercial property. Reach us by calling 703-423-0471 or sending an email today!