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NVM Paving & Concrete, Inc.

Northern Virginia Paving Company

Commercial Property Parking Lots

Proper Paving Is Essential for Your Project

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Ensure Proper Asphalt Installation

Before clients make their way through your front door, you have already greeted them. Beyond welcome signs, employees, or any business dealings, you make visitors feel they are wanted by the appearance and functionality of your driveway and parking lot. A well-maintained, smooth, error-free drive and parking pad say volumes about your company. Considering that the Baltimore area is subject to the full range of four seasons of weather and we have constant, heavy traffic, there are many challenges to keeping driving and parking areas in pristine condition. One major factor in securing a lasting surface is ensuring the proper installation.

Eight Distinct Stages in Pavement Installation

There are step-by-step instructions that will make sure that your surface looks, performs, and lasts long term:

  • Remove the previous surface. All vestiges of asphalt and other construction material must be discarded.
  • Prep for drainage. The underlying earth must be smoothly graded for water runoff. Water pooling beneath the pavement is a primary cause of failure.
  • Install the frost barrier. This sub-base is essential for temperature extremes.
  • Verify the surface. We use heavy equipment to test the subsurface before proceeding.
  • Pour the binder. This is a middle layer that seals the sub-base to the asphalt.
  • Emplace the new asphalt layer. If done right, this layer will provide a smooth, lasting surface for vehicles and pedestrians.
  • Install transitions. This involves making certain the newly paved area is connecting with roadways and other driving surfaces.
  • Roll the surface. The newly installed asphalt surface is compacted.

NVM Is Ready to Make This Happen in Your Location

If you would like your driving and parking areas to be more inviting and safer for your customers as well as employees and other visitors, NVM Paving & Concrete can make it happen. Contact us today at (703) 426-2700, or visit our website.

Including Asphalt Maintenance in Your Budget

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Budget for Asphalt Maintenance

Getting the budget prepared for the next fiscal year can be stressful, as there are many areas of the business that could benefit from an increase in funding. Though it is much easier to estimate how much will be spent on office supplies, utilities, or rent, it is important to adequately determine how much will need to be spent throughout the year on your paving and maintenance costs.

Steps for Determining the Asphalt Budget

There isn’t a single formula that will work for every business, as the condition, age, and use that asphalt receives varies by location. There are a few steps for moving toward an accurate projection on expenses.

Determine Curb Appeal

Look at the existing condition of your pavement and assess its curb appeal. Has the color already faded from black to a dull gray? Chances are it could use a sealcoating, a process that helps extend and protect the longevity of your asphalt. Look at the visibility and brightness of any striping or markings. If those are dull, it may be time to get them redone.

Look at Damage

Cracks and potholes are commonly caused by water penetration, and the longer these go unresolved, the worse the water damage will be. These should be prioritized if you want to avoid more expensive repairs down the road. Foundational damage may be evident in areas with significant networks of interlocking cracks. Heavy damage may need to be removed in order to repair the foundation.

Consider the Age

If your pavement is at least 10 years old or higher, it is time for a renovation. However, if you have carefully maintained your pavement, you may be able to conduct small renovations in the most heavily trafficked areas.

Don’t let your budget get blown out of line from unnecessary asphalt damage. NVM Paving & Concrete handles the toughest asphalt paving and maintenance needs in the DMV. Call 703-423-0471 or email us today for an estimate!

How To Encourage Drainage in Your Parking Lot

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Parking Lot Drainage

After a rainstorm, does your parking lot look like a swimming pool? Excessive water is not only unsightly, but it poses serious safety risks as well. Let the professionals at NVM provide you with proper drainage solutions for your pavement.

Use a Porous Asphalt

We can mix asphalt to be extra-porous. Extra-porous asphalt allows more water to drain to the stone bed, absorbing it in the soil. We use a thin layer of asphalt that integrates a skeleton uniform aggregate with fine aggregates. If you have a slight slope or have permeable soil, you may want to think about porous asphalt.

Added Concrete Drainage

In some cases, you may need drainage assistance. We can install dry wells, catch basins, or trench drains. Each of these systems helps prevent flooding in a parking lot. Flooding can cause your asphalt to erode and leave you with expensive repairs later on. You have a concrete galley built underground with a dry well that allows the water to drain out of the holes and into the ground. With catch basins, you collect the surface water and direct it through the pipes underground. Trench drains, on the other hand, direct water to a pump away from the property.

Create a Sloped Parking Lot

If possible, create a sloped parking lot. You do not want the water to be able to pool on the concrete or asphalt. Instead, we can slope or grade the parking lot so that your water runs off in the desired direction. When it comes to sloping, we have to ensure that the slope is not too shallow and not too steep.

When it comes to your parking lot, you do not want ponding water. Not only can this cause damage, but it can also result in injuries for your guests. Contact NVM Paving & Concrete today to learn more about proper drainage for your parking lot.

Quickly Diagnose Problems With Your Asphalt

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Tips For Diagnosing Asphalt Issues

High-quality asphalt that has been installed correctly is going to last for quite some time. As a material, asphalt is inexpensive and easy to maintain. Whether you had it installed for a parking lot, pathway, or roadway, you can get 20-25 years out of it. However, without proper maintenance, their life expectancy decreases significantly. Part of keeping up on maintenance is knowing how to diagnose problems quickly.

1. Look for Alligator Cracks

You’ll know alligator cracks when you see them because they look like the hide of an alligator. These are created by structural issues that are exacerbated by fluctuations in temperature, erosion, insufficient composition, and settling. If the cracks are caught early, we can seal or patch them, but if they have been spreading for a while and become too severe, it might be time to repave.

2. Check Around the Edges

Edge cracking is typically due to insufficient base support or poor drainage. You’ll notice it, as the name implies, around the edges of your parking lot or pathway. Patches and crack sealers are the typical fixes, but we would also have to address the root cause of the edge cracks.

3. Watch Out for Raveling

Most often, raveling occurs when asphalt is installed in cooler temperatures and results in loose gravel and uneven surfaces. Raveling comes initially from poor compaction, so it’s easy to recognize when you have areas that are crumbling. We can both seal and patch the area to get it fixed.

4. Look for Potholes

We all know what potholes are, whether we’ve hit one with the car or tripped on one while walking to your car. Potholes often lead to other cracks and damages that eventually result in the need to repave. Ideally, we would like to stop the pothole in its tracks by repairing the area with a deep patch before it gets out of hand.

5. Check for Washboarding

If you notice a rippled pattern in your asphalt, you have discovered washboarding. This often occurs when the asphalt has been poorly developed, causing the upper layer to move over the lower layer. An asphalt patch can often resolve this, but it also serves as a reminder to hire a trusted, qualified company for the initial installation.

Contact Us To Schedule an Inspection

At NVM Paving & Concrete, we’re happy to diagnose any pavement problem and propose a viable solution. Call 703-423-0471 or email us today to learn more!

How Temperature Extremes Add Stress to Pavement

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Can Your Pavement Handle The Heat?

Most people understand that pavement takes a lot of abuse. Just the sheer size of vehicles and semi-trucks put a lot of weight on a surface, sometimes as much as several tons. Then there is the constant assault from chemicals such as oils and gasoline. While most people understand that weather impacts the durability of pavement, you might not know just how large that impact can be.

At NVM Paving & Concrete, our technicians know that heat and cold as well as moisture, are tough on parking lots.  For this reason, we employ talented professionals that strive to lay down the best asphalt and concrete surfaces to give your pavement the best possible chance.

The Impact of Temperature Swings

Basic physics says that pavement expands when heated and contracts when cooled. This has serious implications for a parking lot or other paved surfaces. In the DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia areas, temperatures approach the 90s or higher in the summer and dip below freezing in the winter. Just as importantly, thanks to micro temperatures across a parking surface due to shade and other factors, different sections of pavement heat and cool at different times.

All of this can lead to imperfections in the pavement. Uneven heating and cooling allow a variety of blemishes to develop:

  • Cracking
  • Warping
  • Expanding segments
  • Potholing 

Over time if not addressed, these imperfections worsen. As water gets into small cracks, freezes, and then expands, minor issues become large problems.

The Solution to Bad Weather

Getting the most out of a paving job depends upon several factors. The first is making sure the job is done professionally from the start. The second step is performing routine inspections on the property to detect problems, especially in the middle of summer and winter. The third step is to make sure professional routine maintenance is used on all minor cracks.

At NVM Paving & Concrete, we do superior work throughout the lifespan of the pavement. Call 703-423-0471 or email us today to learn more!

Answers to Your Most Frequently Asked Pavement Questions

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Frequently Asked Pavement Questions

Your parking lot is going to get beat up. When you think about it, the pavement probably sees more traffic, weather conditions, and wear and tear than any other surface on your property. It’s understandable that you have questions about caring for your pavement, and at NVM Paving & Concrete, we have answers.

1. What Should I Do When the Pavement Gets Damaged?

Pavement damage comes in many forms. You might see a crack down the middle of your parking lot, or you might notice the striping has faded so badly you can’t even see it. You might also notice crumbled pavement or have some potholes you need to deal with. In addition to being unsightly, these types of damages are also dangerous. As soon as you notice a crack or pothole, be sure to place a cone over the damage to warn others. Next, contact us and we can evaluate the situation and get started on the right repair.

2. Is There a Way To Avoid Damage?

Pavement parking lots are going to need repairs and replacement at some point, but there are some things you can do to prevent serious damage before it’s time. For example, sealcoating is a process in which we add a protective layer to your surface to safeguard it from chemicals, water, oil, sunlight, oxidation, and other damaging elements. When these elements reach the pavement, they are met with the sealcoating, which blocks the damage and slows down the deterioration of your surface.

3. Should I Hire a Professional?

Parking lot paving is not a DIY project. When you notice damage or when you’re trying to prevent damage, it’s best to get the job done by a professional. At NVM Paving & Concrete, we have the tools, products, and expertise to ensure everything gets done correctly.

Get Your Pavement Protected Today

For the best in pavement services, contact NVM Paving & Concrete today.