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4 Spring Maintenance Tips To Preserve Commercial Asphalt Pavement

How well you invest in the maintenance of your asphalt pavement determines how long the paving job will last and will also reduce unnecessary repair expenses. Spring is the perfect season to assess your asphalt for concerns that may have popped up throughout the year’s wear and tear. A few simple tips make a big difference in extending the life of your pavement.

Tip #1: Conduct a Thorough Visual Inspection

Move throughout your paved areas and visually look for signs of damage. Small cracks are worth noting since they can expand into bigger problems later on. Cracks can turn into potholes, which are not only unsightly but also potentially dangerous and the cause of injuries or accidents.

Tip #2: Fresh Up the Striping

Spring is a good time to re-paint the striping, handicap emblems or directional markings on your parking lot. New paint speaks volumes about your business, showing customers your care about their well-being. Professional techniques and long-lasting paint will make your paint job more durable and provide the best return on investment.

Tip #3: Consider a Sealcoat

You should invest in sealcoating every few years to keep the asphalt looking its best. It can also reduce the potential for damage but only when a professional contractor comes in with the right coating and application. Doing it yourself could end up costing more when repairs are needed from improper sealcoating.

Tip #4: Keep a Cleaning Schedule

Make it a regular occurrence to remove dirt, leaves, rocks, and other debris from the pavement. Pull out weeds and grass from the cracks and keep the edges trimmed and weeded. Remove buildup from the drainage system.

Call in the Professionals To create a long-lasting surface that is easy to navigate and safe for your guests, call the experts at NVM Paving & Concrete for maintenance help. Our specialty is commercial paving services, and we can tackle your project. Call us today at 703-426-2700.

How Investing in Sealcoating Asphalt Saves You Money In The Long Run

How’s your parking lot looking? Are there a few cracks or potholes? Just wait another season or two and they will show up. Sealcoating your asphalt lot or drive may seem like an unnecessary expense, but the reality is that it saves you money over time.

Why Sealcoating?

Your asphalt is continually under assault from the following elements:

• Water enters tiny cracks in the asphalt and erodes the foundation underneath, causing the asphalt to collapse. Freezing and thawing cycles, common in the Baltimore/DC area, expedite the erosion as well.

• The sun draws the oils out of asphalt, reducing its flexibility. The now-brittle asphalt can no longer adjust to the weight of cars and cracks under use.

• Heavy traffic driving over tiny asphalt cracks worsens the formation of potholes. 

• Sealcoating is a liquid protective layer spread over the top of your asphalt. It reduces the effects of water, the sun, and traffic. Depending upon the severity of weather and traffic conditions, it should be reapplied every one to three years.

The Benefits of Sealcoating

Maintaining your asphalt with a layer of sealcoating has many benefits for your facility, such as:

1. It makes your asphalt look new again.
2. There’s less damage to vehicles from potholes and asphalt cracks.
3. It reduces your liability. Smooth asphalt causes fewer slips and falls.
4. Your asphalt will last longer. Properly maintained asphalt can last as long as 30 years before it needs replacement.
5. It provides the flexibility asphalt needs to handle traffic and foundation shifts.

Get in Touch

If you’d like your asphalt lot or drive to last longer, it’s time to talk to the pros at NVM Paving & Concrete. Call us at 703-426-2700 to learn more about sealcoating and how it can benefit your facility. We’re happy to provide a free estimate for your project.

4 Questions To Ask a Commercial Paving Company

There are a lot of decisions you will need to make as a business owner, and all of them are important. When it comes to the exterior of your property, it is important to make good decisions regarding the upkeep and maintenance of your parking lot. Before you hire a commercial paving company, there are several things you should ask to make sure you are getting a quality job at an affordable rate.

• What Kind of Licensing and Insurance Do You Hold?

Any professional contractor should have the proper business licenses, industrial licensing, and business insurance. Don’t just take the company’s word for it. Ask for a copy of the licensing or policy to ensure validity.

• What Kind of Experience Does Your Team Have?

Even though everyone needs a chance to start, you don’t want to trust a commercial paving job to a newcomer. The more experience a company has, the more able the team will be to handle challenges that may come up during the project. Years of experience also lend themselves to a higher quality paving job.

• Do You Specialize in Commercial or Residential?

It is best to work with a company that only deals with commercial paving jobs if you want the best results on your project. There are different needs between driveways and parking lots, and commercial contractors know about the traffic flow needs, handicap, or other special markings that typically come with commercial projects.

• Do You Have Any Referrals or a Portfolio To Look At?

Always take a look at the work the contractor has done for others before signing a contract. The company should give you at least three referrals, you should call and visit the site to get the most up-to-date information.

Call the Contractors You Can Trust At NVM Paving & Concrete, we welcome your questions concerning our services and how we operate. We are a trusted paving contractor in the Baltimore/DC region, and we look forward to showing you our excellent work. Contact us to find out what we can do for your property.

Technology improves our lives in many ways, from smart homes and cars to more efficient heating and cooling systems. The same is true when it comes to the quality of your parking lot. It is no exaggeration to say that advances in technology have changed the way we pave, offering better results and faster completion times. At NVM Paving & Concrete, we embrace changes that allow us to serve our customers better.

For example, laser technology is useful in determining the proper slope and grade of a site. Precision measurements make sure the parking lot drains properly and eliminates areas of standing water. This method beats the old way of using a site glass or transit in connection with a plum-bob and linker rod.

Advances in Removal and Tear Off

Removing outdated asphalt used to require a walk-behind road saw, equipped with a diamond blade, to cut up the old surface. Now, new hydraulic technology enables teams to use a roadhog to cut divisions in the asphalt. The benefits of this approach are numerous:

• Quicker removal times
• More efficient use of work crews
• Greater savings on the overall project

Our customers enjoy the advantages of savings and a shorter time frame from start to finish. It also shortens any disruptions during business hours.

Improvements in Grade and Slope Controls

Advanced equipment such as a motor grader allows operators to follow established grade grids. This version is more accurate than older graders and compacters that were not able to test grade and slope. The result of this technological advancement is better drainage for asphalt parking and the prevention of uneven areas that could weaken asphalt.

Your commercial property deserves the best treatment possible. At NVM Paving & Concrete, we are always looking for ways to improve our services in the Baltimore area. Call us today at 703-426-2700

While there are many ways to ensure traffic safety in a commercial lot, one of the best additions is to limit excessive speed with speed bumps or humps. These installations are often added at pedestrian crossings or other high-traffic areas.  

Speed bumps and humps are vital elements of property safety, but they cannot be installed willy-nilly. Every state, including Maryland and the DC area, has specific guidelines and regulations for traffic installations. Therefore, before contacting a professional to install a speed bump on your commercial property, make sure you are aware of the requirements of these safety features. 

Differences Between a Bump and Hump

While adding a speed bump or hump will help reduce driver speed, each device will affect the speed in different ways. Understanding how you want to control speed will help you determine whether a speed bump or hump is required. 

A speed bump is used to reduce a vehicle’s speed dramatically. The height of the bump plays a role in speed reduction. Because bumps are effective for quick speed reductions, they are best installed in high-foot traffic areas, like pedestrian crossings. 

Speed humps do not work as quickly as bumps and are less of a shock to the driver. Humps work by slowly rocking the vehicle over the obstacle. Commercial parking lots do not always require humps, but if a complex is large enough, it can mimic a residential area, where humps are most effective. 

Permanent Installation or Temporary Deterrent?

What does your facility need: a permanent installation or a temporary deterrent? If permanence is what you are after, look into asphalt speed bumps and humps. If a temporary fix is all you’re after, check out our rubber options. 

Whatever your speed bump or hump needs, NVM Paving & Concrete has you covered. Contact us today at 703-426-2700 to discuss regulatory requirements and parking lot control options. 

Repave Your Parking Lot

You know that you need to repave your parking lot but feel unsure about when to schedule this kind of service. You may want to choose your least busy season; however, the weather is a crucial factor during asphalt paving. At NVM Paving and Concrete, we can help you understand the circumstances that result in a solid asphalt surface.

Should You Repave During the Winter?

Winter may be one of the slower seasons for many businesses. Property managers may want to schedule repaving at this time because it won’t affect daily operations. However, winter weather is not always ideal for repaving. When the temperature is less than 50 degrees, the cold air can cool down the asphalt. This can result in a surface that is brittle and can crack easily. It can also cause the asphalt to harden too fast, making it difficult for professionals to press and roll it. Both of these can lead to additional repairs down the road and cost your business more money.

When Is a Better Time to Repave?

You may prefer to avoid parking lot maintenance during the spring and summer, as closing the lot may affect your ability to do business. However, these seasons are the preferred times to lay down new asphalt. At NVM Paving and Concrete, we usually recommend that our customers repave their parking lot when the temperature is around 70 degrees. This ensures that the asphalt retains the necessary temperature when we lay it down and allows us to work with it more smoothly. However, it is also important to make sure that it is not too hot to repave the lot. Asphalt usually does not set when the temperature is higher than 90 degrees.

If you are ready to talk to someone about repaving your parking lot, call NVM Paving and Concrete at 703-423-0471. We can help you determine the best time to lay down new asphalt.