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Tips for Asphalt This Winter

In the midst of putting up holiday decorations or clearing the driveway from the most recent snowstorm, it’s understandable we might forget about preparing asphalt for the winter. Given that asphalt is a mixture of various substances, it absorbs water. In colder weather, asphalt can balloon and freeze which causes cracking, potholes, or worse. Fortunately, Libs Paving has provided a number of maintenance tips to keep your asphalt intact this winter.

Asphalt Maintenance Tips: 

Maintain a Clean Asphalt Driveway

A clean asphalt surface is critical for its overall lifespan. Smaller driveways can be maintained easily with a broom. However, commercial parking lots may require professional cleaning. 

Cleaning asphalt is essential to prevent any damage in the wintertime. Consider the following:

• When you sweep your driveway or bring in professionals, any potential cracks and potholes will be noticed before they become too large.
• Any materials or objects left on asphalt have the potential to freeze in the winter. This could damage the surface.

Asphalt Repair This Winter

To prepare for winter, it is best to perform any needed asphalt repair on your driveway or parking lot. 

• Sealcoating is proven to increase the lifespan of asphalt.
• Crack sealing will prevent water absorption from cracking and damaging the surface.
• Patch up any potholes with hot mix.

Be proactive when the cold weather hits so that your asphalt stays intact, free from cracks and potholes. When the time comes, remove all ice, snow, and slush from your asphalt surface as quickly as possible. If you have any asphalt maintenance related questions, contact Libs Paving Co for some more helpful tips!

Supplying Quality Asphalt

At Libs Paving, we work to produce consistent, top-quality and cost-effective results for our customers – regardless of project size or scope. For 48 years, we’ve been providing commercial, industrial, municipal and residential customers with our own quality asphalt because delivering the highest quality product to our customers is just how we operate!

Libs Paving is a three-generation family business that is consistently true to our values and processes for over four decades. We provide quality, expert service to all of our customers, whether residential and commercial, we take pride in our workmanship.

One way we are able to consistently deliver on our quality promise is by producing our own asphalt at our sister company, Asphalt Supply Company (ASCO). Having control of the material that goes into our product means we are able to create custom asphalt mixes for every job-uniquely created to cater to each project, and with no middle man, we are able to offer the lowest material cost possible. Our high production, INDOT certified, asphalt plant produces a consistent, quality product for all paving projects. Libs Paving Company together with Asphalt Supply Company provides quality products and service with benefits beyond the finished product.

• Cost Control -There’s no middle man, which means that Libs Paving can offer the highest quality product at the lowest possible cost, these savings and quality product are passed directly on to our customers.
• Mix Control- Asphalt is made of simple ingredients: stone, sand and gravel and held together by asphalt cement (a by-product of crude oil). Libs Paving knows first-hand that asphalt mixes are not one size fits all. ASCO offers over 30 custom asphalt mixes to meet a broad range of project types allowing us to work with our customers to incorporate a mix that will work best for each project.
• Protecting Our Planet-Asphalt is 100% recyclable! Did you know that the asphalt industry is one of the top recycling industries in the country, reclaiming over 100 million pounds of asphalt material each year and recycling about 95% of it back into new product mixtures for various applications. We mill and grind up old asphalt and add the recycled material into the new asphalt mix, cutting down on the amount of natural resources used.

For more information about Libs Paving or Asphalt Supply, or to request a free quote on our next asphalt paving project, contact us at 812-944-8942 

Sealcoating | What It Is And Why You Should Consider It

Asphalt pavement is constantly under the pressure of rain, U.V. rays, and chemicals, all of which work to degrade the binder (the asphalt cement that holds together the rock/stone/gravel), which in turn will degrade the entirety of the asphalt, leading to a surface that will turn brittle.

Therefore, maintaining pavement by utilizing sealcoating will do wonders to extending the life of your parking lot or driveway.

So why sealcoating? Sealcoating creates a protective layer that blocks out the elements: water, oils, U.V. rays. Its sealing of the asphalt pavement prevents oxidation and erosion.

If the paver applies the sealcoating according to the manufacturer’s specifications, then your pavement will end up with a black finish that makes your parking lot or driveway look good as new, not to mention slip-resistant.

Sealcoats are liquid formations that can be applied by brush, spray, or squeegee, keeping small cracks from growing and preventing the elements from getting below the surface.

Why You Should Consider It

If you wish to save money on your pavement (which you ought to), then it pays to opt for a sealcoating program that will consistently maintain your parking lot or driveway.

It is a much cheaper option than simply waiting until a full pavement replacement is necessary, costing only pennies per square foot for maintenance (replacement/repair, on the other hand, costs dollars per square foot).

It is truly a worthwhile, cost-effective investment that will add years to your pavement’s life.

Deciding your sealcoating program varies by type and time. Not every driveway or parking lot is the same, so an assessment from a professional paving Company like Libs Paving Co. is necessary to find the best option for your pavement’s needs. That being said, see below for some of our general estimates.

If you are sealcoating a parking lot for your commercial business, we recommend that you sealcoat 1-2 years after installation, and then once every 4-5 years after. By doing so, you can get about 15-20 years of life out of your asphalt paving.

If you are sealcoating a residential driveway, we recommend that you sealcoat it 6-12 months after  installation, and then once every 3-4 years thereafter.

When it comes to pavement, maintenance is always preferable to replacement. Sealcoating keeps the degradation small and controllable and, in the end, much less costly. It is a long-term investment that shaves quite a bit of money off of your maintenance projects. Whether you need to maintain your residential driveway or your business’ parking lot, sealcoating is the way to go.

Caterpillar’s AP255 Paver is a choice machine for a variety of paving work, used by Louisville’s own Libs Paving Company. Compact and easily maneuverable, there’s a great deal to love about it. It has a wide paving range that, with extensions, can reach a width of over 11 feet. Whether we are paving cart paths, golf paths, sidewalks, parking lots, or cycle paths, the Caterpillar’s AP255 makes for an easy job. See below for a rundown of its central features.

What It’s Made Of:

The Engine

The AP255’s engine can deliver a gross power of 34.1 kW (46 hp m) while staying impressively quiet thanks to its core engine design. Its cooling system also ensures the engine runs reliably and efficiently. The paver’s operating cycles will be made even easier as well, with the engine’s fuel efficiency being optimized to match the cycles.

In the engine compartment is a wealth of features. Contained within is an air cleaner, a fuel filter (boasting a water separator and priming pump), engine oil filter and level check, and a battery. The operator can expect a long-lasting engine here, with standard service intervals of 500 hours. Servicing is single-sided and designed to make maintenance as painless as possible.

The Steel Track Undercarriage

AP255’s smooth mobility and stability are made possible by its steel track undercarriage. With a long track base and rubber-bonded pads, the machine can hold its traction on fairly soft base materials. In addition, it has a unique shock-absorbing system for creating track tension. 

Electric Screed Heat

The screed plates create quick and easy heating. On the machine is touch-pad technology where the operator can control the particular heating of each screed section and create an even distribution of heat. Its tractor-mounted generator runs at 12 kW at 240 VAC and ensures a quick heat-up. Its auxiliary power panel delivers 1.5 kW at 240 V.

The Machine in Action

Delivery and Flow

It only takes a single operator to do everything while enjoying comfortable ride-ability. The machine’s automated delivery brings a smooth mix to the screed as well as minimize spillage. Paving is done in a smooth flow, fast and efficient without sacrificing ease of maneuverability. Normally, it takes about two or three workers to operate a paver, so being able to control everything from the rider’s chair is a major benefit setting us apart from the competition allowing us to be as efficient as possible with our team.

Where To Take It

The Caterpillar’s AP255 can pave more narrow areas like golf, bicycle, and cart paths as well as bigger projects like parking lots. The screed is small enough to allow paving in places where other pavers may not be able to. A huge benefit to having this machine. It’s a large machine, but hardly clunky. Wherever the operator takes it, the paver will be able to twist and maneuver around with ease. It can handle a wide range of operating environments and weathers. Its cooling system ensures comfort even in the dead heat of summer.

Overall, Caterpillars’ AP255  has been a great addition to our asphalt paving company. With its single-operator requirement, small-to-medium width range, and smooth movement, this paver is an impressive and economical choice for a wide variety of paving jobs we manage.

Contact us today with any questions regarding our asphalt services or the Caterpillar’s AP255.

Choosing Your New Asphalt Provider

Are you looking to have a new asphalt parking lot paved? As you know, it’s an important investment that requires proper upkeep. Regular maintenance is critical to extending the life of your asphalt, so seal coating is recommended three to twelve months after the installation, and every three to four years thereafter.

What should you look for when choosing an asphalt provider? This list of suggestions is a good place to start:

• Excellent customer care reputation
• Professionalism on the job site
• Performs site visit to assess needs
• Identifies sensitive areas that need protection
• Schedules installation around inclement weather
• Educates customers about post-installation care
• Properly licensed and insured

As the first item on the list states, it is paramount to check the company’s reputation. You can do this by checking their status with the Better Business Bureau, or by checking Google reviews. If you are comfortable with asking, simply putting a ‘seeking recommendations’ post on your social media outlets might yield some referrals.

How else can you ensure you are getting the best value for your investment? Ask the paving company for a written quote. Also, to be sure you’re comparing equitable quotes, ask what they do when preparing the surface, how compacted/thick the asphalt will be, and how they handle drainage considerations.

Additionally, ask what kind of experience they have, especially locally. If you are a commercial customer, perhaps your needs are best served by a company with mostly large commercial parking lot experience.

Still have questions? We are happy to answer any questions about the process you might have, no matter how big or small your question might seem to you.

Libs Paving Company has offered professional asphalt paving and sealcoating services for over 40 years. Because of this experience, we know what is best for your property and can help maximize the life of your pavement. Put our expertise to work for you. Contact us today for a quote.