Paving and Sealcoating Glossary of Terms

A.D.A.

The Americans with Disabilities Act. This comprehensive federal act was passed to ensure uniform compliance with standards for the benefit of those with disabilities. Its scope encompasses everything from the width of doorways and force required to open them to the use of Braille in elevators to assist the visually impaired. Most common in relation to pavement are the standards for disabled parking, access aisles, curb ramps, signage and markings etc. Some states and municipalities also have laws, which regulate proper accessibility for the disabled. Signed into law in 1990 the A.D.A. affects every property owner, regardless of company size. All businesses must now have the proper amount of handicap accessible parking stalls, required van parking spaces and proper signage.

Additives

PLSM utilizes the industries highest grade of additives to provide the customer with the highest grade of sealer possible. By adding these we not only enhance the sealing proprieties but aesthetics as well.

Tarmax Latex Additive - (standard additive in all of our mix designs) Tarmax is the first in a series of admixtures designed for use as modifiers for coal tar pitch emulsion. Tarmax responds to those applications demanding the faster drying characteristics of a low-solid coating while providing the additional viscosity and strength required to suspend and bond low to medium levels of aggregate. Benefits include Faster drying with rapid film strength development, Offers greater viscosity, extends the pavement lifecycle, reduces overall maintenance costs, resists scuffing and power steering marks, improves aggregate bonding, enhances pavement coloration, and increases oil, water and ultraviolet light resistance.

Fass-Dri Drying/Curing Additive - FASS-DRI Pavement Sealer Additive is the result of an exciting break-through in additive chemistry. It enables you to reduce the down time of your parking lot by as much as 50%. Jobs can be completed faster - lots can be striped quicker. The technology behind Fass-Dri Pavement Sealer Additive enables sealers to dry from thebottom up as opposed to skinning over and trapping moisture within the sealer film. It drives moisture out resulting in rapid curing. This non-tracking, rich slate black finish offers long lasting protection from temperature change, stress, abrasion and chemicals. FASS_DRI is reinforced with geotextile fibers for increased flexibility and tensile strength. Resurface existing asphalt pavement with the only asphalt coating that is classified by Underwriters Laboratories for slip resistance. FASS-DRI is the preferred product for service stations, fast food restaurants, convenience stores, banks, hospitals, golf courses, motor sports tracks, airport taxiways, etc. This product is added when we need a faster turn around time from start to finish.

Alligatored Areas

Usually a result of a subgrade failure due to cracking of the surface when the prepared soil/stone beneath the asphalt structure can no longer adequately support the weight of the traffic.  With freeze/thaw cycles and the continuation of the elements seeping through these areas the asphalt will continue to break apart and potholes will result. Excavating the asphalt and soft material from the affected area and replacing it with compacted stone material can correct the failure.

Car Stops

Concrete, plastic or rubber bumper designed to aid in vehicle parking and proper alignment.

Catch Basin Repairs

Over time a broken or damaged drainage pipe or blocks and bricks used to construct your catch basins begin to fail and deteriorate. This is mainly due to erosion, salt damage and deterioration. If the surrounding asphalt around your catch basin is cracked or heaved, it may be time to get them repaired. In order to prevent a costly repair, get the problem fixed as soon as you see signs of failure. Once the blocks and bricks are deteriorated, the main structure is no longer secured. Cars driving over them, cars parking on them, freeze-thaw cycles and snowplows hitting them create more stress on the steel grates. This makes the entire top structure sink, creating more liability. Parking Lot Services Maintenance will remove the surrounding asphalt and replace or repair all deteriorated blocks, bricks and mortar, re-level the existing grate and replace the failed surrounding asphalt matching the existing grade of the parking lot, giving you a structurally sound catch basin. In the event of a broken or damaged drainage pipe we may need to excavate the area, access the extent of repairs and consult with property owner to decide the best course of action required prior to proceeding.

Crack Repair

There are many different situations that require Asphalt Crack Repair. In many situations Cracks can be caused by poor foundation, by not having a thick enough or too thick of a layer of asphalt, earth movement, extremely heavy vehicles, roots from trees as well as the freeze-thaw cycle every year. Other situations requiring asphalt crack repair may include longitudinal, transverse and diagonal cracks, edge cracks, reflective cracks, construction joint cracks, widening cracks, tree root cracks and edge cracks. It is extremely important to repair any asphalt cracks that arise and maintain an ongoing asphalt crack repair maintenance program. Once water is allowed to enter the foundation, the foundation will begin to erode resulting in extensive and costly damage including subgrade failures, alligatoring and potholes.

Crack Routing

Routing cracks in asphalt pavement provides a clean surface on each side of the crack for sure bonding of the rubberized filer. It provides a recessed area to contain the crack filler, leaving less sealer on the surface to stick to shoes and tires. Hot applied crackfill provides a longer life through seasonal and weather related changes than does the cold applied crackfill sealer. Hot applied filler is used extensively in highway crack sealing, parking lots and residential drives and exclusively in F.A.A. airport asphalt sealing projects

Drying Time

Nothing is more critical to a good sealcoating job and yet more abused than the time of drying before traffic is allowed. Improper dry times lead to premature wear, excessive tire marking, tracking, and shoe pickup. Try to get as much drying time as possible before traffic is allowed on the surface. Min. 24-48 hours if we are to warranty your work. 2,000-4,000 pound vehicles will tear up any coating if not allowed to properly cure. You're asking too much out of the coating to accept less cure time. We do realize that in this day and age, many property owners won't allow this time. You must realize the consequences as the property owner understanding the coatings' limitations and that the decision of allowing traffic too soon will hurt the performance and longevity of the sealer. We can add additives to speed up the curing process but please keep in mind that temperature, sunlight and humidity have a very big role in the curing process.

Fill & Roll Patch Repair

The least expensive repair is a surface patch where the area is cleaned, any loose debris is removed and a tack coat is applied. Hot-mix asphalt is placed in the hole and compacted to match the existing grade of the area around the patch. There is no cutting involved and very little material will need to be hauled away.

Infrared Repair Process (I/R)

Asphalt surface repair process which uses radiated heat to soften existing pavement. Most commonly the pavement is then raked and additional hot mix added. When raking is completed to grade, the area is re-compacted. This allows fast repairs with less new material and facilitates repairs in weather to cool for conventional methods. Another advantage of I/R repairs is the elimination of the saw cutting seams, which are essentials cracks that can lead to future deterioration. Not appropriate for areas of base failure, when you can see dirt or stone through the repair or requiring structural repair.

Mix Designs

We currently employ 2 different mix designs based on the needs of the customers.

The standard design utilizes Brewer concreted sealer with a mix design of 48% sealer, 50% water, 1% silica sand (traction) and 1% Tarmax additive. This standard mix design is best used for driveways and low traffic areas.

The premium design utilizes Brewer concreted sealer with a mix design of 60% sealer, 36% water, 2% silica sand (traction) and 2% Tarmax additive. This premium mix design is primarily used for parking lots, secondary roads and any other place that has moderate to heavy traffic. Typical application is for 2 coats of this mix to achieve the best possible coverage and wear capabilities.

Oil Spot Primer

Sealing an area with fortified latex primer helps to promote adhesion between the pavement and the sealcoating. Without primer over petroleum-damaged areas, the sealcoating will not adhere, exposing the area to the elements after a very short amount of time. It is standard for PLSM to treat any oil spots prior to sealcoating. You may see a slight difference in appearance where the oil spot has been treated.

Rutting

Rutting is a defect that occurs on the wheel path and causes permanent deformations, or dips in the surface due to the subgrade being under stress. In some cases the asphalt and base may not have been designed for this heavy load. Perfect case scenario would be rutting where a garbage truck travels to and from a dumpster area.

Sealcoating

Applications of a sealant to preserve, protect, and beautify asphalt pavements. Generally used on low traffic streets or off-street locations. PLSM uses commercial products that are sold in bulk concentrated form. Water, silica sand (enhance traction properties) and specialized additives are then added in precise ratios (mix design) and then agitated in mixing tanks. Care should be taken to choose the appropriate product, mix design, and application method for the specific project and it's location. 

Striping

A parking lot is one of the first things noticed by the customer. A newly stripped lot is attractive and is a good indication that the property is being maintained. A well-marked parking lot directs people and traffic safely. PLSM uses the highest quality material and latest equipment available with either a latex or oil based paint depending on the application. Striping can include stencils for designated parking areas, letters/numbers and traffic flow arrows. No paint shall be applied when the areas are wet or below 40 degrees.

Subgrade Failure

Subgrade failures occur when the prepared soil beneath the asphalt structure can no longer adequately support the weight of the structure or the traffic.  Subgrade failures can occur for a number of reasons, including:  ground water, excessive load counts (too much weight), and inadequate design.  Excavating the soft material from the affected area and replacing it with compacted soil or bridging stone material can correct the failure.

Warranty

Please see specific warranty applicable to your unique application.