Author Archives: eSquared Asphalt Maintenance

What is warehouse striping?

Warehouse line striping inside the warehouse is done with epoxy paint or tape positioned on the floor for visual identification. There are several reasons why striping is essential to a warehouse: 

• Organization: Warehouses or club stores with warehouse line striping makes it clear where things belong which saves energy and time for the employees and customers. 
• 5S Methodologies: Proper warehouse line striping that follows 5S Standards is more effective.  A proper line striping job makes the warehouse safer by keeping bulk storage in a predetermined area that is organized.
• Direction: Warehouse line striping promotes safety where forklifts are used by directing the operators in the direction they should travel. Warehouse line striping also advises pedestrians where to cross or not to enter. 
• PPE Required: In some warehouse settings, PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) is required and with proper warehouse line striping in place, employees can be made aware of those areas. 

What is the best paint for warehouse lines?

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) has established guidelines for warehouse line striping. This includes the colors, placement, and sizes. These guidelines are designed to help maintain a consistent protocol within each warehouse setting. 

Some facilities will use vinyl tape for temporary striping, but that will wear off with forklift and foot traffic. A permanent solution for any warehouse, but especially for one that a busy environment, epoxy paints are recommended. 

What are the line marking standards for warehouse line striping?

OSHA requirements are for warehouse line striping to be no less than 2” wide with consideration that larger facilities have lines between 3” and 4” sizes. The wider striping in larger facilities is to have more attention to the aisles and areas to minimize problems. 

Are there color requirements for warehouse line striping? 

Yes, and by OSHA requirements and standards, the following colors have been in use for several decades and have become almost 100% universal. The colors and meanings are as follows: 

• Yellow: Used for denoting aisleways, traffic lanes, and work cells
• White: Where equipment and fixtures that haven’t been assigned another color belongs. Such as carts, floor stands display racks, machines, workstations, etc.
• Blue, Green, Black: Storage for finished goods, work in progress, and raw materials.
• Orange: This area is designated for inspections of energized equipment, materials, and products. 
• Red: Placement of 5S red flags, defects, reworks, and scraps.
• Red & White: This area must be kept clear for compliance and safety reasons. This is typically found where electrical panels, firefighting equipment & supplies, safety equipment, and first aid stations are located.
• Black & White: This area is to be kept clean for operational use. 
• Black & Yellow:  Caution of health hazard areas should be avoided. 

What are warehouse line striping duties?

This is the person(s) responsible for making sure all warehouse line striping is done and in good condition. After several hours (years) of a warehouse being used by forklifts and foot traffic, it is recommended to repaint the striping to keep it in line with OSHA requirements. 

The actual warehouse line striping should be done by a professional contractor that specializes in this type of work. This can be the same person that stripes the dock area and parking lot. 

Are there specific shapes to the warehouse line striping? 

Yes, along with the standardized color choices, OSHA has established the following shapes and how they should be used: 

• Octagon Signs: These are stop signs painted on the floor. They advise any indoor vehicle such as forklifts to stop before proceeding further. 
• Arrows: The floor marking of arrows are to direct foot traffic where they should go, especially in case of an evacuation.
• Exit Signage: Exit signage on the floor directs occupants to the nearest exits.  

• Footprints: Footstep shapes direct employees and visitors in which direction they should walk in the warehouse. 
• Warning Signage: The shape of a hazard or the word “warning” advised any person they should practice all safety steps in a specific area. 

What are the steps in pouring concrete?

The concrete pouring installation process is easier than you may think, even if you haven’t ever done anything like that before, with these 6 steps: 

1. PREP THE GROUND

First, the ground must be prepared before the concrete pouring can be done. How is ground prepped for concrete pouring? By removing any material or objects that can cause interference with the concrete pouring procedure. This includes shrubs, grass, old concrete, rocks, trash, trees, etc. There must be nothing but raw earth in the area being serviced. 

2. BASE AND LEVEL

The area is then dug out for the concrete pouring, and for the surface to be able to drain, if isn’t sandy soil, another layer needs to be installed. What do you put down before pouring concrete? A gravel layer is poured and spread out to create a base. Then forms are built at a marginal height and nailed to a stake. The stake is tapped to reach the desired height so that a perfectly level board is in place. 

3. STEEL BAR STRENGTH

Before the concrete pouring can be done, reinforcement is installed for added strength and crack resistance, using a half-inch Rebar, (a steel bar). 

4. CONCRETE TRUCK PREPARATION

An inspection and review of the area are done prior to the concrete truck’s arrival for the concrete pouring to take place. This is done to avoid any mistakes, like making sure the forms are in place, level and sturdy. 

5. POUR, SPREAD, FLATTEN 

As the concrete pouring is happening, it will come out of the truck-mounted drum as the driver tilts the drum in slumps that are 5 to 6 inches high. At this point, the concrete mix can be moved by the crew using assorted tools to push and pull the substance to meet the leveling form’s highest point, leveling as they work. 

6. SMOOTHING 

As the crew smooths the concrete pouring, the slab will “bleed” water which will evaporate and vanish, allowing the concrete to harden. If the weather is hot, the entire concrete pouring process needs to be quick so that it doesn’t harden unevenly and lumpy. 

How deep do they dig for a concrete slab?

The slab area is evacuated of dirt up a depth of approximately 7 inches. This allows for a three-inch gravel base and a four-inch layer of concrete pouring.

How long does it take to pour concrete?

For the actual concrete pouring action, it will depend on the size of the area. For a standard residential concrete slab, approximately an hour to two hours is standard, provided there is a sufficient crew and no problems.  A large industrial concrete slab can take days, again, depending on the size of the area. 

How long does it take for poured concrete to set?

It will “set” to full strength within twenty-eight days. By the 7^th day, the concrete is 70% cured and considered to be full strength. Within 48 hours of the concrete pouring, it is considered “set”.  However, it will never become fully cured. Once the concrete pouring is done, the concrete will continually harden – forever. 

Can you pour concrete directly on dirt?

The short answer is yes. The long answer is yes with a few “buts” to follow. A good base is a good foundation for anything, especially for concrete pouring. Any flaws in the surface that will be covered will have a direct impact on the finished quality. Before you proceed with concrete pouring directly onto raw dirt, here are a few tips:  

• Frame: Without a frame, your concrete pouring is going to spread out in all shapes and sizes, it won’t be level.  
• Base: The base thickness will depend on the project. A driveway should have a base minimum of 10 inches, a sidewalk should have a minimum 6-inch base. 
• Water:  Extremely dry dirt isn’t going to compact like moist dirt, but extremely wet dirt isn’t going to compact either. It needs to be at a ‘happy medium’ for successful concrete pouring results.
• Compact: Once the dirt and soil are prepped, they should be compacted to form that solid base we’ve mentioned. Remember, concrete pouring will be more successful with a well compacted, clean base. 

Does a new driveway add value to a house?

Anything you can do to the exterior or interior of your home will add value. By updating the bathrooms or the kitchen or creating an attractive curb appeal. This starts by keeping the lawn cut and trimmed, weeding the flowerbed, and maintaining the shrubs and trees.  By giving your home a visual attractiveness, you’re sure to have a good first impression when placing your home on the market. 

One area that is often overlooked is the driveway. When the driveway is chipped, cracked, showing its age, and has a degrading appearance can overshadow all the other things you do to the exterior. The driveway alone can turn more potential buyers away than only having one bathroom. The investment in a concrete driveway installation can bring the curb appeal up a whole level, or two! 

What is the ROI on a new driveway?

Along with a manicured flowerbed, well-groomed yard, and a lit walkway, having a professionally done concrete driveway installation will give your home an inviting appearance. The actual costs of anything these days are hard to predict, including concrete driveway installation jobs. But what we can tell you is that having a concrete driveway installation job for your home can increase the property value by up to 10 percent according to real estate experts.  

How long before you can drive on a newly poured concrete driveway?

The concrete contractor will stretch out warning tape at the end and around your new concrete driveway installation. Leave this in place for a minimum of 7 days, advising any delivery vehicles and visitors to park away from the drive. After 7 days, your new concrete driveway is ready for passenger vehicles, staying center-most to avoid the edges.

How do you know when to replace your driveway?

What if you already have a concrete driveway, but it may not be up to par? You should also be concerned about liability issues with a concrete driveway that is degrading. If your current driveway is showing any of the following, it is time to consider a new concrete driveway installation: 

1. Cracking: Over time, cracks form on concrete driveways over time. While this may be ‘natural’, it leaves the driveway open to absorbing gasoline, oil, salts, water, and other substances that start deteriorating the concrete.
2. Potholes: Potholes in drives damage your car. 
3. Drainage Problems: A concrete driveway that has begun to sink or slope will cause drainage issues for your lawn. Water will begin puddling in the driveway, which leads to deterioration. 
4. Rough Appearance: Over time, sun exposure will damage your driveway, creating a rough surface. This makes it weak and susceptible to being damaged. 

How long should concrete driveways last?

The method and quality of a concrete driveway installation will determine the lifespan of the driveway. Other factors that can affect the lifespan of your driveway are the climate and environmental conditions.  So, if all is ideal, is a concrete driveway long-lasting? The life expectancy of a concrete driveway is approximately 30 years with proper maintenance and upkeep. 

How often should you resurface a concrete driveway?

If your concrete driveway has superficial cracking, some chipping, spalling, or has started discoloring, a resurfacing will be sufficient. That will give you approximately another 10 years before you’ll need a new concrete driveway installation. 

At the End of the Driveway

Of course, after investing in a new concrete driveway installation, you want to protect it as much as possible. So, what are some damages that might happen to a concrete driveway? 

There are five things that can cause damage to your concrete driveway: 

1. Weight

Your concrete driveway has a weight limit, like most materials. Parking heavy vehicles on your concrete driveway, like a large boat or an RV, can cause damage like premature cracking.

2. Corrosion

We don’t have much use for laying rock salt for ice here in the Waco, Texas area, but on the rare occasions we do have that winter weather, avoid using rock salt. Other corrosives that can damage a concrete driveway are automobile fluids, like motor oil, pesticides, and storm drain runoff can cause corrosion, premature cracking, and/or sinking.

3. Roots

Trees are an upgrade to a home and provide much-needed shade in Texas summers. But if the roots get to the concrete driveway, it can cause the concrete to buckle and crack.

4. Garden Tools

Taking care of your landscaping can damage your driveway, including the edger, lawnmower, hoes, shovels, and even the weed eater. 

5. Storm Protection

Keeping your concrete driveway installation investment protected can be done by applying seal coating every 3 to 5 years. This will protect it from hard rains, hailstone, UV rays, falling tree limbs, rocks, etc.

eSquared Asphalt Maintenance provides a uniform & strong concrete driveway in Waco and Temple, TX. Call 254-716-8685 to schedule services. 

What is a pothole?

Potholes are caused by groundwater contracting and expanding under the pavement, much like when we make ice cubes in the freezer. The same thing happens when water gets under the pavement and the ground freezes with frozen ice and snow on top of the pavement. As the ice freezes under the pavement, it takes up space making the pavement expand. As it expands, it bends and cracks, becoming weak. 

Then the ice and snow melt, and cars drive over the bent, cracked, weakened pavement. The weakened material gives way to that weight, and thus, a pothole is created! With the amount of traffic we have today, it is challenging for municipalities and states to keep up with pothole repairs. 

Who is responsible for pothole repairs?

Pothole repair responsibilities depend on where the potholes are located. For pothole repairs on private property, like shopping centers and malls, and office campuses, the owner of the property is responsible. For public property like government and school campuses, the maintenance crews for each entity are responsible for any pothole repairs.

How do you solve a pothole problem?

Prevention is the best method of solving a pothole repair problem! This requires a consistent routine of placing specialized materials into cracks that will prevent water from intruding into the cracks and the layers of pavement. 

Applying a light layer of diluted slow-setting asphalt emulsion over an aged pavement surface will reduce potholes and pothole repairs, and slow the deterioration of the pavement and cracks spreading. A thin layer of a surface treatment combined with asphalt and a fine aggregate will prevent water intrusion. Filling distressed pavement will seal the pavement and minimize cracking. 

How do you repair a pothole?

It is important to try and make pothole repairs before they actually become a pothole. The longer it is left alone, the larger the pothole can get, setting the scene for damaged vehicles. For a private property owner, like a shopping center, this is leaving open the possibility of liability repairs to vehicles. The following are two pothole repair methods: 

Cold-Patch Pothole Repair

Cold-patch pothole repair is the most common method for filling potholes. Durable, easy to use, and economical providing a lasting repair.

Step One – Clean the pothole of large loose rocks and debris.

Step Two – Pour and spread the cold-patch material into the pothole so that it is level and a half-inch above the surface. This allows room for the material to be compacted.

Step Three – Compact the cold patch pothole repair material using a hand tamper. You can also drive over it a few times for the same results. 

Water Activation Cold-Patch Pothole Repair

There is a new water-activated pothole repair, similar to the cold-patch technology, and has a fast setting for a permanent pothole repair. This is quickly becoming more popular for maintenance crews and private property owners with a high success rate.

Step One – Clean the pothole of large loose rocks and debris.

Step Two – Pour and spread the cold-patch pothole repair material into the pothole so that it is level and a half inch above the surface. This allows room for the material to be compacted.

Step Three – Before compacting the material, spread a generous amount of water over the patch material and allow it to soak into the pothole repair material. The water activates the fast curing mechanism.

Step Four – Compact the cold patch pothole repair material using a hand tamper. You can also drive over it a few times for the same results.

Do cities pay for pothole damage?

While government entities are responsible for repair and safety in Texas, including pothole repairs, the law states that cities are not held responsible for any vehicle damage caused by potholes or other debris.

Can you sue for pothole damage to your car?

In Texas, you can sue the city where your car was damaged by potholes, and they may pay you for repairs to the car. However, as stated above, state law protects cities from being held responsible. You may also be wondering – can I claim for damage from a pothole, and if so, how do I claim for hitting a pothole that caused the damage?

Despite the state law, there are citizens and motorists that still want to proceed with filing a claim. To that end, the state has a formal process; the form and process are available on the Texas Department of Transportation’s website. 

Closing Thoughts

The best thing a driver can do is drive with caution. Keep the recommended distance between you and the car in front of you. This will enable you to see potholes before you hit them. Slow down, and always use your headlights starting at dusk.

eSquared Asphalt Maintenance helps with pothole repairs in Waco and Temple, TX. Call 254-716-8685 today.

Some parking lots can be a madhouse, like retail stores during the holiday season.  Can you imagine how hairy carry it would be in parking lots without pavement striping and markings? While those fire lane stripings seem to be taking up valuable parking space, think how frightening it would be if first responders couldn’t get to the door! 

Yes, there is a means to the madness of pavement striping. Keeping traffic organized, keeping humans organized. That’s a big task for stripes of paint!  So, what types of pavement stripings are there that can take on that big of a task? 

There are several types of pavement striping, and they all have a specific meaning.  Some pavement striping will have different meanings in different areas, but here are the basics that mean the same across the board: 

White Lines: These are intended to keep traffic separated while moving in the same direction and there are three types: 

• Single Broken White Line: You can cross these to change lanes if safe to do. 
• Single Solid White Line: These indicate do not cross except in an emergency.
• Double Solid White Line: These indicate do not cross for any reason.

Yellow Lines: These are intended to keep traffic separated while moving in opposite directions and there are four types: 

• Broken Yellow Line: These indicate you can change lanes if safe to do so.
• Solid Yellow Line: These indicate do not pass.
• Solid Yellow Line with Broken Yellow Line: These indicate that if you’re on the right side of the broken yellow line, passing traffic is allowed. If you are on the left side of the solid yellow line, do not pass traffic. 
• Double Solid Yellow Lines: You may drive on the left side of the double yellow line. 

Edge Lines: The double yellow lines are indicating this is a no-passing zone. You may only drive on the left side as you enter/exit, the lane is blocked, or there is an HOV lane entrance. Additional types of edge lines are for indication of where the pavement ends, white for the right and yellow for the left or for one-way. 

Pavement Arrows: Pavement striping of arrows indicate which way traffic should flow. When they exist, you must only drive in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Reversible Lanes: Reversible traffic lanes pavement striping is intended to improve traffic flow, particularly during rush hours, and is often paired with traffic signs and lane signals.

Diamond Symbols & HOV Lanes: Diamond symbols indicate a special purpose lane like HOV lanes, which typically have certain times that are restricted for HOV traffic. 

How do you paint lines on the pavement?

Pavement striping is necessary to show clear indications for traffic flow, parking authorization, and handicap-only designated parking. There are two ways this pavement striping can be done: 

1. Manually, using a four-inch paint roller, and painting over a chalk outline. 
2. Machine, with a parking lot line that paints straight lines on asphalt or concrete surface. 

Both methods are sufficient for pavement striping after completing the required prepping pavement for striping based on the type of paint used.  The types of paint used for pavement striping are: 

• Water-Based Paint: This is the most used type of paint for pavement striping due to its low cost and fast drying. Spills are cleaned up easily with minimal damage to the area around the spill. 

• Solvent-Based Paint: Instead of a water base, this paint has a chemical substance base, several types are within this type of pain, primarily acetone or epoxy. Where water base pavement striping paint doesn’t hold up well in cold/wet areas, these paints do not freeze.

• Thermoplastic: This isn’t a type of paint, but a plastic that liquifies as heat is applied and then solidifies as it cools down into place. Available in pre-cut pieces to make applying easy with arrows, letters, and symbols. 

Should I hire a professional for pavement striping?

Yes, by having your parking lot done by a professional pavement striping company, you will know it has been done properly with the correct painting materials for the surface. Professional pavement striping companies have the latest information on what is required by law for parking lots, which will assure you that your property is done within the established laws. 

It seems that pothole repair is needed everywhere today. In every shape and size of the hole that the human mind can imagine. Nobody can argue with that! But is causing the potholes? Contraction and expansion of groundwater that has seeped underneath the surface. To be something we can’t live without, water can be evil too. 

When it rains, the water will find its way to the lowest levels and into the smallest cracks. Then that water freezes which causes it to expand. Let’s look at how ice cubes form to visualize what that water is doing under the surface:

• Fill an ice tray with water and place it in the freezer. When you take the ice tray out later, that water has frozen and expanded. It is the same thing with water on the ground. It freezes on the surface and in the low areas where it ran off to and under the surface where seeped into even the smallest cracks. 

• Now that frozen water under the surface has expanded, like the ice cubes in the freezer. This is taking up additional under the surface, causing the surface to expand. Since the surface isn’t meant to be flexible, as it expands, it breaks, cracks, and weakens with the gaps, and voids the ice created before it melted.  

This process repeats itself over and over, then as cars start driving over that weakened surface, it causes it to break and crack more. The surface becomes displaced from the weight of traffic, and before long, you’re needing pothole repairs! 

Why are potholes bad?

Potholes do not have smooth edges, so as you drive over them (or through them), at fast speeds, the wheels can be bent. And while good tires are made to take bumps, hitting a pothole damages the tires inside and knocks the front end of your car out of alignment. Hit a pothole hard enough and fast enough, it can break the shocks or struts on a car too, and thin, thread-bare, worn-out tires can be punctured. 

What is the difference between a pothole vs sinkhole? 

 The difference between a pothole and a sinkhole starts with how they are formed. A pothole is a shallow depression or pit in a surface caused by the weather and the added weight of traffic.  A sinkhole is formed by water running over rock, washing it away as it creates an underground passage 

How can you prevent potholes?

Pothole repairs can be avoided by pothole prevention! There are preservation treatments that when used before a severe distress in the surface is formed. Such as sealing cracks in a pavement surface. 

When having a driveway or parking lot installed, using a high-quality asphalt contractor will make a difference in minimizing pothole repairs too. In fact, that is the best pothole repair prevention is having the job done right from the beginning. 

Once you notice cracks starting, even the smallest of cracks, have them sealed immediately. If you let the cracks go, you’ll be paying for pothole repair work soon. Yes, having asphalt cracks sealed is a cost, but it will stop the existing cracks from becoming potholes and it prevents new cracks too. 

How long do pothole repairs last?

It can depend on the weather and the method used for the pothole repair. We just mentioned asphalt filling cracks, but that isn’t always the best process when it comes to pothole repairs. Here are the 3 common methods used today for pothole repairing: 

• POTHOLE PATCHING: For a fast way for pothole repair, and it is also the shortest lifespan. The repair crew will shovel asphalt in the pothole, then compact the material using a tamper. The longest this type of pothole repair lasts is one year. While it may look like a completed pothole repair, the underlying problem is still there, so it will typically degrade quickly around and under the patch repair.  
• MILL PATCHING: This is used on asphalt parking lots with surficial damage. The repair crew will mill a couple of inches off the surface around the pothole, then add compacted asphalt, creating a smooth surface.  This will last longer than the above-described pothole patching method. However, it will still go through the freeze and thaw cycle, resulting in reflective cracking.  
• DIG-OUT PATCHING: An expensive pothole repair method, which is why it isn’t more widely used. The process starts by removing an area of asphalt that is six-foot by six-foot around. And aggregate base is then added and re-graded. Then four inches of asphalt is added, and a roller is used to compact it down. Expensive but the longest-lasting method. 

How long does it take to repair a pothole?

It can take between three and six days on average. The temperature and overall weather are the biggest factors when doing pothole repairs with asphalt.  Other types of surfaces are handled differently, and the timeframe will vary. Here we are going to review the different types of pothole repairs that are done:  

Concrete Driveway Pothole Repair: 

Concrete is the most common type of driveway surface. Knowing how to repair a concrete driveway pothole yourself can save you some money and isn’t that difficult: 

• For a concrete driveway that is spalling, experts recommend resurfacing with Quikrete Concrete Resurfacer available at home improvement stores. The dry mix powder-like mix comes in a bag that you mix with water and then spread over a section that needs repairing, spreading with a squeegee to fill in the spots. 
• For a concrete driveway with a couple of ½ inch or smaller cracks, experts recommend using Quikrete Advanced Polymer Concrete Crack Sealant, also available at home improvement stores. It is dispensed using a standard caulking gun.
• Cracks that are bigger than ½ inch wide and deeper, you’ll need to fill with a foam pre-caulking rod. Push the foam rod into the crack and then use a concrete crack repair sealant. 

Gravel Driveway Pothole Repair: 

With routine maintenance, including pothole repairs, a gravel driveway will last for generations. Unless you own an excavator or want to fill the potholes with buckets of gravel, you’ll need to hire a contractor that knows how to repair a pothole in gravel driveways. 

Asphalt Driveway Pothole Repair: 

An asphalt driveway can be a beautiful finish to a landscaped home, but if a crack starts to form and isn’t sealed immediately, water will seep under the surface, destabilizing the gravel under the asphalt. This causes the asphalt to crumble, and then you have potholes. So, by knowing how to repair a pothole in an asphalt driveway, you can save your beautiful, blacktopped driveway!

• A couple of small cracks can be repaired using an asphalt sealant and a caulking gun. Simply fill the cracks with the sealant and the deterioration process is stopped.
• If you have several cracks in your asphalt driveway, use an asphalt repair tubing like Crack-Stix, available at home improvement stores. The pliable tubing is inserted into the cracks then heat it with a torch. The tar tubing will melt and fill the crack while sealing it too. 
• A mop-on asphalt sealer can be the fix where there are a lot of tiny spider web cracks. Experts recommend Henry Driveway Filler and Sealer, available at big box retail stores. This asphalt resin doesn’t require heat either! 

What is a pothole?

Potholes are caused by groundwater contracting and expanding under the pavement, much like when we make ice cubes in the freezer. The same thing happens when water gets under the pavement and the ground freezes with frozen ice and snow on top of the pavement. As the ice freezes under the pavement, it takes up space making the pavement expand. As it expands, it bends and cracks, becoming weak. 

Then the ice and the snow begin to melt, and cars drive over the bent, cracked, and weakened pavement. The weakened material gives way to that weight, and thus, a pothole is created! With the amount of traffic we have today, it is challenging for municipalities and states to keep up with pothole repairs. 

Who is responsible for pothole repairs?

Pothole repair responsibilities depend on where the potholes are located. For pothole repairs on private property, like shopping centers and malls, and office campuses, the owner of the property is responsible. For public property like government and school campuses, the maintenance crews for each entity are responsible for any pothole repairs.

How do you solve a pothole problem?

Prevention is the best method of solving a pothole repair problem! This requires a consistent routine of placing specialized materials into cracks that will prevent water from intruding into the cracks and the layers of pavement. 

Applying a light layer of diluted slow-setting asphalt emulsion over the aged pavement surface will reduce potholes and pothole repairs, slowing the deterioration of the pavement and keeping cracks from spreading. A thin layer of a surface treatment combined with asphalt and a fine aggregate will prevent water intrusion. Filling distressed pavement will seal the pavement and minimize cracking. 

How do you repair a pothole?

It is important to try and make pothole repairs before they actually become a pothole. The longer it is left alone, the larger the pothole can get, setting the scene for damaged vehicles. For a private property owner, like a shopping center, this is leaving open the possibility of liability repairs to vehicles. The following are two pothole repair methods: 

Cold-Patch Pothole Repair

Cold-patch pothole repair is the most common method for filling potholes. It is durable, easy to use, and economical, providing lasting repair.

• Step One – Clean the pothole of large loose rocks and debris.
• Step Two – Pour and spread the cold-patch material into the pothole so that it is level and a half-inch above the surface. This allows room for the material to be compacted.
• Step Three – Compact the cold patch pothole repair material using a hand tamper. You can also drive over it a few times for the same results. 

Water Activation Cold-Patch Pothole Repair

There is a new water-activated pothole repair, similar to the cold-patch technology, and has a fast setting for a permanent pothole repair. This is quickly becoming more popular for maintenance crews and private property owners with a high success rate.

• Step One – Clean the pothole of large loose rocks and debris.
• Step Two – Pour and spread the cold-patch pothole repair material into the pothole so that it is level and a half-inch above the surface. This allows room for the material to be compacted.
• Step Three – Before compacting the material, spread a generous amount of water over the patch material and allow it to soak into the pothole repair material. The water activates the fast curing mechanism.
• Step Four – Compact the cold patch pothole repair material using a hand tamper. You can also drive over it a few times for the same results. 

What is the best method of pothole patching and repair?

The products and steps described above are a semi-permanent procedure for pothole repairs and are considered by experts to be the best procedure in place of doing a full-depth replacement to damaged areas. If a parking lot is too severely damaged, pothole repairs may not be an option. 

Do cities pay for pothole damage?

While government entities are responsible for repair and safety in Texas, including pothole repairs, the law states that cities are not held responsible for any vehicle damage caused by potholes or other debris.

Can you sue for pothole damage to your car?

In Texas, you can sue the city where your car was damaged by potholes, and they may pay you for repairs to the car. However, as stated above, state law protects cities from being held responsible. You may also be wondering – can I claim for damage from a pothole, and if so, how do I claim for hitting a pothole that caused the damage?

Despite the state law, there are citizens and motorists that still want to proceed with filing a claim. To that end, the state has a formal process; the form and process are available on the Texas Department of Transportation’s website. 

What is parking lot maintenance?

As a property owner of a strip center or any structure that has a parking lot, including multi-story buildings, apartments, and more, parking lot maintenance is important. You’re happy, your tenants are happy, and their customers are happy when you don’t have problems with the parking lot. Repairs, maintenance, and upkeep are key things with the parking lot that your tenants and their customers utilize. 

The cost to maintain a parking lot is the cost of having rental property and consists of various parking lot repairs. It also includes treatments that will extend the parking lot’s life. Ninety percent of all parking lots in this country are asphalt. This material, while popular for parking lots, is susceptible to damage and the weather. 

Damaged asphalt parking lot repairs will keep the parking lot safe and visually appealing, all a part of routine parking lot maintenance. Think of it as preserving your property investment and ensuring your tenants, their customers, and personnel, vendors, and visitors are safe when on your property. Parking lot maintenance should include:

• Clean and sweep: Keep debris picked up and keep the parking lots swept on a regular basis will serve two purposes: Keep the property looking good and help you find small issues where parking lot repairs are needed before bigger problems are created.
• Asphalt Sealing: Asphalt should be coated with a sealant every 2 to 3 years to preserve the pavement’s resilience and prevent weathering.
• Striping: Parking lot marks should be repainted every 1 to 2 years to keep them visible.
• Fill cracks: Parking lot cracks and potholes allow debris to accumulate and water to puddle then penetrate the surface asphalt layer. Once water has penetrated, more damage will follow. Water is the enemy of asphalt parking lots. 
• Overlay asphalt: Stripping the top layer off the parking lot and having a new asphalt layer installed extends the life of the pavement, giving the parking lot a fresh, new, and updated appearance.
• Repaving: After a parking lot starts crumbling, the best parking lot repair is to have it repaved and possibly reconstructed. This can usually be completed within one day and once it is done it will last up to 10 or 20 years. 

How do you repair an asphalt parking lot?

There are various reasons why asphalt parking lot repairs are needed. Poor maintenance is usually the first reason, followed by the original layer being too thin, poor drainage, and combined with accumulated wear-and-tear. Parking lots take a beating! Eventually, all of these causes combined can contribute to parking lot repairs being needed. 

Some of the common parking lot repairs include the following: 

Potholes

Parking lot pothole repairs are often necessary for those bowl-shaped, often deep holes, which are the result of localized pavement break-up caused by continued deterioration. This includes alligator cracking, segregation, and failures of joints or patches within the parking lot.

To permanently repair potholes, start by clearing and removing the material in and around the pothole, including any of the failed subgrade. Clear and remove past the visible damage to ensure the solid material stays in place. Clean this area into a rectangular shape with square edges.

Tack the bottom and the vertical edges and fill the hole with a dense-graded hot mix asphalt or a cold patching mix. If the hole is deeper than 6 inches, you’ll need to apply this in 2 layers with each layer thoroughly compacted. To prevent future potholes or lengthen the time you’ll need to do this again, considering having drainage installed. 

Deteriorating Joints

When the joints are poorly constructed, the pavement life is reduced. Joint failure begins when contaminants along with air and water make their way into the joints. When any distress is discovered early on, you can apply a seal for a parking lot repair of the flaw and stop any possible deterioration. 

However, if these flaws aren’t addressed, potholes will form, which are more costly and time-consuming to repair. It is common for commercial pavements to suffer structural failures from load-related deterioration, causing alligator cracking, aka, fatigue cracking. 

These cracks are visible on the surface as interconnected, small blocks that resemble alligator skin and occur when there are constant and repeated traffic loads over a weak subgrade. Along with a thin layer of the original application, it can all contribute to the destruction of an asphalt parking lot, repairs can be ongoing if not done correctly. When the base fails, the best parking lot repair is to remove the failed asphalt and stabilize the underlying material, then replaced the pavement.

Distress

Parking lot repairs are needed when there is raveling and rutting. You can tell when a parking lot has had this happen in the past by signage “No Trucks Allowed”. Raveling is when aggregate particles of the surface disappear and the asphalt binder hardens, losing its grip on the stone. A poor mixing quality of the asphalt can cause raveling too. 

Rutting of asphalt pavement is typically from heavy vehicles causing wheel-tracks. The lateral movement or consolidation of the pavement layers will become rutted down to the subgrade. This is predominant when the original layers aren’t thick and compacted with asphalt and a stone base, or a weak mix of asphalt along with moisture infiltration. 

This parking lot repair requires that any of the exhibiting stretch marks and damages be removed. Clean and dry the existing pavement before applying a tack coat that will glue the new & old material together. Then install new compacted layers.

How much does it cost to repair a parking lot?

The cost of the total parking lot repair job will depend on the size of the parking lot, how much damage, and how extensive the damage is. The average cost of asphalt parking lot repair can start around $1,000 and up to $4,000. Pothole repairs can cost up to $4 per square foot and small crack repairs up to $3 per linear foot.

How do you resurface an asphalt parking lot?

To the unknowing, it can be confusing the terms used in asphalt parking lot repair and care. There are three primary types of treatment, each having a distinct purpose: 

• Resurfacing

Resurfacing is when a new asphalt layer is installed over the old one. 

• Replacing 

Replacing an asphalt parking lot is when the complete surface is destroyed and removed to the dirt the new asphalt material is installed. 

• Resealing

To reseal a parking lot, the process is done to repair cracks and small holes then a protective coating is installed over the asphalt. This should be done as part of parking lot maintenance on a routine schedule.   

How do you remove a pavement marking?

What is pavement marking?

Pavement parking painted markings are found on highways and parking lots. There are dotted lines and solid lines. They are typically yellow or white and then there are symbols, usually in blue or red. But what do they all mean? Just in case you forgot your driver’s ed class lessons, read on as we review what Pavement Markings Mean: 

The White Lines: These pavement parking painted lines are to keep traffic moving in the same direction.  They are single broken lines, single solid lines, or double solid white lines, each with a different meaning: 

• Single Broken Lines: you can legally cross to change lanes if safe to do. 

• Single Solid Lines: These are no-cross lines due to hazard possibilities, usually found in busy intersections and the off/on ramp to highways. 

• Double Solid Lines: These are a no-cross line, typically as a barrier. 

Yellow Lines: These are to keep traffic separate as they travel in opposite directions. There are 4 different yellow lines, each having a specific meaning: 

• Broken Yellow Lines: If safe, these can be crossed in order to go around another vehicle. 

• Solid Yellow Lines: Passing is prohibited regardless of the driver’s view of safety. This is a ticketed offense if caught. 

• Solid Yellow Line Next to Broken Yellow Line: If you are driving on the right side of the yellow broken line, passing is legal. If you are on the solid yellow lines, you can not pass. 

• Double Solid Yellow Line: This is a no passing out of either lane. The only acceptable time to drive on the left side of this line is to make a left turn, the lane you’re in is blocked and signage indicates to go around, or if you are in an HOV lane with an entrance to the left. 

Edge Lines: These are solid pavement parking painted lines that go along the edge to indicate the lane ends and the shoulder begins. The two types of edge lines are:

• A solid white indicates the pavement’s right edge
• A solid yellow indicates either a divided highway, one-way, or the pavement’s left edge. 

Pavement parking painted arrows: These are indicating the direction you should follow. There may be one arrow or two arrows, depending on the parking lot. Be in the lane of the arrow you need to travel well before reaching the deciding point. 

Symbols: Diamond and HOV Lane symbols each have their own purpose. The diamond symbols indicate special purpose lanes like HOV lanes (High Occupancy Vehicles). Do not drive in an HOV lane if you can’t comply with the requirements and never drive in a diamond symbol painted lanes. 

What kind of paint is used for parking lot marking?

For parking stripes, the most common pavement parking paint is water-based acrylic. It has a high-level brightness so that is always visible, and it has excellent durability. A bonus is environmentally friendly pavement parking paint.

How to Do Parking Lot Marking get done? 

No, you don’t have to do your own pavement parking painting. Look through the yellow pages or search good for finding “Parking Lot Marking Services”. Like anything else, get several quotes and compare them.  

The typical way a line striping company does a parking lot, they rope off the area of the parking lot they are working to keep traffic out. Then with a line striping machine, they create an outline of their intended line or symbol. Then with all the lines drawn, they paint the lines and symbols. 

How long will a pavement marking last?

The average lifespan of pavement parking paint is typically nine to thirty-six months. There is a water-based paint that when painted a double thickness, can extend the life of the lines and symbols. 

There are a few different methods for removing pavement parking paint.

What is the best waterproofing for concrete?

Concrete waterproofing companies can use a few different ways for concrete waterproofing. It will depend on the surface’s integrity the process they use. There are products and ways that you can do your own concrete waterproofing. 

However, using a contractor service that does this will guarantee a better and long-lasting outcome. There are steps to be followed in preparing the concrete for waterproofing and a contractor will have the knowledge and the equipment to do this so that the waterproofing takes and stays. The different ways that can be used for concrete waterproofing include: 

Liquid Application Concrete Waterproofing

This is the most common used way and is designed specifically for that purpose. This is a thick gel substance that becomes a rubber-like coating after it is applied to the concrete wall. For a successful application, the concrete should be completely cured and cleaned.  It is applied with a mop or roller made specifically for concrete waterproofing. Once the application is on, allow it to thoroughly dry to a rubber-like texture, 

Crystalline Slurry Concrete Waterproofing Compound

This is an effective waterproofing product that when it is applied to the concrete, it has a chemical reaction with water and un-hydrated cement particles. The capillary pores & micro-cracks are filled with needle-shaped crystals, resulting in altered concrete crystals that block water & waterborne contaminants permanently. Any moisture that is introduced to the concrete surface will crystallize and create more waterproofing protection.

Rubberized Concrete Waterproofing Sheets

Another technique is large squares of rubberized sheets with a sticky touch that are placed against a below grade concrete wall. With the sheets in place, they become permanently adhered and provide a thick uniformed coverage. The weak points are the seams between the sheets.  

Cementitious Waterproofing

This technique is user-friendly and is put on the concrete surface like mortar. When this material is mixed and put on in thick uniform layer then dries, it becomes as hard as the concrete. This method is not flexible and is prone to cracking. 

Bentonite Concrete Waterproofing Sheets

A cardboard looking material that is layered with bentonite waterproofing material sandwiched with the below grade concrete. As water penetrates these layers, the clay expands until it has become swollen beyond its original size. Water is needed to activate this concrete waterproofing material, making it difficult to determine if water has penetrated the material.    

If you want to try to do your own concrete waterproofing, you’ll need to know where to get concrete waterproofing materials, and fortunately, they are available at local home improvement stores and specialty stores. Following the instructions on how to seal and waterproof concrete is important or the whole process will require repairs and another round of concrete sealer and waterproofing, either by you or an experienced contractor. 

What can happen if your concrete waterproofing isn’t done right?  Without a good seal of concrete waterproofing material, moisture will seep and soak in, damaging the concrete in several ways, including: 

• Contracting with the temperature
• Expanding with the temperature
• Cracking especially in ice and snow

For concrete that is below the grade, these reactions to concrete waterproofing not done or done incorrectly can be devastating to the structure above the concrete. When homes are being built with a basement, concrete waterproofing is done (or should be)  to the exterior walls. In early days, it is possible this wasn’t done, but homes built today, concrete waterproofing is required. 

If you have any or all of these happening in your basement, consult with an engineer about the stability of your home and then a contractor that can apply a concrete waterproofing.  You may check with your homeowner’s insurance to see if you have any coverage to help with this repair. Call 254-716-8685 today for your concrete waterproofing needs in Waco and Temple, TX.