First impressions are critical for a business since visitors often judge you based on the appearance of your property. When a visitor arrives at your organization, they first see the outdoor space, which creates the first impression of your business.
A nicely paved asphalt pavement is one of the simplest ways to boost the curb appeal of your business. It can improve the appearance of your business’s driveway or parking lot.
According to the experts at Surface Solutions, asphalt is the finest choice for a cost-effective, long-lasting, and visually appealing surface for your company’s parking lot for multiple reasons:
It is long-lasting
When you take good care of your asphalt parking lot, it can last for many years. Preventative care involves keeping it clean and free of trash, fixing cracks and potholes, and sealcoating to protect it from water damage, intense UV radiation, and the impacts of oil and other pollutants spilled onto the surface by vehicles.
It’s secure
Line markings painted on asphalt surfaces are substantially more visible than those on other pavement kinds. It also gives vehicles’ tires more traction. Furthermore, when correctly graded, asphalt allows for improved water drainage, resulting in less splashing from cars going through puddles and making pedestrians safer.
It’s quiet
Asphalt has been proven to be significantly quieter than other surfaces, with traffic noise decreased by up to 50% compared to other forms of pavement.
It is a wise investment.
Asphalt is not only a cost-effective option for business parking lots; it also increases the value of your property! Improving the exterior of your business with an asphalt parking lot (among other renovations) can boost the value of your property by 5% or more.
It’s simple to maintain
Asphalt requires very little maintenance. Your asphalt pavement should last for several years if you keep it clean, repair cracks and potholes, and apply seal coating as needed. If you need to resurface your parking lot or are looking for cost-effective solutions to improve the exterior of your business, keep the asphalt in mind! This surface indeed provides numerous advantages to company owners: it is safe, quiet, durable, inexpensive, sustainable, easy to maintain, and will raise the value of your commercial property.
Are you looking for a practical and cost-effective solution to offer your business in Salisbury, MD, a competitive advantage? Let Surface Solutions install an asphalt parking lot that will serve you for years to come and will pay for itself before you know it!
Is it time to spruce up your parking lot? Repair cracks, fix potholes, construct a new catch basin or repair an old one, and restripe your parking lot now.
We offer all of these services and others, so schedule a free estimate today!
Visiting a new place when you’re unfamiliar with the surroundings can make you feel uneasy – especially if that area is dark or poorly lit with no proper asphalt maintenance. One of the places where visitors are often most at risk is a parking lot.
The paving experts at Surface Solutions share some tips on making your parking lot in Seaford, MA, safer for visitors.
1. Make Sure Your Parking Lot is Well-Lit
One of the best ways to make your parking lot safer for visitors is by ensuring that it is well-lit. This means making sure that there are plenty of lights in the area and all are working correctly. If you have any dark spots in your asphalt paving, consider adding some additional lighting fixtures to fill them in.
2. Maintain Your Parking Lot Well
Another way to make your parking lot safer for visitors is by keeping it clean and free of debris. This means clearing away any trash or obstructions from the area and regularly sweeping and cleaning the asphalt. If there is clutter in the asphalt paving, it can be a trip hazard for pedestrians.
Your parking lot requires regular asphalt maintenance. Check for cracks, potholes, and other damages regularly and make the necessary repairs. You can use crack filling to seal any minor cracks in the surface and prevent them from growing.
Potholes can be filled in with an asphalt patch, but if there is a large hole, it will need to be repaired with new asphalt. Be sure to use a sealant over the patched area to protect it from weathering and fading.
Any damage to your parking lot can lead to accidents, so it is essential to take care of it. By keeping your lot in good condition, you can help ensure the safety of your visitors.
3. Designated Parking Areas
Allocate parking area for visitors’ cars through line striping. This will help to ensure that visitors can find a spot quickly and easily. It will also keep traffic flowing in the right direction.
Making your parking lot safer for visitors is not difficult, but it does take some effort. By following these tips, you can help to keep everyone safe and happy when they visit your business. Thank you for reading
4. Use Caution Signs at Your Asphalt Paving
Install caution signs and caution tape in high traffic areas. This will help remind drivers to be aware of their surroundings and watch for pedestrians. Make sure designated crosswalks are painted well on your asphalt paving with day and night visibility using line striping paint. Put up reflective signage so drivers can see pedestrians and vice versa from a distance.
When possible, create a pedestrian walkway through the parking lot. This will help to keep people safe when walking between cars. If you have a busy parking lot, consider hiring security guards to help with traffic flow and safety.
If you have any questions about maintaining your parking lot or need assistance with repairs, please get in touch with the expert team of Surface Solutions serving Seaford, MA. Schedule a free estimate; we would be happy to help!
It’s no secret that the bitter cold and whipping winter winds can be tough on asphalt paving. The most reputable asphalt paving companies like Surface Solutions in Cambridge, MA, will tell you that it’s best to avoid significant work in the winter months. There are a few complicated reasons why asphalt paving is avoided in winters. Please keep reading to learn more about them!
1) Ground Temperature
Asphalt fails to retain heat on a cold foundation making compaction difficult. The ground temperature supporting the pavement is a crucial factor in asphalt installation. If the ground is too cold, the asphalt will not stick to it and could create a weak spot on your pavement.
In addition, when the temperature drops below freezing at night but then rises during the day, this can cause something called “thermal cracking.” This happens when the ice formed on top of the asphalt melts and re-freezes again at night. This expansion and contraction create tiny cracks in the surface of your pavement, which can lead to more significant problems down the road.
2) Lift Thickness
When the ground is too cold, it can be challenging to achieve the recommended lift thickness for asphalt paving. A thinner lift means a greater chance of the pavement cracking and failing in the future.
Even if you manage to get all necessary materials installed properly, additional challenges can arise during winter. For example, snowplows can damage newly paved surfaces if not operated correctly. Salt and other de-icing chemicals can corrode your new pavement, leading to early failure.
3) No Sunlight
sunlight is essential for asphalt pavement curing. Without adequate sunlight, the pavement will not cure correctly and could end up being more susceptible to cracking and other damage.
Simply stated, sunlight reduces the cooling rate of the asphalt. If the asphalt cools too quickly, it can crack and fail.
4) Air Temperature
Air temperature also has a significant impact on asphalt pavement. Colder temperatures can cause the asphalt to become brittle, breaking it apart. The wind speed and temperature can make it challenging for a freshly installed asphalt surface to retain heat leading to premature asphalt failure.
You need to consider many factors when deciding whether or not to pave during the winter months. By understanding the potential risks involved, you can make a more informed decision about when is best for your particular project.
These are a few examples of why winters are not typically the best time for asphalt paving. If you’re considering an asphalt paving project, be sure to contact a professional contractor who will advise you on the best course of action for your specific situation.
Cambridge, MA, witnesses its fair share of cold during winters. This is the main reason why experienced asphalt paving contractors like Surface Solutions advise against pavement installation during the winters. As a credible asphalt pavingcompany, we make decisions in the best interest of our customers. We safeguard your pavement investment by delivering a durable asphalt surface. Schedule a free estimate from our team now!
If you’re like most people, you probably started the New Year with a few resolutions. Maybe you want to save more money, get in shape, or spend more time with family and friends. But what about your home?
The winter season, the cold, and the snowfall can wreak havoc on your pavement. If your pavement and the parking lot have witnessed numerous winters, it is time you take active measures to ensure it withstands the changing temperatures. Once the winter is over and the sun starts shining brighter, the sinister winter elements like melting snow and hidden potholes may reveal themselves to present a passive picture of your property.
Planning for spring maintenance is a wise move you should consider now. So whether you’re looking to update your driveway in Salisbury, MD, with a fresh coat of asphalt or install a brand new concrete driveway, the paving experts at Surface Solutions have got you covered with the following tips!
1) Start Saving Now
Pavement maintenance is a significant investment that will require you to save up some cash. Please keep your eyes peeled for sales, coupons, and discounts, as they offer excellent opportunities to make this process more affordable. It would also help to ask whether you have enough savings to finance an entire pavement installation or surface renewal.
2) Ask for Multiple Quotations
Many companies in your area specialize in driveway and pavement maintenance. Ask your friends and family for contractor recommendations before making a final decision.
Get price quotations from multiple contractors to get a sense of the average cost in your area. Keep in mind that more expensive doesn’t always mean better – choose a contractor who has good references and offers a warranty on their work.
3) Choose the Right Time for Spring Driveway Repair
It would help if you chose mild weather and the ground isn’t frozen. Paving at the right time avoids any potential damage caused by cold weather or thawing. Typically, the best time for driveway repair is in late spring or early summer. You need to plan tentative dates according to your schedule and the contractor’s availability. Remember to schedule a date when the contractor is not preoccupied with other tasks.
4) Identify Potential Problems
A pavement always indicates signs of wear and tear. Frequent cracks, potholes, or patches on the surface may indicate that it’s time to repair your existing asphalt driveway soon. Look out for these signs and list down the problems on a piece of paper.
When budgeting for pavement maintenance, you need advice from professional, experienced contractors who understand the conditions in Salisbury, MD, and the challenges that will come your way. Surface Solutions is a reliable pavement contractor that can help restore your pavement to its former glory. We offer quality asphalt maintenance services, so get a free estimate from our team now.
You may have experienced skidding while driving over a slick road. This might have been a full-on sprint, or it might have lasted a few seconds. Even if you did not lose control over your wheels, you must have experienced hydroplaning.
This happens when your car’s tires ride on top of a thin film of water rather than gripping the surface. When driving in rain or snow, take it slow and easy. Remember that stopping distances are much greater on wet pavement.
The experts at Surface Solutions, serving Seaford, MA, discuss hydroplaning, its causes, and how you can ultimately avoid it.
Hydroplaning Explained – What Exactly Is It?
This term is most commonly used for referring to the skidding or sliding of the tires of a car across an overly wet surface. When your car’s tires experience more water than they can usually handle or scatter, they become immovable. This is due to the water pressure being forced into the front wheels. A thin layer of water makes your tires lose traction.
The tires have grooves on them that channel water from underneath them. Their purpose is to create friction that can help prevent hydroplaning.
When Is Hydroplaning Most Likely to Happen?
Avoid wet roads – this is where Hydroplaning is most likely to occur. The first ten minutes of mild to medium rain can also be dangerous. The streets often have some light residue of oil due to various reasons. When a car going over 35 mph comes in contact with excess water on the road, this makes for a deadly combination.
So, to answer the question, hydroplaning usually occurs in bad weather conditions like fog, ice, rain, and snow. But beware; bad weather is not the only cause for hydroplaning. So, you cannot point fingers at pounding rain or blowing blizzards.
How Can We Avoid Hydroplaning?
Read below for some tips on avoiding hydroplaning and ensuring the maximum possible safety for yourself and others around you.
Keeping your tires properly inflated is super-important. Make sure you check the air pressure of each of the tires before driving off. Keep an inflator with you in the trunk of your car in case there is uneven pressure. You can alternatively rotate and replace your tires so that they all receive equal pressure on all fronts.
Always drive slower when coming across a road spill or driving in the rain. Fast driving will more than likely cause your car to hydroplane. Also, avoid puddles and standing water at all costs. Sharp and quick turns are dangerous under these circumstances.
Surface Solutions, serving Seaford, MA, offers several services like asphalt paving, concrete, crack filling, etc. Want your driveway or parking lot done? Schedule a free estimate for asphalt paving, repair, or maintenance.
Patch Your Potholes: 5 Ways They Can Harm You!
Potholes are a terrible result of neglected pavement and bad asphalt design. It’s an advanced form of pavement failure that shows up when the weathering course wears off, and the underlying pavement is subject to raveling from lack of a seal coat.
They are quite the problematic feature that is the reason regular asphalt & concrete pavement maintenance is stressed in the first place. Surface Solutions advocates regular maintenance to keep your asphalt surfaces in top shape.
Here are a few ways potholes are serious streetscape hazards.
Spread of Pavement Failure
Potholes expose the underlying asphalt pavement layers to further damage by water intrusion and weathering. As the cracks ensue and spread out, more moisture penetrates the asphalt, which begins a chain reaction of pavement deterioration and failure. In due time, your once appealing asphalt surfaces are all but ruined. Your business’s curb appeal is lost, and it reflects poorly on your ability to maintain your property.
Dented Vehicle Undercarriages
This issue can occur when a pothole is so deep that its edge covers the ground clearance and hits the undercarriage. Severe damage can manifest as chassis compromise or hits to the engine block. The ordeal can also affect suspension & axle integrity. Unless your vehicle is insured for such damage, you will have to deal with the high repair costs.
Trip Hazard
Potholes on sidewalks, driveways, crossings, and parking lots are a severe violation of ADA compliance. They are a potentially lethal trip hazard that can damage your heels, ankles, and knees. Such a threat to life should not be allowed to stay meandering on the pavement. If you have noticed such damaged pavement in your neighborhood in Ocean City, MD, please let us know how we can assist with repairs.
Vehicle Misalignment
Dropping into a large pothole can seriously damage your vehicle’s suspensions and potentially fracture your axle as well. The navigational stresses of traversing your way out of a pothole can also affect your vehicle’s steering capability. One hard turn can create the condition for a road accident if you haven’t kept up with your vehicle maintenance checkups.
Tire Damage
Potholes can cause much wear & tear to your vehicle’s tires. If a pothole is deep enough to expose any underground utility or pavement rebar, it can severely damage and ravage the tire. With the tire now flattened & torn, your metal rims are the next to bear the damage as they get dented while the vehicle moves out of the pothole.
Surface Solutions are your quality asphalt & concrete surfacing solution providers in Ocean City, MD. We also deal in snow removal solutions for the oncoming Maryland winters, so don’t forget to schedule asphalt patching & snow removal with us at the earliest. If you require project financing for more intensive repairs, then we have just the solution for you!
Don’t forget to request your free quotations today for our excellent services!
In Salisbury, we get our fair share of chilly winters and snow, and we deal with it like any other town would; by plowing the streets, sidewalks, and parking lots. However, for efficient snow removal, you need to follow a set guide and pattern!
Surface Solutions offers first-rate snow removal services in Salisbury; we understand the significance of getting rid of piles of snow in time. To help you prepare for the snow that’ll fall this winter, we’ve compiled a brief snow plowing guide that will help you counter the intense cold and maintain your property.
How Does Snow Plowing Ruin your Driveway?
The snow plowing process consists of a machine (usually an ATV) that runs over the snow and pushes it against the curb. Depending on how deep the mound is, this can take hours to complete – leaving you with a pile of snow by your driveway. When exposed to cold temperatures for several days, such as those experienced in Salisbury winters, heaps of ice will accumulate at the base of these mounds. Once spring arrives and these piles melt due to warmer weather, they’ll cause damage to concrete surfaces like driveways and sidewalks because their weight has increased significantly due to water content from melted ice.
Additionally, the heavy metal blades that drag through the snow can leave ruts and divots on your curb.
It’s best if a plow company deals with all of these issues before winter hits so that property owners don’t have to deal with any damage once spring finally arrives!
How You Can Avoid These Issues
A great way to avoid such issues is by sealing and filling all cracks beforehand. This is the best way to prevent further damage.
After sealing cracks in your asphalt pavement, it’s also essential to edge sidewalks and driveways with sand or salt so snow doesn’t get stuck underneath the blades of heavy-duty equipment during wintertime. Finally, try landscaping around these areas using gravel instead of planting grass right away; this way, there won’t be any issues caused by lawnmowers accidentally cutting into new growth!
Invest in Quality Snow Removal Solutions
Often times, homeowners hire inexperienced snow removal service providers to reduce their snow plowing expenditures.
If you need a quality snow removal service, look for the following qualities:
- Full-time staff members who are experienced in the art of removing snow.
- Safety certification is always good to see on your potential plow trucking options before hiring them! This ensures they’re insured and know how to operate heavy machinery safely.
If you’re looking for an experienced snow plowing service that efficiently helps you get rid of your snow plowing worries in Salisbury, then Surface Solutions is the right choice for you. We’re the premier commercial and residential paving solutions provider in the region, boosting your property’s value using both traditional and advanced paving measures. Schedule a free estimate from our team now!
Asphalt seal coating is a necessary part of maintaining your asphalt surface. It protects it from the elements and helps preserve the pavement’s integrity and appearance. The problem with this process arises when it is done incorrectly or infrequently. If you want to avoid having problems down the road, ensure that you follow a strategic approach to seal coating your asphalt pavement!
1) When Should I Seal Coat My Pavement?
This is one of the most common questions that people ask when it comes to asphalt sealing. The best time to seal coat your pavement is during the spring or early summer months. You should seal coat asphalt pavement after removing the excess material on top and cleaning the surface!
When you notice cracks developing in your pavement, it’s time to seal coat. The best time for this is immediately after the cracks first appear so that you can ensure you get an excellent crack-sealing product in there before anything settles.
Remember not to do any heavy construction or paving during the mid-summer heat because asphalt gets very hot! You could end up with significant damage if something goes wrong while applying a sealant over freshly laid material.
2) Not Seal Coating Frequently
Many property owners believe that seal coating once every five to six years is sufficient. The problem with this approach is that a sealant does not work unless applied every couple of years during the lifetime of your asphalt pavement. If you don’t reapply every two years, then the old layer will wear out and start to absorb water again, leading to all kinds of problems down the line, including graveling, potholes, erosion, & breaking up from freeze/thaw cycles!
For best results, always hire a professional company like Surface Solutions for seal coating your pavement.
3) Avoiding Seal Coating Can Increase Repair Costs
If you opt not to re-coat your asphalt pavement, then the surface will eventually absorb too much water over time. This causes it to develop cracks and potholes, leading to more expensive repairs down the line, including new layers of asphalt!
Not seal coating the asphalt pavement can cause cracks to widen and water to seep in, causing other problems. The pavement can deteriorate to a point where you need to either resurface or repair the entire asphalt pavement. This can be costly and may eat up a considerable sum from your savings.
You can avail of the services of Surface Solutions to devise a seal coating strategy that ensures your pavement’s durability and boosts your property’s value. Our economical concrete and asphalt maintenance and repair services assure that you enjoy the long-lasting benefits of efficient surface management.
Schedule a free estimate now and enjoy quality paving services in Pocomoke City!
Gardening magazines can often become so starved for content that the products & methods they resort to advertising for weed removal tend to offend the more environmentally informed. Some even express their displeasure via the ‘cancel culture’ much to the chagrin of these gardening ‘experts.’
Run up a string search for ‘environmentally safe ways to kill paver weeds,’ and don’t be surprised if vinegar, salt & bleach debut in that search! Avoid them all.
While we don’t boast any such expertise in eradicating an infestation of paver weeds, we know concrete pavers and their upkeep, which puts Surface Solutions in the league of informed weeding advice. Like any good asphalt & paving company near you, we’re going the extra mile on this one, so listen up folks!
This advice can be the difference between a ruined hardscape and a perfectly splendid & green property.
Things Not to Do
1. Use Table Salt
Avoid this weed-killing method at all costs, as the excess salt run-off into the surrounding soil will kill your beautiful petunias (and much more!).
2. Sprinkling Baking Soda
Again, the sodium & carbonate content can affect the fertility of your landscape soil, so please avoid this ‘magical cure-all’ weed killer tip as well.
3. White Vinegar
Definitely no! Vinegar is still an acid and can burn weed leaves, it will most certainly not affect weed roots, and you will have to deal with seeds sooner than expected. Vinegar sprays will harm your shrubbery & flowers too.
What Is Safe to Do?
1. Use Boiling Water
You may need to handle this one with care. Heat a kettle or a saucepan with water and carefully pour it onto the weed-infested pavers. Careful not to scald the surrounding vegetation or yourself. Protect your hands and feet and avoid leg exposure while you’re at it. The hot water destroys weed roots, and you have weed-free pavers in a couple of days.
2. Polymeric Sand for Paver Grout
If you think stamping in dirt or loose sand between pavers means you buried all weed growth opportunities, you are very misinformed. Weeds are resilient little paver pests; that’s why polymeric sand is deemed best at curbing them. Ensure that there is no rain due the day you stamp in the polymeric sand and allow it to settle for a fully sealed no-weed existence.
3. Dish Soap Concoction
Moss is one weed for whom the favor is divided; on one end, it looks lovely between pavers; on the other, it makes paver surfaces slippery during the rainy season (which happens a lot!). If you want to keep the moss, that’s fine by us, but if you’d rather keep your hip intact, then let’s get brewing. Mix 4 ounces of dish soap in a gallon of water and dispense it directly on the moss with a spray bottle. It takes a week for the moss to shrivel, brown, & die.
If you are a fitness nut with a strong back, then the good old ‘hand pulling’ is also a way to get rid of weeds between your pavers.
We hope these tips will help your pavers retain their pristine grouted appearance in the seaside city of Seaford in Delaware. We also hope that if your hardscape has suffered previous crass weed removal attempts, you will not hesitate to call upon Surface Solutions for a repaving job.
We deal in a lot more than just pavers across Maryland & Delaware, so do get in touch for a free quote on our services!
Asphalt and bitumen are two words that are often used interchangeably, but they do have differences. Asphalt is a black mixture of natural asphalt or asphaltite rock, sand, gravel, and water. Bitumen is also an asphalt product with tar mixed in to improve its strength.
This blog post will outline the key differences between asphalt and bitumen so you can decide which one is best for your needs.
1) Lifespan – Asphalt vs. Bitumen
The lifespan of asphalt varies widely depending on the quality and maintenance provided to the surface. However, on average, we can expect an asphalt road to last between 15-20 years and 25+ years if well maintained throughout its lifetime.
Bitumen has a much shorter life span than asphalt. Bitumen roads typically need to be replaced after only five years, and asphalt must be laid over the top before it can be used again.
2) Durability – Asphalt vs. Bitumen
An asphalt road can be used in all weather conditions, while bitumen roads are typically only used in milder climates.
Asphalt is a very durable substance and will last for a couple of decades with proper maintenance. Bitumen, however, has been known to crack if not properly maintained during the winter months when it freezes or gets too hot from direct sunlight. As asphalt is a more robust material, it can handle changes in weather conditions better than bitumen.
3) Skid Resistance and Noise Reduction – Asphalt vs. Bitumen
Due to asphalt’s superior skid resistance properties, asphalt roads are much safer than bitumen roads. The asphalt can be applied at a much higher temperature than bitumen and can thus maintain skid resistance through the winter months, whereas bitumen cannot.
Additionally, asphalt roads are also quieter than their bitumen counterparts. This is why asphalt is a good choice for residential areas and communities, as asphalt roads will not disrupt your sleep.
4) Maintenance – Asphalt vs. Bitumen
Bitumen roads are much more challenging to maintain than asphalt roads. This is because asphalt roads require resurfacing far less frequently, which saves you time and money in the long run.
5) Better Fuel Economy – Asphalt vs. Bitumen
As asphalt is much smoother than bitumen, asphalt roads provide better fuel economy for vehicles. This means that your car will run more smoothly and efficiently on asphalt roads, thus getting you where you need to go faster while using less gas in the process.
6) Installation – Asphalt vs. Bitumen
Although asphalt is more expensive to install initially, asphalt roads last much longer than bitumen. Asphalt doesn’t require resurfacing nearly as often, which saves you money in the long run by reducing road maintenance costs and expenses for asphalt replacement materials down the line.
If you require any more information about paving your driveway or parking lot, or whether asphalt installation will be cost-effective for your requirements, let our experts help you. For a free estimate, please contact Surface Solutions in Cambridge, MD. Our friendly staff will be happy to answer any questions about asphalt paving or bitumen you may have.
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3523 Meadow Bridge Rd, Eden, MD 21822
410-896-1651
MHIC# 133266
Opening Hours
| Monday | 7:30AM - 8:00PM |
| Tuesday | 7:30AM - 8:00PM |
| Wednesday | 7:30AM - 8:00PM |
| Thursday | 7:30AM - 8:00PM |
| Friday | 7:30AM - 8:00PM |
| Saturday | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
| Sunday | 9:00AM - 5:00PM |