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Asphalt Paving: How Do They Do That?
Have you ever wondered how those rough and bumpy “roads” transform into smooth and sleek surfaces? It's all thanks to the magic of asphalt paving. Let’s take a journey behind the scenes of this type of construction and learn (in layman’s terms) how asphalt paving is...
Paving Jargon: Raveling
Have you ever noticed deteriorating patches of asphalt on roads, driveways, or parking lots that appear to be disintegrating into loose gravel? If so, you may have encountered a common asphalt distress known as "raveling." Raveling is a term used to describe the...
How Do They Do That? – Asphalt Removal
When it comes to installing a new asphalt surface, repairing or replacing existing asphalt, or preparing for major underground construction, removing the old or damaged asphalt is a crucial step in preparing the groundwork for new surfaces or upcoming subterranean...
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AMS Equipment Spotlight: Seal Tractors
What is it? A seal tractor is a specialized piece of equipment used to spread liquid seal coat across large surfaces smoothly and evenly. It consists of a tractor with a squeegee attachment hitched to the back and may also have a large tank of water attached to the...
Paving Jargon: Reflective Cracking
What is it? Reflective cracking occurs when breaks or cracks in the underlying layers become visible on the asphalt surface through a patch, overlay, or seal coat. The original cracks can be caused by several factors (age hardening, temperature cycling, separation of...
AMS Equipment Spotlight: Rollers
What is it? A roller is a heavy piece of construction equipment used to compact soil, base rock, and for asphalt installation and is essential to the construction of roads, parking lots, and subgrades. There are several types of rollers, the main 4 being pneumatic,...
Asphalt Repair and Maintenance: Scheduling
You’ve already learned how to create a scope of work for your asphalt project, and you’ve chosen your paving contractor, but what comes next? It’s just as important to be informed about scheduling your project as it is to know what work you need to have done....
AMS Equipment Spotlight: Skip Loader
What is it? Skip Loaders (also known as front end loaders or wheel loaders) are pieces of construction equipment, often around the same size as a standard car and are optimized for digging and loading heavy material into trucks. We use our skip loaders to haul away...
What is Striping
What is it? Striping is the industry term used for any paint applied to an asphalt surface, whether it be a simple line or a more complex image, like that of a wheelchair to indicate accessible parking spaces. Striping material is either paint or thermoplastic (a...
AMS Equipment Spotlight: Skid Steers
What is it? Skid steers (also known as skid steer loaders) are compact and versatile pieces of machinery. They can perform a multitude of tasks across a wide range of industries, from construction to landscaping to agriculture and forestry. They are generally defined...
What is an Overlay?
What is it? There are two main types of overlays: asphalt and fabric/mat. In both cases, the top 1½”-2” layer of damaged asphalt is milled down to present a slightly more level surface to cover. A fabric/mat overlay is more involved in that it requires laying a binder...
What is ADA Compliance?
What is it?ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance is an important social and legal matter regarding the accommodations of individuals with disabilities. Signed into law in July 1990 by President George H.W. Bush, the Americans with Disabilities Act strives...
What is Patching?
What is it?Patching is the process of applying a layer of hot asphalt to a damaged asphalt surface, or removing a section of damaged asphalt and replacing it with a layer of fresh asphalt. Using a grinder, we cut into the existing surface and grind it down to the...