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NVM Paving & Concrete, Inc.

Northern Virginia Paving Company

Commercial Property Parking Lots

Quickly Diagnose Problems With Your Asphalt

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Tips For Diagnosing Asphalt Issues

High-quality asphalt that has been installed correctly is going to last for quite some time. As a material, asphalt is inexpensive and easy to maintain. Whether you had it installed for a parking lot, pathway, or roadway, you can get 20-25 years out of it. However, without proper maintenance, their life expectancy decreases significantly. Part of keeping up on maintenance is knowing how to diagnose problems quickly.

1. Look for Alligator Cracks

You’ll know alligator cracks when you see them because they look like the hide of an alligator. These are created by structural issues that are exacerbated by fluctuations in temperature, erosion, insufficient composition, and settling. If the cracks are caught early, we can seal or patch them, but if they have been spreading for a while and become too severe, it might be time to repave.

2. Check Around the Edges

Edge cracking is typically due to insufficient base support or poor drainage. You’ll notice it, as the name implies, around the edges of your parking lot or pathway. Patches and crack sealers are the typical fixes, but we would also have to address the root cause of the edge cracks.

3. Watch Out for Raveling

Most often, raveling occurs when asphalt is installed in cooler temperatures and results in loose gravel and uneven surfaces. Raveling comes initially from poor compaction, so it’s easy to recognize when you have areas that are crumbling. We can both seal and patch the area to get it fixed.

4. Look for Potholes

We all know what potholes are, whether we’ve hit one with the car or tripped on one while walking to your car. Potholes often lead to other cracks and damages that eventually result in the need to repave. Ideally, we would like to stop the pothole in its tracks by repairing the area with a deep patch before it gets out of hand.

5. Check for Washboarding

If you notice a rippled pattern in your asphalt, you have discovered washboarding. This often occurs when the asphalt has been poorly developed, causing the upper layer to move over the lower layer. An asphalt patch can often resolve this, but it also serves as a reminder to hire a trusted, qualified company for the initial installation.

Contact Us To Schedule an Inspection

At NVM Paving & Concrete, we’re happy to diagnose any pavement problem and propose a viable solution. Call 703-423-0471 or email us today to learn more!

How Temperature Extremes Add Stress to Pavement

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Can Your Pavement Handle The Heat?

Most people understand that pavement takes a lot of abuse. Just the sheer size of vehicles and semi-trucks put a lot of weight on a surface, sometimes as much as several tons. Then there is the constant assault from chemicals such as oils and gasoline. While most people understand that weather impacts the durability of pavement, you might not know just how large that impact can be.

At NVM Paving & Concrete, our technicians know that heat and cold as well as moisture, are tough on parking lots.  For this reason, we employ talented professionals that strive to lay down the best asphalt and concrete surfaces to give your pavement the best possible chance.

The Impact of Temperature Swings

Basic physics says that pavement expands when heated and contracts when cooled. This has serious implications for a parking lot or other paved surfaces. In the DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia areas, temperatures approach the 90s or higher in the summer and dip below freezing in the winter. Just as importantly, thanks to micro temperatures across a parking surface due to shade and other factors, different sections of pavement heat and cool at different times.

All of this can lead to imperfections in the pavement. Uneven heating and cooling allow a variety of blemishes to develop:

  • Cracking
  • Warping
  • Expanding segments
  • Potholing 

Over time if not addressed, these imperfections worsen. As water gets into small cracks, freezes, and then expands, minor issues become large problems.

The Solution to Bad Weather

Getting the most out of a paving job depends upon several factors. The first is making sure the job is done professionally from the start. The second step is performing routine inspections on the property to detect problems, especially in the middle of summer and winter. The third step is to make sure professional routine maintenance is used on all minor cracks.

At NVM Paving & Concrete, we do superior work throughout the lifespan of the pavement. Call 703-423-0471 or email us today to learn more!

Answers to Your Most Frequently Asked Pavement Questions

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Frequently Asked Pavement Questions

Your parking lot is going to get beat up. When you think about it, the pavement probably sees more traffic, weather conditions, and wear and tear than any other surface on your property. It’s understandable that you have questions about caring for your pavement, and at NVM Paving & Concrete, we have answers.

1. What Should I Do When the Pavement Gets Damaged?

Pavement damage comes in many forms. You might see a crack down the middle of your parking lot, or you might notice the striping has faded so badly you can’t even see it. You might also notice crumbled pavement or have some potholes you need to deal with. In addition to being unsightly, these types of damages are also dangerous. As soon as you notice a crack or pothole, be sure to place a cone over the damage to warn others. Next, contact us and we can evaluate the situation and get started on the right repair.

2. Is There a Way To Avoid Damage?

Pavement parking lots are going to need repairs and replacement at some point, but there are some things you can do to prevent serious damage before it’s time. For example, sealcoating is a process in which we add a protective layer to your surface to safeguard it from chemicals, water, oil, sunlight, oxidation, and other damaging elements. When these elements reach the pavement, they are met with the sealcoating, which blocks the damage and slows down the deterioration of your surface.

3. Should I Hire a Professional?

Parking lot paving is not a DIY project. When you notice damage or when you’re trying to prevent damage, it’s best to get the job done by a professional. At NVM Paving & Concrete, we have the tools, products, and expertise to ensure everything gets done correctly.

Get Your Pavement Protected Today

For the best in pavement services, contact NVM Paving & Concrete today.

Reap The Benefits of a Summertime Paving Project

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Here’s Why Summer Is The Perfect Time For a Paving Project

Have you noticed the shape of your parking lot lately? Are customers or clients complaining about the potholes or cracks in your driveway or around your property? There is no time like the present to have our professional paving team come out and redo your asphalt or concrete surface. Find out why summer is the best time to schedule your paving project.

Perfect Weather Brings Perfect Timing

Common sense would say that paving during the winter is the most practical since colder temperatures can help the asphalt set quicker. While it might harden a lot faster, the accelerated timeline doesn’t leave the paving crew enough time to do a fantastic smoothing and shaping job. Asphalt needs to be carefully laid and smoothed, a process that can take time. The heat of summer keeps asphalt from hardening too quickly.

With the use of lutes, irons, and steamrollers, pavers are able to flatten the asphalt into a smooth, uniform parking lot or roadway. Warm temperatures keep the asphalt pliable, whereas colder temperatures cause the material to harden too quickly. This often leaves bumps and ridges that the pavers weren’t able to get to on time.

Summer Sun Means Greater Stability

The warmth from the sun keeps the asphalt more uniform during the paving process, which keeps air bubbles to a minimum. It also keeps consistency between lays and reduces the development of cracks. Cracks leave the asphalt vulnerable to water, and temperature changes cause the water to expand or contract, turning small problems into much bigger ones. Summer sun makes it much easier to lay a smooth, even surface to improve asphalt longevity.

Great Weather Brings Out Great Crews

At NVM Paving & Concrete, our expert crews love the longer daylight hours that come with summertime, giving us more time to do our best work. Call 703-423-0471 or email us today to get your project scheduled!

A Guide to Staying Safe in Parking Lots

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Parking Lot Safety Is Crucial

Sometimes, driving in a parking lot can seem a bit like the Wild West, where no real rules or laws apply. You have probably seen it a hundred times before. You enter a parking lot that is riddled with potholes, the signage is down or nonexistent, the painted lines have long since faded away, and no one knows exactly where to go. This is a recipe for disaster, and bad things are likely to happen, including accidents, injuries, and clients leaving out of frustration. At NVM Paving & Concrete, our goal is to help make your parking lot safe for all users.  

A Few Tips for Parking Lot Safety

As a customer entering an unfamiliar parking lot, you can increase your level of safety and security with a few common-sense actions. To begin with, if you enter in the early morning or after sundown, make sure to park in areas with adequate lighting. Following these tips will also decrease your chances of a mishap:

  • Keep valuable items in your vehicle hidden from view
  • Roll up windows and lock doors
  • Watch out for potholes that could damage your vehicle
  • If possible, walk to and from your car with another person
  • Adhere to stop signs and other signage
  • Drive cautiously and slowly

These precautions are even more important in a poorly maintained lot.

Successful Strategies for a Safe Parking Lot

As a property manager, it is critical that your parking lot is safe and welcoming for everyone. At NVM Paving & Concrete, we excel at making your parking lot look good, last long, and protect users. This includes ADA compliance, new construction, pothole and crack repairs, sealcoating, and snow removal. Call 703-423-0471 or email us today to find out how we can help with all of your parking lot services.

Understanding Pavement Failure

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What Causes Pavement to Fail?

When your asphalt can no longer hold its original shape, it will fail. Pavement failure issues can be brought on by several different factors, such as water infiltration or sun exposure.  At NVM, we specialize in full-service commercial paving and have the tools and knowledge to bring your lot back to its former glory. Here is a guide to the most common pavement failure issues and how you can combat them.

Potholes

Potholes form when water intrudes through cracks on the surface of the asphalt. If you do not treat stress cracks, the water starts to erode the surface and the subbase. Once this happens, you will have large holes forming in the asphalt. To fix a pothole, we can apply a patch to the surface.

Cracking

Most pavement failure issues happen because of cracks. Once you have cracks in your asphalt, they will continue to grow and spread. While it’s normal for your asphalt to have cracked over time, some cracks occur because of improper construction. We can assess your pavement to figure out what type of cracking you have and whether it needs to be fixed promptly.

Depression

Uneven subbases and compactions cause depressions in the parking lot surface. A depression is lower than the surface, so the area holds onto water. When you hold onto water for too long, you could wind up with potholes or raveling.

Raveling

As the topcoat of the asphalt degrades, and water intrudes, raveling occurs. Raveling is the damage between the asphalt bitumen and aggregate rock. If raveling happens, then your lot can no longer block water from entering the asphalt. The consequence is more cracks and failure.

Rutting

Rutting refers to channeled depressions on the surface. When vehicles that exceed your lot’s weight limit drive on the pavement, it can lead to rutting. It can also occur if your base was improperly constructed. To repair rutting, we have to repair or restructure the base.

Maintenance and regular repairs can keep your asphalt parking lot thriving for years to comes. Contact NVM Paving & Concrete today for a plan to repair and prevent pavement failure.