Follow Us On:
Call Us: 703.426.2700

NVM Paving & Concrete, Inc.

Northern Virginia Paving Company

Commercial Property Parking Lots

Common Asphalt Issues Due to Season Changes

by

Enjoy smooth asphalt parking lots and driveways at your professional building all year with proper maintenance. Asphalt is a quality option for parking lots that experience heavy use, but this material can be affected by a number of seasonal maintenance issues. Learn how to spot signs of damage and receive professional maintenance to keep your business open all year long.

Heavy Rain

Most cracks and potholes are formed by excess moisture. Your asphalt parking lot or drive has a coat of sealant that protects it from moisture, but this coating needs to be renewed after a few years. If you haven’t added another layer of sealant on your asphalt in the past few years, rain can seep into your asphalt and foundation and form deep, dangerous cracks. Cracks can be expensive to repair, particularly if they affect the foundation, so it’s important to receive proper sealcoating services.

Intense Heat and Sunlight

Summer doesn’t give you a reprieve from asphalt maintenance. High temperatures and long, sunny days can warm up the asphalt and soften it. This can also increase the risk of cracks and potholes. Proper summer maintenance includes visual inspections and patches to prevent smaller potholes from growing.

Freezing Temperatures

Cold temperatures and heavy snowfall can cause a number of issues with asphalt. First, snow can warm up on asphalt and create pools of water and slush. As the temperatures drop, this excess water freezes and expands. Improper salt and deicing techniques are also responsible for cracks and compromised coating. Winter is the most important time to stay on top of professional maintenance and repairs for your asphalt driveway or parking lot at your business.

Enjoy Professional Maintenance and Repairs Today

Proper maintenance prevents major repair expenses. Rather than waiting until your parking lot needs emergency repairs, keep your commercial parking lot properly maintained with help from NVM Paving & Concrete. A maintained parking lot improves your business’ first impressions and creates a safe place for your customers and employees to park all year. Call 703-423-0471 or email us today to learn more.

3 Things You May Not Know About Asphalt

by

Asphalt is a common substance most people encounter on a daily basis. As a property manager, you may even be in charge of maintaining an asphalt parking lot or walkway. Read on to discover some interesting facts you may not know about this seemingly common material.

1. Asphalt Is an Ancient Substance

Evidence shows that asphalt was possibly used as early as 615 BCE. It was used on a road leading to Babylon, as evidenced by an ancient tablet that was dated around that time. The Romans used it to seal their aqueducts, reservoirs, and baths.

In the 1860s, a Belgian chemist set out to show the durability of asphalt. He first laid a path in front of the Newark, NJ, city hall, after which Pennsylvania Avenue was paved with it. This is when those in the construction business began to realize it could be used for multiple applications.

2. Asphalt Occurs Naturally

Asphalt is found in naturally occurring deposits called “asphalt lakes”. A semi-solid type of petroleum, it can also be mixed with limestone and sand in what is called “rock asphalt”.

3. Asphalt Is Recyclable

Asphalt is like play-doh, when you’re done with it, you just break it down and use it again to create something new. When asphalt is milled from a surface, the layer that gets removed is recycled into a new surface. This makes asphalt one of the most environmentally friendly substances used for driveways and walkways. Recycling asphalt also makes for an affordable project because one does not have to purchase or produce all new materials.

Contacting the Professionals

As you can see, asphalt has been around for a long time, and for good reason. As a durable, long-lasting, environmentally-friendly product, let us show you what asphalt can do for your property. Contact NVM Paving & Concrete by calling 703-423-0471 or sending us an email today to discuss your options.

Save Money With Professional Asphalt Repair and Maintenance

by

Your parking lot could be costing you far more than you realize. If you aren’t investing in routine maintenance and minor repairs for your commercial asphalt parking lot, you may have a major expense in the near future. Find out today how to save money by working with a professional asphalt repair and maintenance team.

Signs You Need Asphalt Maintenance

Take a few minutes to inspect your commercial asphalt. Whether you have a small drive or a series of parking lots, asphalt requires routine maintenance. Here are just a few signs that your asphalt may need to be repaired:

  • Alligator cracking, or scaly patterns on your asphalt
  • Potholes
  • Faded
  • Chipping

These maintenance issues may not seem like a major issue, but a small crack can quickly grow as the seasons change. Once a crack reaches the foundation layer of your asphalt parking lot, it becomes a far more expensive and necessary repair.

Common Repair and Maintenance Tasks

Thankfully, there are a number of professional repair and maintenance tasks that can save you money and prevent costly damage to your asphalt foundation. Hire a professional to apply a sealcoat to your asphalt every few years. This small investment will prevent cracks and potholes from forming.

If you already have cracks and other damage, be sure to contact a professional immediately. Cracks can grow exponentially in terms of cost and seriousness. They also diminish the professional look and curb appeal of your business location, so you may be losing customers because of a damaged, unappealing parking lot.

Choose a Professional Asphalt Team Today

Invest in quality asphalt services to save money and avoid emergency repair calls. Work with NVM Paving & Concrete to receive leading asphalt services for your commercial location. Enjoy affordable, long-lasting, and comprehensive maintenance services before minor issues become major expenses. Call 703-423-0471 or email us today to learn more!

Common Asphalt Pavement Damage Caused by Snowy Weather

by

Winter weather creates many hazards for commercial properties. Not only can snow and ice create a dangerously slippery surface for pedestrians and cars, but it can also damage your commercial parking lot. Learn how to protect your asphalt pavement from these common snowy weather issues.

Freeze/Thaw Cracks and Potholes

One of the worst issues caused by winter weather is freezing and thawing temperatures. Once snow accumulates, it tends to warm and cool throughout the season. Thawed snow creates puddles that form around cracks and potholes in your pavement, which then freeze. Water expands as it turns into ice, which can open up cracks and create larger potholes.

The best solution to this is to keep your pavement clear and repair your pavement promptly. A small pothole repair project is far more convenient than a major problem caused by years of freeze/thaw damage.

Salt Damage

Most business owners use road salts and other common deicing agents to clear snow and ice off sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots. While deicing agents can be effective at removing snow, they also create environmental issues.

Most hot-mix asphalt pavement used in commercial parking lots isn’t harmed by deicing agents, but with environmental concerns, you should use it sparingly this winter.

Tips for Preventing Snowy Weather Damage

Don’t let routine snow and ice damage your commercial property and create unsafe situations for your renters, customers, or employees. Here are some tips for preventing snow and ice from damaging your asphalt pavement:

  • Use anti-icing agents as a preventative measure
  • Routinely plow your pavement to ensure ice doesn’t build up
  • Hire a professional contractor for prompt asphalt repairs

From minor potholes to major cracks and foundation issues, turn to NVM Paving & Concrete today to receive a quote. When you choose a professional repair service for your commercial asphalt pavement, you’ll enjoy a long-lasting investment that can withstand even the harshest winter weather. Call 703-423-0471 or email us today to learn more!

How to Spot a Quality Pave Job

by

Your employees and your customers deserve to have a safe place to park. The quality of your parking lot will directly impact whether your clients and employees can park safely at your business. Here are some ways to tell if you are receiving a quality asphalt paving job.

Durability in the Gravel

If you have a new parking lot, then odds are the contractors will place a base of gravel down in the beginning. This layer of gravel is what will help keep your asphalt strong and will withstand the heaviness of vehicles.

Details Throughout Asphalt

The best pave jobs will have contractors that care about all of the details. They will not ignore your needs and instead will make sure to look at the minor details as well as the major components to the project.

Drainage in the Asphalt

When it comes to asphalt damage, water is one of the biggest culprits. It can slip beneath the asphalt and lead to damage. If you want to avoid damage brought on by pooling water, then you will want to see how the parking lot drains excess water.

Smooth and Flat Asphalt

Your asphalt should never appear bumpy or uneven. Uneven pave jobs may last for only a short amount of time. You should make sure that the paving job is completely smooth.

When it comes to paving your commercial lot, you need to make sure that you get the job finished correctly the first time. When you follow those few tips, you may be able to increase the longevity of your parking lot or other asphalt areas. To find out what you need to know about quality pave jobs, contact NVM Paving & Concrete by calling 703-423-0471 or emailing us today.

What You Need To Know About Asphalt Paving

by

When it comes to paving commercial driveways, loading docks, and parking lots, you have a lot of options. You can choose from gravel, concrete, asphalt, and even a mix of all of the above. However, not all options are created equal. Companies prefer asphalt paving for the lower maintenance and the higher-end look.

Asphalt is also more flexible and produces less road noise. If your business requires a quiet environment, such as an apartment building or law firm, this is an important consideration. Here’s what else you need to know before making a decision.

It Lasts a Long Time

Concrete is asphalt’s top contender, and while they are both great options, asphalt beats out concrete when it comes to a very important factor; lifespan. With regular maintenance, you can expect to get up to 20 years with an asphalt lot. The best thing you can do for your asphalt pavements is to invest in sealcoating. While sealcoating serves as a protective layer, cracks and holes may still arise, if you want the most out of your pavement, be sure to get these issues fixed in a timely manner.  

Pedestrians and Drivers Stay Safe

You may notice you rarely come across concrete on the roadways. Beyond the occasional connecting bridge, the government relies on dark asphalt. Dark roads help motorists and pedestrians to better identify white and yellow markings. These help with maintaining lanes, stopping at the appropriate signs, and identifying crosswalks. The same will be true of your driveway or parking lot.

You Can Recycle the Materials

If you run a green business or want to help preserve the environment overall, note that used asphalt is as good as new asphalt. Recycling your asphalt saves you money on the cost of materials when repaving or expanding. It also helps to keep tons of asphalt from piling up in landfills.

If you’re still not sure whether asphalt is right for your business, talk to the experts. Contact NVM Paving & Concrete by calling 703-423-0471 or emailing us today for more information. We bring more than 25 years of experience in paving and concrete to the table to help you make the right decision.

Call Now