SERVICE DESCRIPTIONS

Resurface

M3 Pavement encounters many instances where the top layer of an asphalt driveway is worn and damaged, but the underlying base is still sound. Under these circumstances a Remove and Replace sometimes does not make the best economic sense. Instead of removing the existing asphalt, it can become the additional base for a second layer (the cap or overlay). Often asphalt surfaces that qualify for this procedure have some incidental low places in them, i.e., ruts, dips, etc. These must be filled before a cap can be applied in order to guarantee a smooth and level finished surface. To accomplish this the paver's grade is set at zero and it makes a single pass over the surface in order to deposit the appropriate amount of asphalt into any low areas. This levels the existing driveway. A two inch layer of asphalt is then applied. Rollers compress this layer which produces a 1 1/2 inch thick finished surface, the cap. Caps can last as long as a new driveway. However, asphalt requires a sound base to maintain its integrity and, when a cap is applied to a driveway where the base is compromised, it will quickly fail. . When in doubt about the soundness or integrity of a driveway's base, it is better to remove and replace it than to put a cap on a faulty base, have it fail and lose your investment.

Remove and Replace

When properly constructed and cared for, asphalt driveway and parking lots will give years of service. However, every product has a life expectancy, and this is as true for asphalt  as for anything else. When asphalt pavement reaches a certain level of deterioration, the best remedy is to remove it, rebase it (add additional limestone) and repave it. This effectively provides the customer with a new parking lot or driveway. However, because there is no dirt to dig out and haul away and because less gravel is required, this process in considerably less expensive than installing an all new drive.

New Asphalt Construction

Often clients need a new asphalt installation for a new driveway or for turnarounds, a second vehicle, or for recreation adjacent to an existing drive. This procedure is called a new dig and requires five steps. The first of these is to determine the client's objectives and the site assessment. We need a thorough understanding of the client's objectives as well as an evaluation of the site for drainage, contours and other variables that might effect the installation. After reviewing these issues the second step is the excavation and removal of eight inches of dirt. This is followed by the installation, grading, and compressing of 6 - 8 inches of #304 limestone to create a sound and enduring base (other stone may be added if the base is soft). The fourth step is the paving and rolling of the asphalt to a 2" finish. The final step, as in all our work, is ensuring that we have met our client's expectations.
If the new dig is a turnarounds, a second vehicle, or for recreation adjacent to an existing drive, there will invariably be a visible seam between the two. This phenomenon can be minimized, but it cannot be eliminated.
* #304 limestone has aggregate of various shapes that measure from the size of a quarter down to a grain of sand. This variation allows it to be compressed into a very firm base in support of an asphalt installation.

Asphalt Repair (Patch)

Cut and patch is the standard repair for damaged areas where the hole has penetrated to the asphalt's limestone base. Typically this type of damage cannot be treated by infrared because of low base, insufficient thickness, or the asphalt has simply reached its life expectancy. Consequently, the area must be cut out with a saw or milled, removed, re-based and re-paved with new asphalt.

Seal Coating

Seal-coating is the most common residential driveway procedure. However, doing the job correctly is critical to a successful application. Seal coating should never be done until the ambient day and evening temperature(s) are 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Otherwise the seal-coat doesn't cure properly and the sealer will have a tendency to wear off much more quickly than it should. Application procedures may differ, but the importance of using the right product cannot be overstated. M3 Pavement uses only top-of-the-line coal tar emulsion sealer. The product meets or exceeds both the Air Force and Federal R-P 355e GSA-FSS and the American Society for Testing and Material Specification D-3320-74T, specifications. All manufacturers’ mix specifications are followed as the proper amounts of washed silica sand provide added traction and longevity to the seal finish. Tar Max, a latex performance enhancer, is added to increase the longevity and color of the finish. The sealer is transported in steel hydraulically agitated tanks to ensure a consistent and uniform mixture arrives at the work site. The subsequent result is a professional, enduring finish.

Seal coat is often applied too frequently. We recommend that two coats be applied to a new installation after it has cured for at least 3 months. Thereafter, a single coat of sealer should be applied every two to three years depending on surface traffic and wear.

Crack Sealant

Water is asphalt's enemy and cracks are the breach through which it enters. Sealing a driveway must, when applicable, be coupled with sealing the cracks. Otherwise water infiltrates the underlying base and over time undermines the entire structure. The result looks like a collapsed alligator's hide; the area appears cracked and sunken. M3 Pavement uses only hot pour (applied at 350°F) Flex-A-Fill rubberized parking lot sealant. This is a commercial grade crack sealant. It will not track into your building, will stay pliable with seasonal changes, will expand and contract with the pavement, and is ready for traffic in 2 hour. Cold-pour crack sealants sold in retail stores have none these properties. Consequently, we don't use them.

Parking Lot Striping
M3 Pavement offers professional parking lot marking services to our commercial customers. M3 Pavement offers the highest quality pavement marking materials and uses expert resources to layout and install the lines and symbols required for your parking lot project.

Drainage Installation
Often the grading of a driveway or parking lot or the surrounding areas requires a drainage solution be installed. M3 Pavement can determine the proper drainage solution and install this in conjunction with your asphalt maintenance project.

Concrete Repair and Installation
M3 Pavement provides multiple concrete services for both our residential and commercial customers including installation or repair of

• Sidewalks
• Dumpster Pads
• Aprons
• Catch Basins
• Curbs