Most people have seen some of the equipment and tools that asphalt contractors and their crews use. For example, you may have seen bulldozers, rolling machines, and asphalt delivery trucks at a job site. However, asphalt milling machines are one piece of equipment that not everyone has seen in action. Milling an asphalt pavement can provide several benefits; it can minimize disruptions to traffic, and it is an eco-friendly option. You can retain or alter the slope of the pavement as well as the elevation of curbs and other features, and you can mill the same pavement as often as you need.
What Are Asphalt Milling Machines?
Asphalt milling machines have rotating drums that feature sharp cutters that are capable of grinding away a predetermined depth of asphalt pavement. These machines are available in several sizes and strengths, so the depth and area of the pavement to be milled is an important factor in selecting the right machine. Depending on the machine and the job specifications, milling can remove just a fraction of an inch of a pavement’s depth, or it can remove the entire depth. Milling can remove just a small area of pavement, or it can remove miles of highway pavement. Milling’s versatility is one of the leading reasons for its increasing popularity as a paving service.
What Are Some Common Uses of Asphalt Milling Machines?
One extremely common use of a milling machine is to remove a specific depth of asphalt paving to prepare for the installation of an overlay. However, there are several other occasions that may involve asphalt milling.
- Milling machines can cut rumble strips in asphalt pavements. Rumble strips are common features that warn drivers of a potentially hazardous situation ahead. For example, you might find them on rural roads to alert drivers that there is a stop sign ahead. Some highways also have rumble strips on their paved shoulders to warn drivers that they are no longer on the actual roadway.
- When two pavements meet, they may be at slightly different elevations, making for a rough transition. These bumpy transitions are relatively common at the intersection of a driveway and a street. You may also find rough transitions where two different streets intersect. Milling can refine these transitions to make them much smoother.
- Some types of pavement damage or distress can be repaired by milling the asphalt. Pavements that have been damaged during a car fire or accident are potential candidates for milling. So are many pavements that have suffered shoving, raveling, heaving, and rutting.
- Milling can help resolve some drainage issues. For example, it can often eliminate birdbaths, or it can alter the slope of the pavement to improve drainage. In some cases, milling can be used to install catch basins or trench drains.
- If you need to remove and rebuild an asphalt pavement, a milling machine can make short work of the demolition. This could reduce the time you need to wait to have a usable pavement, but it might also save you a little money.
If you would like to learn more about asphalt milling, feel free to contact RDC Paving. We are a reputable, experienced company with an immaculate reputation and impeccable references. We offer many services besides asphalt milling, including asphalt overlaying and paving, asphalt repairs, parking lot striping, asphalt driveway paving, sealcoating, ADA concrete, asphalt crack repairs, and parking lot maintenance. We also install concrete curbs, concrete sidewalks, concrete driveways, concrete parking lots, and concrete ramps. For a free quote, call 512-920-9155, or you can submit your request by filling out our online form.