People driving by an asphalt paving project sometimes assume that the process is uncomplicated or even somewhat haphazard. In reality, whether the project is a new parking lot or a street reconstruction, the construction of an asphalt pavement is a carefully coordinated series of steps that must be executed properly for the project to succeed.
What Are the Steps for Asphalt Pavement Construction?
Although not all private or municipality paving projects are identical, every project will share at least some steps. An asphalt pavement company of Austin will usually break these steps into six broad categories: engineering, planning, clearing the site, grading, building the foundation, and installing the asphalt.
What Are the Engineering and Planning Phases for Asphalt Pavement Construction?
When paving Austin streets and parking lots, contractors begin by determining the expected loads that will be placed on the pavement. An asphalt paving company will consider both the types of vehicles and their weights to calculate the appropriate thickness of the asphalt and its supporting foundation. Any paving contractor Austin TX decision-makers should trust will also evaluate the soil, the terrain, and the drainage as part of the engineering phase. The next step will be to create an efficient plan to execute the design. During the planning stage, your Austin paving contractor will determine the right scheduling of deliveries from the batch plant, the logistics of mobilizing the crew and equipment, and the traffic control measures that will be need.
What Will a Typical Austin Paving Contractor Do During the Clearing and Grading Phases?
An Austin paving company will first remove anything that will obstruct construction. If the site is raw land, this usually involves taking out problematic trees, shrubs, and undergrowth. If there is an existing pavement that needs to be replaced, the old pavement will be removed and hauled away. Unwanted structures may also need to be cleared. Next, the paving company will grade the site so that the slope matches the design specifications. Grading is essential for ensuring proper drainage of the pavement.
What Does a Paving Contractor Do When Building a Foundation and Installing Asphalt Paving?
Occasionally, an Austin paving company can install asphalt directly on top of stable, well-compacted soil. However, many projects, especially massive parking lot and municipality paving projects, are engineered to have a foundation of crushed rock, stone, gravel, or another aggregate constructed on top of the soil. The thickness of the foundation and the type of aggregate will depend on the design created for the specific job. After the foundation is in place, the contractor installs a binder layer and compacts it. Layer by layer, the contractor continues to place and compact hot mix asphalt until the pavement reaches its specified thickness. The top layer is the layer on which vehicles will be driven, so it is called the surface course.
To Learn More, Contact RDC, the Paving Contractor Austin TX Trusts
RDC Paving provides superior asphalt services to people in the greater Austin area, including the towns of Leander, San Marcos, Round Rock, Georgetown, and Killeen. Our services include asphalt paving and overlaying, driveway paving, asphalt sealcoating, asphalt milling, asphalt repairs, parking lot striping, concrete work, asphalt crack repairs, and parking lot maintenance. We employ experienced, exceptionally skilled workers, have a stellar reputation, and can provide you with impeccable references. For a free, no-strings quote, submit our online form, or you can reach us by phone at 512-920-9155.