Although asphalt parking lots can have surprising longevity, they require regular maintenance if they are to reach their full potential. Poorly maintained asphalt pavements will need to be repaired frequently, and this can get expensive, especially if the supporting foundation has been destabilized. If a pavement only has a few areas of alligator cracking or clusters of potholes, full-depth patching may be a cost-effective solution. However, many people assume that widespread damage that extends to the foundation will always require the parking lot to be demolished and reconstructed from the ground up. This is not always the case. A little-known technique called asphalt parking lot reclamation can often be a better solution.
What Is Asphalt Parking Lot Reclamation?
Full depth reclamation is a cost-effective way to repair asphalt parking lots with faulty foundations. Your asphalt parking lot reclamation company will begin by pulverizing the full thickness of the pavement and its base. Very little of this material will be hauled away. Instead, it will be reused to create a new foundation. When performing full depth reclamation in Houston, the site is graded before the pulverized material is placed and shaped. In some cases, an asphalt parking lot reclamation company may place a layer of cement or other material over the newly built base to enhance its strength and stability. Multiple courses of fresh asphalt are then installed and carefully compacted.
What Might Necessitate the Use of the Asphalt Parking Lot Reclamation Technique?
The weather, traffic, and geology in the Houston area can contribute to pavement damage as well as a weakened or destabilized foundation. Following are the three leading factors that can contribute to the need for full depth reclamation in Houston.
- The sun’s rays are merciless in the summer, emitting UV rays that dry and fade asphalt paving. Faded pavements may be an eyesore, but dried-out pavements become brittle and easily damaged. When rain falls, the water drains into unrepaired breaks in the pavement, works its way down into the structure, and erodes the foundation.
- The Houston area has a bustling economy, and this fact alone means that parking lots typically support a high volume of vehicles. However, it also means that property owners can change how their parking lots are used. For example, a call center might build a parking lot for its employees. The call center relocates to a larger building, and a manufacturing facility purchases the property. Instead of supporting passenger vehicles, the parking lot is now supporting a high number of heavy trucks as well. Since the parking lot was not designed to bear such heavy loads, the pavement begins to develop severe cracks and potholes. Situations such as this are frequently encountered by Houston full depth reclamation contractors.
- There are many areas in the Houston area with unstable soil. Sometimes, the problem is the soil’s high clay content, but changes in the water table and previously undetected subterranean drainage issues can also inflict damage on the pavement and its foundation. Although many people assume that a complete removal and replacement is the only option in such cases, full depth reclamation can often be a faster, greener, and more economical solution.
To learn more about Houston full depth reclamation, contact the highly experienced professionals at Paving Services. We offer asphalt parking lot repair, asphalt sealcoating, asphalt repair, asphalt striping, cement stabilization, concrete parking lot repair, commercial concrete foundations, concrete repair, concrete parking lot construction, ADA-compliant concrete ramps, and dust control services. We have an exemplary reputation for superb craftsmanship and remarkable customer service. If you are interested in requesting a free quote, you can either call (713) 661-9295 or submit our online form.
