Tag Archives: concrete pavement services

Why Can Soil Become Unstable Below Old Asphalt?

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Often times, paving companies or contractors will begin a paving project, only to find that the soil beneath the old pavement is too soft and not stable enough to take on new material. There are a few common causes for soil instability, all of which can interrupt a paving project. But fortunately, unstable soil can be resolved. It just takes a few extra steps. Continue reading to learn what causes soil instability, and how to fix it for purposes of paving.

Asphalt Concrete Paving 317-549-1833

Asphalt Concrete Paving 317-549-1833

Causes of Soil Instability

There are three main causes of soil instability: 1) organic presence, 2) lack of compaction, and 3) poor composition. Look below for a brief explanation of each issue.

Organic Presence – The excessive presence of organic matter, especially decomposing organics, can cause soil to soften, making it unstable. This includes insects, leaves, plant matter, and water.

Poor Compaction – When soil lacks compaction, it is weak and does not retain the ability to properly bear weight. Lack of compaction means soil is soft and unable to stabilize for the purpose of bearing weight, such as paving material.

Poor Composition – The make-up of soil has a major influence on its level of stability. When improper levels of essential minerals, namely air, water, and organic matter, are present in soil, it lacks the ability to be strong. Soil needs just the right amount of moisture, matter, and air to be stable for paving.

Paving Over Soil

You cannot add new asphalt paving material on top of an unstable foundation. And soft soil is unstable. Instead, new asphalt paving solutions need to be considered and chosen. Most of the time, soft soil can be resolved, and once they are, paving projects can continue as planned. Various methods for treating soil instability have proven effective, either on their own or in combination with each other. They include practices such as:

➥ Using drainage tiles to remove excess moisture from soil.

➥ Excavating the soft soil and replacing it with a proper base material.

➥ Tilling and turning the soil to encourage drying or hardening.

➥ Using soil separation fabrics to prevent soil from intermixing with base materials.

➥ Using reinforcement grids (geo grids) to even out the weight of the load.

➥ Tilling chemical stabilization into the soil to change the composition to make it stronger.

➥ Applying foam asphalt injections to mimic the characteristics of pavement.

Indianapolis Paving Contractors

Asphalt Concrete Repair

Asphalt & Concrete Service 317-549-1833

Call ACI Asphalt and Concrete Inc. at 317-549-1833 for professional pavement repair and installation in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding counties. Owner Lindsey Lewis, and his team of licensed paving contractors, provide a wide range of asphalt and concrete paving services for commercial, industrial, and municipal properties throughout the state. As highly-trained and experienced pavers, you can trust us for quality service at an honest price. Call 317-549-1833 to
request an estimate for Indianapolis
paving services, today.

A Few Considerations Regarding the Integrity of Concrete Surfaces

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When it comes to choosing between concrete resurfacing and concrete repair, there are a few important considerations to think about before making any final decisions. Choosing the proper solution for concrete renovation can save contractors and property owner’s significant amounts of money and time, and avoid potential do-overs.

Continue reading to learn the questions you should be asking yourself, and your concrete contractor, regarding concrete resurfacing and repair.

Indianapolis Concrete Repair 317-549-1833
Indianapolis Concrete Repair 317-549-1833

Concrete Repair or Concrete Resurfacing

Concrete is a porous, permeable pavement material, which means it can absorb moisture and water. Water enters these pores, freezing and thawing, causing cracks, fissures, crevices, crumbling, and more. Overtime, this exponential accumulation of rain water, winter precipitation, and natural wear and tear from foot and vehicular traffic, causes concrete surfaces to breakdown. In order to combat these problematic variables, it is important to use a high-quality concrete sealer.

Sealcoating is vital for additional and long-term protection against natural elements, harsh weather, changing climates, traffic, and more. Applying a seal coat to a newly paved or repaired concrete surface is safeguarding your investment. As concrete breaks down or deteriorates, property owners might begin to think about renovating or replacing their pavement. At this point, it is wise to think about certain considerations to properly assess whether or not to repair or resurface concrete pavement.

Here are some important questions to ask yourself about your commercial concrete pavements:

What is the Structural Condition of the Concrete?

Is the concrete safe to walk or drive on? Are the cracks larger than a quarter of an inch? Have the concrete slabs moved vertically yet? If the answer to all these questions is no, then a full concrete repair or replacement project is not necessary. Instead, concrete resurfacing can simply fill in the cracks and strengthen the foundation. You can even go above and beyond by adding some upgraded aesthetics to enhance and refresh the appearance of your concrete pavement.

Is the Concrete Sunken or Raised?

When concrete is sunken low into the ground, or raised above the surface level, you might still be able to avoid a full-on concrete repair project. Instead, you may have the option to use a concrete hydraulic leveler to even out the surface, and follow it with concrete resurfacing. Hydraulic concrete levelers drill a 2 to 3 inch hole in sunken concrete, and then inject a lime blend material to raise it back up to the proper level. Follow this with a polymer modified cement treatment for a professional finish.

Is More than 50% of the Concrete’s Integrity Jeopardized?

If at least fifty percent of the concrete surface is deteriorated, cracked, or sunken, concrete repair is the best option. If the thickness of the concrete is eroded or crumbled more than one and a quarter inch, then concrete repair is also the necessary choice.

For accurate industry information and advice regarding asphalt and concrete repair or installation, speak with a licensed pavement repair contractor. They can offer you the most accurate advice for choosing between concrete resurfacing and concrete repair. Be sure to choose a licensed, bonded, and insured pavement repair company with several years of experience in the industry. This will ensure you are receiving honest, educated, and accurate information.

An Indianapolis Pavement Repair Company You Can Trust

Call ACI Asphalt and Concrete at 317-549-1833 for commercial pavement repair and service in Indianapolis and its surrounding areas. Our licensed and qualified paving contractors provide a wide range of asphalt and concrete pavement repair and installation services at the most competitive prices in town, including crack filling, overlays, resurfacing, and sealcoating. Request a free estimate, today!

Water Stops for Concrete Pavement

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Novice pavement information seekers may not know what water stops are and what they are used for in the concrete paving industry. Simply put, they are intended to prohibit water and other fluids from seeping into existing cracks and joints within concrete pavement. For water stops to be truly effective, they must be able to provide a water-tight seal within these concrete joints.

Continue reading to learn about water stops and how they are used in the concrete paving industry.

Commercial Paving 317-549-1833
Commercial Paving 317-549-1833

Concrete Water Stops

There are two distinct categories of water stops that provide this water-tight seal: water stops for joints with movement (dilation joints), and ones for concrete joints without movement (cold construction joints). There are various materials being used to manufacture water stops for concrete on the market today, including the most popular, gasket hydrophilic water stops. Other water stops types and materials include extruded plastic devices, metal water stops, rubber, expansion joints, multipurpose water stops, customized water stops, and more.

Within the two primary categories of concrete water stops, there are several types specifically for concrete; all of which come with separate functions, features, and systems. The most widely bought and sold water stops for concrete paving use a delayed-timing process of swelling and expanding in order to obstruct water from seeping into concrete joints and crevices. When moisture is present, the water stops activate and swell, preventing fluid from permeating the concrete structure.

A concrete structure is only as water-tight as the water stops that bind them together. This delayed activation is helpful because it allows concrete structures to cure properly without any premature water stop swelling action. It is also helpful because it allows a concrete structure to reach its maximum stability and strength.

There are other considerations to think about for a concrete pavement project that concerns water stop installation and preparation. For example, it is important to determine if you are working with vertical or horizontal concrete joints, and the size of the concrete paving job overall. You must think about which features and systems for water stops is designed to do the job you need done for your concrete pavement project; as well as, which industrial products are best to use for long-lasting protection.

Do you require a delayed-reaction so that wet concrete can dry properly? There is more than you think when it comes to water stops for concrete. The best advice to take is to call a professional pavement repair and service technician for reliable guidance. They have the skill, knowledge, training, education, and experience to accurately answer any questions you have about concrete water stops, and more.

Indianapolis Concrete Pavers

Call ACI Asphalt and Concrete at 317-549-1833 for professional advice regarding water drainage for commercial concrete pavements in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our licensed and qualified paving contractors provide several Indianapolis asphalt and concrete paving services, including pavement repair, sealcoating, road work, commercial paving, industrial paving, winter cold patching, and more. We are the industry veterans to trust for skilled craftsmanship and competitive prices! Request a free estimate, today.