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It is difficult to understate the importance of commercial paving to the success of most Chicago businesses. Providing a safe, welcoming, and aesthetically pleasing environment can help you attract clientele, then keep them coming back time after time. This is also true if you lease to residential or commercial tenants. However, before you hire a paving contractor to install, repair, or maintain your commercial pavement, there are a few things you should know.

What Is the Most Essential Thing to Know About Commercial Paving?

The first thing you need to know is that even a highly experienced residential paving contractor may be a poor choice for a Chicago paving project. Commercial paving in Chicago often involves projects that are massive, complicated, and lengthy. Experienced paving companies are accustomed to dealing with the various complexities that such projects require, but a contractor with experience in just residential projects could be overwhelmed. Furthermore, a Chicago commercial paving company is more likely to own the right equipment for the job, have sufficient staffing, and possess adequate resources.

What Else Should I Know About Commercial Paving?

The topic of Chicago commercial paving is quite broad, so it is impossible to cover every detail in a single post. However, here is some essential information that may prove helpful to you.

1. Not every Chicago commercial paving company offers the same services. For example, paving companies can specialize in new construction, repairs, or overlays. A paving company may also focus on parking lots, highways, or urban streets. Therefore, it is important for you to ask for quotes from contractors who offer the service you need.
2. Commercial asphalt paving will need a little help to have a long, visually appealing life without needing costly repairs. Crack repairs and sealcoating are at the top of the list of routine maintenance services. However, you should also clean up puddles of vehicle fluids that have been leaked onto your pavement. Furthermore, you should ask a reputable commercial asphalt paving contractor to recommend safe, effective deicing products.
3. To continue the topic of commercial asphalt paving, you should know that asphalt pavements bear up surprisingly well to the harsh weather that is typical in Chicago. When given the proper care, asphalt pavements are pliable enough to expand and contract without breaking.
4. Commercial paving in Chicago is usually rapid to install and economical. Therefore, it can provide you with a significant return on your investment.
5. A reputable, experienced Chicago paving company can engineer a pavement that suits your specific needs. It matters whether your pavement will support passenger vehicles only, primarily heavy trucks, or a combination of all types of vehicles. It also matters how many vehicles your pavement will support on an average day.
6. You should solicit bids from more than one commercial company. Each company should send a representative to your site to evaluate a number of factors, including the condition of your existing pavement, the surrounding terrain, and the soil. Each bid should detail the type, quantity, and cost of materials as well as labor costs. Quotes should also include a tentative timeline, especially the projected starting and completion dates.

Black Hawk Paving is an esteemed Chicago commercial paving company that has served industrial facilities, local businesses, and national clients since 1975. We are a family-owned, family-operated business with a stellar reputation for honesty, quality, and service. We offer commercial asphalt paving as well as asphalt milling and grinding, asphalt repair, sealcoating, and asphalt hot crack sealing and routing. We also install concrete flatwork, curbing, truck docks and ramps, traffic signs, and car stops. In addition, we offer sewer repairs, parking lot striping, excavation and site grading, and pavement markings. If you are interested in a free consultation and quote, you can submit our online request form, send an email to Info@BlackHawkPaving.com, or call our main office at 708-479-0400.

If you consider the creation of your annual budget as the most enjoyable task of the entire year, you might be surprised to discover that the majority of your peers do not share your enthusiasm. Even if you do not find budgeting onerous, you may still struggle with certain line items, including your budget for parking lot maintenance. However, no matter how challenging you might find it, you definitely need to include routine maintenance for your parking lot in every budget you create. Five good reasons to do so are related to monetary savings, the local weather, legal issues, the way that others perceive your operation, and the safety of your parking lot.

How Can a Parking Lot Maintenance Budget Contribute to Monetary Savings?

Compared to what it costs to build or rebuild a parking lot, the amount that a parking lot maintenance company charges is a paltry sum. For a very economical price, parking lot maintenance services can maximize the useful life of your pavement, sometimes doubling or even tripling it. Furthermore, your repair costs will not be as expensive, and even minor repairs will be needed less often. Studies have proven that every dollar spent on parking lot maintenance services results in up to $10 in savings over the life of a pavement.

Why Do Weather Conditions Affect the Need for Parking Lot Maintenance?

Parking lot maintenance in Chicago is necessary to combat the local weather conditions, including the area’s typically harsh winters. Ice, snow, and freezing temperatures all take a toll on pavements. The chemicals used to melt ice and snow, prevent it from adhering to the pavement, or enhance traction can also inflict damage. Summer is no picnic for your pavement, either, between the sun, rain, and humidity. A professional Chicago parking lot maintenance program can help your pavement weather the weather. Simply stated, a well-maintained pavement is much more resistant to the elements.

What Is the Connection Between Legal Issues and Parking Lot Maintenance?

You are almost certainly aware of how building codes, the Americans with Disabilities Act, fire codes, and occupational safety laws affect your interior spaces. However, you might not realize that they can extend to your parking lot. Although the other laws and codes can include your parking lot, the greatest risks are related to ADA compliance. Accessible parking spaces require specific markings, and the pavement within them and along accessible routes must be free from defects that could be hazardous to those with mobility issues.

How Does Parking Lot Maintenance Affect the Perceptions of Others?

In all probability, you have heard some version advising against judging a book by its cover. However, that is precisely what many people do when they take a look at your parking lot. In their minds, a shabby parking lot is an indication of a poorly maintained interior. They may also decide that you cut corners, ignore details, and have little regard for your patrons and employees. You only have one opportunity to create a favorable first impression, and a local parking lot maintenance contractor can help you achieve that goal.

What Is the Link Between Parking Lot Safety and Parking Lot Maintenance?

As any experienced parking lot maintenance company can attest, a well-maintained pavement is safer for cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers. An effective, professionally administered Chicago parking lot maintenance program can eliminate tripping hazards, reduce confusion, and help keep foot and vehicle traffic moving in an orderly fashion.

What Parking Lot Maintenance Services Are Required in Chicago?

For a definitive answer, you will need to ask a local parking lot maintenance professional to assess your specific pavement. However, Chicago parking lot maintenance plans usually include at least several of the following services.

1. High-quality parking lot striping and pavement markings help keep you legally compliant, boost your property’s curb appeal, and enhance safety.
2. Regular sealcoating applications are a virtual must-have in Chicago, providing protection for your pavement while simultaneously enhancing its appearance and safety.
3. Timely crack repairs can prevent more serious pavement damage from occurring. Crack repairs can also improve safety by eliminating potential tripping hazards.
4. Faded or damaged signs should be replaced or repaired as part of your ongoing Chicago parking lot maintenance plan. Severely damaged mounting poles should also be addressed.
5. Misaligned or broken car stops should be replaced to eliminate tripping hazards and potential damage to vehicles.
6. Standing water can be an unsightly inconvenience, but it can also pose a potential safety hazard. Furthermore, it can have a detrimental effect on the health of your pavement. Therefore, parking lot maintenance companies normally recommend including regular inspections of gutters, curbs, catch basins, and other drainage features. If issues are found, corrective action should be taken as soon as possible.

Since 1975, the mission of Black Hawk Paving & Construction has been to assist customers throughout the greater Chicago area obtain the best value for every dollar they invest in a parking lot. To accomplish our mission, we offer an extensive range of services, including the initial excavation and site grading. We also offer asphalt paving, concrete flatwork, asphalt and concrete repairs, asphalt milling, car stops, parking lot striping, hot crack sealing, asphalt sealcoating, concrete curbing, asphalt fabric, traffic signage, pavement markings, and sewer repairs. We are known for our craftsmanship, customer service, professionalism, and integrity. If you would like to request a free quote, submit our online form. If you prefer, you can email us at Info@BlackHawkPaving.com, or you can call us at 708-479-0400.

When most people look at newly constructed asphalt pavements, they tend to see smooth, dark surfaces that show little variation in appearance. However, if you look below the surface, the structure of the different pavements can vary significantly. Engineers design pavements to serve specific purposes in the most efficient and economical manner. This saves their clients time and money, but it also conserves natural and manufactured resources. Therefore, it is important for you to understand the difference between industrial and commercial paving so that you can choose the right contractor.

What Is Industrial Paving?

When you think about an industrial facility, your first image may be a massive manufacturing plant that produces vehicles, large appliances, or other complex goods. However, the category also includes warehouses and storage facilities, petroleum refineries, and light industrial facilities that manufacture clothing, toiletries, and other small items. Industrial paving simply refers to the pavements constructed on the land controlled by the facility. Examples of industrial paving projects include parking lots for heavyweight trucks, walkways for pedestrians to move between buildings, and parking lots for passenger vehicles used by employees or visitors.

What Is Commercial Paving?

Chicago commercial paving projects typically involve for-profit businesses that are open to the public. Restaurants, theaters, shopping centers, recreational venues, office parks, stand-alone superstores and retailers, hotels and motels, casinos, resorts, and apartment complexes are a few examples. Commercial asphalt paving contractors typically do not include government-owned and operated buildings, healthcare facilities, and schools in this category, but that is far from universal. A commercial paving company may install, repair, or replace parking lots, walkways, access drives, and other pavements to allow pedestrians and drivers to navigate the property efficiently and safely.

What Are the Key Differences Between Industrial Paving and Commercial Paving?

There are numerous similarities in the construction techniques used for industrial and commercial projects, so many commercial paving companies construct both types of pavements. However, there are a few important differences to remember.

1. Clients expect a commercial paving contractor to provide them with a pavement that is visually pleasing. Allowances are typically made to incorporate aesthetic elements, including landscaping islands in or around parking lots.
2. Industrial paving clients are more concerned about the pavement’s functionality than its appearance. They want contractors to design pavements that can stand up to heavy loads, high traffic, and moderate abuse without needing frequent repairs. Therefore, industrial pavements are usually more structurally robust than commercial pavements. For example, an asphalt industrial pavement will normally have a thicker aggregate base as well as a greater depth of asphalt.
3. Although this is not always the case, commercial asphalt paving projects do not typically involve as many square feet of pavement as industrial projects. An industrial facility can be spread across several hundred acres, and all parts of the facility need to be connected by various types of pavements. Due in part to the acreage needed and zoning laws, industrial facilities are frequently located just beyond a town’s official boundaries. On the other hand, commercial paving projects almost always involve properties that are located within the city limits.

Regardless of whether you need an industrial or commercial paving company, Black Hawk Paving has the experience and resources to handle even highly complex projects. We have been in business since 1975, and we have earned an impressive reputation for service, craftsmanship, and integrity. We serve many national clients, including distribution centers, trucking facilities, and industrial manufacturers, as well as local clients and municipalities. Our services include the construction of concrete truck docks and ramps, asphalt paving and repair, site grading and excavation, hot crack sealing and routing, asphalt sealcoating, concrete curbing, asphalt milling and grinding, car stops, parking lot striping, sewer repairs, and traffic signage. You can submit our online request form if you would like to receive a free, no-obligation quote. You can also call us at 708-479-0400, or you can email us at Info@BlackHawkPaving.com.

If you own or manage a business, you are probably quite familiar with the concept of capitalizing assets. Capital assets, which are sometimes called fixed assets, are basically durable items over a certain cost that you use to operate your business or produce your goods. Examples include manufacturing machines, heavy equipment, office or store fixtures, computer equipment, and vehicles. However, the broad category of capital assets can also include capital improvements that will likely require the assistance of a trustworthy Chicago paving company.

What Does a Chicago Paving Company Consider a Capital Improvement Project?

Trustworthy Chicago paving companies follow the guidelines established by the Internal Revenue Service to define legitimate capital improvement projects. Essentially, capital improvements upgrade, adapt, or enhance a property by making restorations or alterations. These features are meant to be permanent to the extent that removing them would damage the property. Furthermore, capital improvements should add value to the property. Bearing this description in mind, you might want to review the following list of capital improvement projects commonly handled by asphalt paving companies.

1. Parking lots are a common source of capital improvement projects handled by a typical asphalt paving contractor. The project can be an entirely new construction, or it can involve the demolition and reconstruction of an existing parking lot.
2. Depending on various factors, the installation of an asphalt paving overlay could be a capital improvement or a repair. Your Chicago paving company can help you make that determination after evaluating your specific circumstances.
3. Building, extending, or replacing private roads and streets could also be considered as capital improvements. For example, the cul-de-sacs and other streets that must be installed when developing a gated community could qualify.
4. Other examples of capital improvement projects that asphalt paving companies handle include walkways, drive-thru lanes, and pull-thru passenger disembarking areas.

How Do I Select the Best Chicago Paving Company for a Capital Improvement Project?

Whether you need an asphalt paving company, a concrete flatwork professional, or a Chicago paving contractor who can provide both asphalt and concrete services, the basic criteria are the same.

1. Seek out Chicago paving companies with a history of successfully completing capital improvement projects similar to what you need. Consider the scope, size, and complexity of your pending project when making comparisons.
2. Choose an asphalt paving company that can also maintain and repair your pavement. Contractors who understand the full lifecycle of a pavement can often recommend more cost-effective ways to approach a capital improvement project.
3. Make sure that the Chicago paving contractor you select is properly insured and appropriately licensed to perform the type of work you need. For example, all businesses operating within the Chicago city limits must have a valid Chicago business license. Furthermore, even if your municipality does not require contractors to carry insurance, you want to choose a Chicago paving company that at least carries workers’ comp, general liability, and vehicle liability policies.
4. Obtain a list of references from the Chicago paving companies that you are considering. Be sure to contact the company’s former customers to ask for their evaluation of the company and its work.

If you need superior results from the Chicago paving company you hire for your capital improvement project, do what Chicagoland commercial and industrial clients have been doing since 1975 and contact Black Hawk Paving. We provide national and local clients with a wide assortment of services, including asphalt paving, concrete flatwork, asphalt milling and grinding, car stops, site grading and excavation, asphalt repair, parking lot striping, ADA compliance assistance, asphalt sealcoating, traffic signage, and hot crack sealing. We have an impeccable reputation for craftsmanship, service, and professionalism. To request a free quote, fill out our online form, send an email to Info@BlackHawkPaving.com, or call us at 708-479-0400!

Asphalt pavements can be attractive, durable, and economical if they are installed and maintained properly. If you are a facility manager in the Chicagoland area, you probably have or will have the responsibility of working with an asphalt paving professional. This can be an unsettling thought if you know little or nothing about the benefits and requirements of an asphalt pavement. However, there is really no need to worry.

What Are the Benefits of Asphalt Paving?

Whether you are a Chicago facility manager, municipal employee, or business owner, paving offers several important benefits.

1. Compared to concrete, asphalt paving in Chicago costs less and is faster to install. Routine maintenance and repair procedures are also speedy and economical.
2. During the winter, the ability of a pavement to reflect or absorb sunlight can impact the accumulation of snow or ice. Chicago asphalt paving has a dark color that absorbs the sun’s heat better than concrete.
3. Asphalt paving in Chicago requires little in the way of routine maintenance. Typically,  paving companies recommend sealcoating your paving every other year, repairing significant cracks every six months, and cleaning the pavement as needed.
4. As a Chicago facility manager, you are probably concerned with ensuring that your property is as safe as possible. When it comes to traction, asphalt is a better paving material than concrete. Superior traction can reduce accidents involving vehicles, pedestrians, or cycles.

What Should I Know About the Paving Procedure?

An experienced Chicago asphalt paving company will take the time to explain the steps involved to complete your specific procedure. Generally, however, paving contractors have certain steps that they virtually always follow.

1. When handling asphalt paving in Chicago, traffic control is an essential part of the process. Normally, asphalt paving companies assign specific employees to erect barricades or other devices to redirect traffic. Depending on the job, some paving contractors also station flaggers or lookouts with two-way radios to make the site even safer.
2. Chicago paving jobs may involve a new construction, a demolition and reconstruction, an overlay installation, or a repair. In general, if the task cannot be handled with routine maintenance or a relatively shallow repair, many contractors will consider it an asphalt paving procedure.
3. Most asphalt paving companies are skilled at dividing projects into separate stages or areas to make things more convenient for their customers. For example, if a customer has a massive parking lot that needs an overlay, a Chicago paving company may divide the lot into multiple sections that can be completed individually. A similar approach may be used if the customer needs to spread the costs over two years; half the work can be completed during the fourth quarter, for instance, with the remainder completed during the first quarter of the following year.

If you are a Chicago facility manager who would like to learn more about paving, please contact the experts at Black Hawk Paving. We offer an extensive range of services to local and national clients. Our services include asphalt paving, concrete flatwork, asphalt milling, concrete curbing, site grading and excavation, sealcoating, asphalt repair, car stops, sewer repair, traffic signs, hot crack sealing, pavement markings, asphalt fabric, and parking lot striping. Since our founding in 1975, we have been committed to delivering superior work and exemplary service on every project. If you would like to receive a free job quote, give us a call at 708-479-0400.  If you prefer, you can send an email to Info@BlackHawkPaving.com, or you can complete our request form online.

One of the quirks about most languages is that a word can mean different things in different contexts. For example, when talking about people, milling can imply that they are moving around in a disorganized or confused manner. Milling can refer to the process of grinding grain to produce flour, or it can describe the process of cutting or pressing metal. To a coin collector, milling refers to the grooves around a coin’s edges. None of these definitions, however, accurately describe asphalt milling.

What Is the Definition of Asphalt Milling?

Asphalt milling contractors typically define milling as the grinding away of an existing asphalt pavement by using a milling machine. Some milling machines are capable of removing all layers of the pavement, including the base layers. However, asphalt milling in Chicago is usually performed as part of a resurfacing or overlaying project. Normally, Chicago asphalt resurfacing projects do not require contractors to grind off more than two or three inches of the pavement’s surface. Contractors can use Chicago milling machines for other purposes, though. For example, an asphalt milling company can use a milling machine to correct certain drainage issues, smooth a bumpy surface, or cut rumble strips in existing pavements.

What Should I Do Before My Contractor Starts My Milling Project?

As soon as you start thinking about Chicago asphalt milling, you should locate an experienced, trustworthy contractor. Whether you need asphalt resurfacing in Chicago or a different milling procedure, your contractor will be instrumental in the quality of the work you receive.

1. Look for an asphalt milling contractor with whom you feel comfortable. You want your contractor to be an effective communicator who returns your messages within a reasonable time. You do not want a contractor who disrespects you, your staff, or your time.
2. After choosing a Chicago milling professional, ask for a list of tasks that you need to complete prior to your project’s start date. In most cases, asphalt milling contractors do not require their customers to shoulder much of a burden. However, your milling contractor may ask you to communicate your plans to your staff, residents, clients, or tenants through signage, memos, or other means. Your project will experience fewer delays or disruptions if you keep the right people informed of when and where your contractor will be working.
3. Decide when you want to schedule your asphalt resurfacing in Chicago. Chicago milling and resurfacing projects can often be performed on holidays or weekends, and some projects can also be handled at night. Work with your asphalt milling company to identify the times during which your traffic will be at or near minimum for your pavement. This allows your contractor to have more control over the traffic near the work area, and this can enhance safety and reduce delays.

To learn more about Chicago asphalt resurfacing or asphalt milling, get in touch with the experts at Black Hawk Paving. We also offer asphalt sealcoating, concrete flatwork, asphalt paving, car stops, site grading, asphalt repairs, concrete curbing, excavations, hot crack sealing, traffic signage, parking lot striping, asphalt fabric, sewer repair, and pavement marking. We have been serving commercial clients in and around Chicago since 1975. We have an outstanding reputation for service, craftsmanship, and integrity. If you would like to request a free job quote, email Info@BlackHawkPaving.com, complete our online form, or call 708-479-0400.

If you have an asphalt pavement, the most cost-effective way to reduce repairs, protect your curb appeal, and maximize the life of your pavement is to sealcoat it periodically. In most cases, your parking lot in Chicago will need asphalt sealcoating every two years or so, and your pavement can be reopened in as little as 24 hours. If you think that closing your parking lot for a day or two every couple of years is too disruptive, you may be considering asking your contractor to apply your sealcoating at night. You probably will not find a trustworthy contractor who will agree to nighttime sealcoating. Even if you do, you will almost certainly regret your decision.

Why Might I Regret Choosing Nighttime Asphalt Sealcoating?

There are several reasons to avoid nighttime asphalt sealcoating in Chicago.

1. Studies have shown that Chicago asphalt sealcoating that is applied during the day lasts three to four times as long as sealcoating that is applied at night.
2. Applying asphalt seal coating during the day also reduces the chances of missed areas and oversprays.
3. Due to the lack of visibility, even with spotlights and parking lot lighting, employees of sealcoating companies have more trouble ensuring a smooth, even coat.
4. Dew can leave wet sealcoating blotchy or pockmarked.
5. Most companies that manufacture asphalt seal coating will void their product warranties if contractors choose a nighttime application. In addition, most contractors who offer Chicago sealcoating asphalt services will guarantee their work for daytime applications, but they will not do so for nighttime applications.

In other words, your results are likely to be less attractive and have a shorter life, and you could potentially be paying for another application in a few months out of your own pocket. Perhaps the saddest thing about nighttime asphalt sealcoating in Chicago is that you would be risking a lot and gaining nothing.

Why Does Nighttime Sealcoating Gain Nothing?

Think about the reasons why you want an asphalt sealcoating company to schedule your application at night. Most people do not realize two important reasons why you do not need to ask an asphalt sealcoating company to perform your work at night.

1. You want to be able to use your parking lot as soon as you open your doors to customers the next morning. Unfortunately, this will not happen. Asphalt sealcoating needs several hours of sunlight to cure properly. Since it cannot get that exposure at night, all you are doing is postponing the start of the curing process until dawn.
2. Chicago asphalt sealcoating professionals are adept at working around a customer’s schedule. If your business is not open 365 days a year, your local asphalt sealcoating contractor will be happy to schedule your job on a day you are closed, including holidays or weekends. If your business never closes, asphalt sealcoating contractors will work with you to identify your slowest times during the day so that they can perform their work then. However, sealcoating companies are very accustomed to using the piecemeal approach on a job. What this means is that they divide the work area into sections that they can close, sealcoat, and reopen individually. Therefore, you will always have part of your parking lot available for use at all times.

Black Hawk Paving has been providing national chains and local commercial clients in Chicagoland with superior work since 1975. Asphalt sealcoating is just one of the many services we provide. We also offer asphalt paving and repair, site grading, parking lot striping, asphalt milling and grinding, excavations, hot crack sealing and routing, asphalt fabric installation, car stops, concrete curbing, sewer repairs, pavement markings, concrete flatwork, and traffic signs. We have earned an exemplary reputation by consistently delivering exceptional work and extraordinary service on every project. You can use our online form to request a free job quote. If you prefer, you can also email Info@BlackHawkPaving.com, or you can call 708-479-0400.

Whether you choose concrete or asphalt paving, your pavement will suffer from the loads it must bear as well as the forces of nature. Sometimes, the damage can be mitigated through a proactive maintenance plan, or it can be repaired using a variety of methods. However, in other cases, your only, or your most cost-effective solution, will be a full-depth asphalt paving reconstruction.

What Is a Full-Depth Asphalt Paving Reconstruction?

Basically, a full-depth asphalt paving reconstruction is the demolition of your existing pavement before an asphalt paving company rebuilds it from the ground up. When reconstructing asphalt paving in Chicago, the pavement, its foundation, and, in some cases, a certain depth of the underlying soil will be removed. If asphalt paving contractors need to remove some of the soil, they will replace it so that the subgrade can be properly compacted to provide the pavement with a stable, strong foundation. Typically, Chicago asphalt paving reconstruction also requires the contractor to rebuild the base, which provides the opportunity to increase its strength if necessary. Contractors then install multiple courses of fresh asphalt paving, compacting each before proceeding, so that the depth of the asphalt matches the design specifications.

How Do I Know Whether I Need a Full-Depth Asphalt Paving Reconstruction?

There are some factors that may influence the need to rebuild an asphalt pavement, including the pavement’s age, initial construction quality, and lifetime care. However, there are two factors that are the most useful when deciding whether to reconstruct your asphalt pavement. These are the type of damage and its extent. More than likely, you will need the assistance of a Chicago asphalt paving contractor to fully assess your pavement’s damage. Experienced asphalt paving contractors will know how to identify the cause of the damage as well as how far it extends beneath the surface.

1. Certain types of damage often indicate the structural failure of your asphalt paving. These can include alligator cracking, sinkholes and potholes, longitudinal cracks, severe rutting, or widespread subsidence. In some cases, the source of the damage can be traced back to its original installation. Perhaps the original asphalt paving company failed to compact the soil, base, or asphalt sufficiently, or the company chose the wrong mix. The engineering design may have been flawed, so the pavement could not support the weight of traffic it had to bear. On the other hand, the original installation could have been flawless, and the damage is the result of what happened after construction. For example, the pavement’s use could have changed, so it was forced to support heavier or more numerous vehicles. Maintenance and repairs might have been neglected, allowing water to enter the structure and destroy the supporting foundation. There are many potential causes of damage to asphalt paving in Chicago, but identifying them usually requires an experienced professional. It is essential to identify and correct the cause so that your new pavement will not suffer the same fate.
2. When asphalt paving contractors refer to the extent of the damage, they are not just talking about what you can see on the surface. Instead, they are thinking in three dimensions. You can see the length and width of the damage, but you cannot see its depth. For example, does a crack stop after it reaches a depth of four inches, or does it continue all the way to the base? Has the base been compromised, or is it still largely intact? The answers to such questions are especially critical if the type of damage could be attributed to widespread structural failure. However, they can also help asphalt paving companies determine whether you might be able to salvage your pavement rather than reconstruct it.

Whether you own a local business or represent a national chain, Black Hawk Paving is ready to help you with all your asphalt paving needs. We offer asphalt paving reconstruction and construction, asphalt repairs, hot crack sealing and routing, asphalt sealcoating, asphalt fabric installation, parking lot striping, excavations, pavement markings, sewer repairs, site grading, car stops, and traffic signage. We also offer concrete repair and installation services, including curbing, ramps, truck docks, and other concrete flatwork services. We have provided asphalt paving in Chicago since 1975, establishing an exemplary reputation for professionalism, workmanship, honesty, and service. For a free quote, submit our online request form, or send an email to Info@BlackHawkPaving.com. Call us at 708-479-0400 for a free quotation!

Asphalt pavements can be long-lasting, attractive, and economical, but you will need to give them some help along the way. Routine maintenance procedures, including crack repairs and sealcoating, can prolong the life of your pavement. However, sooner or later, you will need more than just routine maintenance. Asphalt overlaying, also known as asphalt resurfacing, can be an excellent solution when your pavement requires that little something extra. The answers to five questions can help you determine whether it is time to install an asphalt overlay in Chicago.

Has Your Pavement Already Received an Asphalt Overlay in Chicago?

One of the great things about asphalt overlays is that they can be installed on the same pavement as often as needed. However, if your asphalt paving contractor did not address any existing structural damage or drainage problems before placing an overlay, your overlay may have failed prematurely. Furthermore, the hidden issues may have worsened significantly, and this could affect the feasibility of overlaying your asphalt pavement. Check your records to determine when a Chicago asphalt overlay company resurfaced your pavement. Next, look for signs that damage patterns have telegraphed through to your existing asphalt overlay.

What Color Is Your Existing Asphalt Pavement?

New asphalt paving has a luxurious black color. This is true for a newly built pavement as well as for an asphalt overlay in Chicago. Over time, however, the sun’s UV rays will turn the color of asphalt to a faded, dingy gray or brown. Taken alone, color fading may not be a significant issue, but the problem is that UV rays also make asphalt paving brittle, dry, and more vulnerable to damage. Severe fading can be a warning sign that you should call a contractor with experience in asphalt overlaying in Chicago.

Would the Aesthetics of Your Pavement Benefit From an Asphalt Overlay in Chicago?

Faded color is not the only way that the condition of your pavement could have a negative impact on your curb appeal. Oil stains are unsightly, but they can also pose hazards to the health of your pavement as well as the people who use it. Years of numerous crack repairs or patches could also detract from the appearance of your pavement. Overlaying asphalt pavements purely to improve aesthetics can be a wise decision, especially if you cater to upscale customers, manage a pricey gated community, or want to attract the best tenants.

Does Your Pavement Drain Well?

When an asphalt overlay company constructs a new pavement correctly, water should easily flow away from the surface and into gutters or drains. If your pavement has areas that retain water longer than the rest of your pavement, that can be a warning sign that something is going on under the surface. Although it is not always the case, surface depressions are often the result of water that has worked its way deep into the structure and damaged the foundation. Unless the foundation damage is severe and widespread, a Chicago asphalt overlay company can probably solve the drainage issues.

Do You Need an Asphalt Overlay in Chicago to Correct Specific Damage Patterns?

There are several types of damage that can be repaired by overlaying an asphalt pavement. However, your asphalt paving contractor will need to evaluate your pavement to determine whether a more economical method exists as well as whether the damage is too severe for asphalt overlaying in Chicago.

1. Linear cracks, which parallel the direction of the asphalt’s laydown, and transverse cracks, which run perpendicular to the laydown, may be suitably repaired by overlaying the asphalt pavement. However, it may also be possible for your asphalt company to fill or seal relatively thin cracks.
2. Rutting and raveling are two conditions that might indicate the advisability of asphalt overlaying in Chicago. Edge cracking is another condition that an asphalt overlay might correct.
3. Block cracks, which should not be confused with alligator cracks, form a pattern of large rectangles. Although it might be possible to seal thin block cracks, thick ones usually require overlaying.
4. An asphalt company can often repair deep potholes with a procedure known as full-depth patching. However, if your pavement is riddled with numerous potholes over a wide area, asphalt overlaying in Chicago may be a more cost-effective solution.

If you would like to learn more about asphalt overlaying in Chicago, contact the experts at Black Hawk Paving. In addition to asphalt overlays, we offer asphalt paving, hot crack sealing, asphalt repairs, concrete flatwork and curbing, asphalt milling and grinding, car stops, asphalt sealcoating, site grading and excavations, parking lot striping, sewer repairs, traffic signage, asphalt fabric, and pavement markings. We have been serving commercial and industrial clients in the greater Chicago area since 1975. We have earned a reputation for extraordinary workmanship, professional service, and consistent reliability. We offer free quotes, so fill out the online form, email Info@BlackHawkPaving.com, or call us at 708-479-0400, 773-378-2390, or 847-240-2560.

If you are responsible for the health of an asphalt pavement, you may have heard that routine applications of a quality sealcoat are highly recommended. However, you may have also heard several myths about asphalt sealcoating. Most of these myths revolve around sealcoating’s cost, purpose, and inconvenience.

What Are Some Myths About the Cost of Asphalt Sealcoating?

The most common myth about cost is that parking lot sealcoating is expensive. Although the actual price will depend on a number of factors, sealcoating in Chicago is usually much less than $0.50 per square foot. In most cases, the price per square foot for asphalt patching, crack sealing, asphalt resurfacing, or asphalt paving will be significantly more. This makes Chicago asphalt sealcoating an extremely cost-effective procedure that can help you increase the return on your investment in asphalt paving. Another common myth is that you should hire the sealcoating company that submits the lowest bid. Not every company offering to sealcoat a paving lot plans to use high-quality products. Furthermore, some companies will not follow the manufacturer’s instructions for preparing and applying the mix, leading to a short-lived job. Other Chicago asphalt sealcoating contractors do not carry workers’ compensation or business liability insurance, and this increases your potential financial risks.

What Are Some Myths About the Purpose of Asphalt Sealcoating?

Sealcoating is a multipurpose product that delivers several benefits, but it is not a magic elixir that can solve every problem with your asphalt pavement.

1. Myth: Parking lot sealcoating is nothing more than a beauty treatment.

Truth: Sealcoating in Chicago can return a faded pavement to its original luxurious color, make the pavement appear more even, and conceal minor imperfections. However, the true purpose of sealcoating is to protect asphalt pavements from damage from ultraviolet radiation, corrosive chemicals, water penetration, automotive fluids, and abrasive particles.

2. Myth: There is no need to repair cracks before you sealcoat a paving lot.

Truth: Your contractor must repair any significant breaks in the pavement before applying parking lot sealcoating. Sealcoating is a liquid when it is applied, so it will simply drain into any openings and be wasted.

3. Myth: Chicago sealcoating is used when the pavement needs to be slicker so that ice will not form.

Truth: First of all, a correctly prepared sealcoating mix will contain sand that serves to improve the pavement’s traction, not make it slicker. Furthermore, even if you sealcoat a paving lot, it is possible for ice to form on the pavement. However, asphalt sealcoating in Chicago can help protect your pavement from anti-icing and ice melt products that you may use.

What Are Some Myths About the Inconvenience of Asphalt Sealcoating?

Myths about the inconvenience of applying sealcoating in Chicago leave some people highly concerned about the impact the process will have on their operation every time they need sealcoating.

1. Myth: Parking lot sealcoating needs to be applied every six months or so.

Truth: A high-quality, professionally applied Chicago parking lot sealcoating job typically lasts between 18 and 30 months. Parking lots with extremely high volumes of traffic may need certain areas touched up annually. However, applying sealcoating too frequently can be just as bad as waiting too long between applications. A reputable asphalt sealcoating company will advise you on the proper schedule for your specific pavement.

2. Myth: I will need to close my business so that my contractor can apply my parking lot sealcoating.

Truth: There are many ways to work around this problem, and experienced Chicago asphalt sealcoating contractors know them all. For example, if your business is not open seven days a week, your asphalt sealcoating company could sealcoat your parking lot while you are closed. Chicago parking lot sealcoating contractors are also accustomed to dividing a pavement into sections that can be closed, sealed, and reopened before moving to the next section.

3. Myth: Chicago asphalt sealcoating takes several days to dry.

Truth: The drying time of asphalt sealcoating in Chicago depends primarily on the weather, but it is extremely rare that a pavement must remain closed to vehicles for more than 18 hours. Most pavements can begin admitting pedestrians within four or five hours.

If you need exceptional asphalt sealcoating in Chicago, contact the experts at Black Hawk Paving. We also offer hot crack sealing, asphalt repair, asphalt milling, asphalt paving, site grading, concrete curbing, car stops, concrete flatwork, excavations, traffic signage, parking lot striping, and pavement markings. We serve national, industrial, and commercial clients throughout Chicagoland. For a free job quote, fill out the online form, email Info@BlackHawkPaving.com, or call 708-479-0400.