Many managers and property owners favor asphalt pavements for their commercial properties for several reasons, including their financial and aesthetic benefits. However, there are two things you want to avoid: delays and cost overruns. Whether your projects involves new construction, routine maintenance, or repairs, there are certain steps you can take to help your Chicago asphalt paving company complete your project within budget and on time.

How Can Clients Assist Contractors With an Asphalt Paving Project?

The most successful projects involve a collaboration between an asphalt paving company and its client. Here are some tips for working with a paving company in Chicago.

1. Be honest with your paving contractor. If your contractor recommends resurfacing your entire asphalt parking lot, for example, but your budget is inadequate, say so. Experienced asphalt companies know ways to perform large projects in phases, and they also know whether there are acceptable alternatives.
2. Work closely with your Chicago asphalt paving company to develop a comprehensive plan. There will be certain tasks that only your paving contractor can handle, but there are typically other steps that the client must take. One example is ensuring that your tenants or residents are informed of the scheduled work well ahead of time. You may need to designate a different entrance, parking area, or route they need to take to avoid interfering with the work being performed by your asphalt paving company.
3. Avoid surprising your paving company with alterations to your project after work is underway. Asphalt paving companies create detailed schedules to ensure that the right equipment and personnel are available when and where they are needed. If you make changes midstream, the only option available to your Chicago asphalt paving company may be to pause work on your project. The other choice that is sometimes available to paving companies is to pay workers to work overtime, and this additional cost will most likely be passed on to the customer as an overrun.

How Do I Budget for the Services of an Asphalt Paving Company?

You need to begin by locating any records you might have in either digital or printed format. Knowing when a paving company in Chicago built your pavement is important. However, you also want to know the details of your pavement’s construction, including the compacted asphalt depth. Maintenance and repair records can be even more important. They can help you identify the preventive treatments your pavement received, the frequency and severity of repairs, and the sources of damage identified by the asphalt companies performing the work. Once you have assembled as much information as possible, it is time to call a trustworthy asphalt paving company for assistance. The answers to the following questions can help you create a realistic budget for your pavement care.

1. How often should I apply asphalt sealcoating? The intervals between applications depend on numerous factors. However, a typical Chicago parking lot will need sealcoating every other year.
2. How often should I schedule crack repairs? Cracks can endanger pedestrians as well as your pavement’s structural integrity. The age and condition of your pavement may require more frequent repairs, but most asphalt companies recommend repairing significant cracks at least once every year.
3. When should I repaint my parking lot? In the Chicago area, parking lot paint and asphalt sealcoating have similar life expectancies. A fresh application of sealcoating will require repainting your lines and markings, so you might want to schedule both services at the same time. Beyond that, you should repaint if the visibility of your lines and markings falls below 75% of their original vibrancy.
4. How often should I resurface my asphalt pavement? The answer to this question can only be determined by a qualified paving contractor who has conducted a thorough assessment of your specific pavement. That said, the most common ballpark estimate is that a typical parking lot needs resurfacing every 10 to 12 years.

Black Hawk Paving serves the greater Chicago area with a range of services, including parking lot maintenance programs, asphalt sealcoating, milling and grinding, asphalt paving and repair, site grading and excavation, hot crack sealing, concrete flatwork and curbing, car stops, traffic signage, and parking lot striping. We serve local commercial and industrial clients as well as national clients. We are known for our extraordinary craftsmanship, commitment to customer satisfaction, and professional and personal integrity. To request a free quote, complete the online form, email Info@BlackHawkPaving.com, or call 708-479-0400.

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.