New asphalt paving can greatly enhance your commercial property in many ways. It’s aesthetically pleasing, functional and long-lasting. But despite asphalt’s strength, it has one mortal enemy: Water! Water can cause significant damage over time. For that reason, good Chicago paving companies will do everything possible to prevent drainage issues now and in the future.
Paving contractors can mitigate drainage problems in many ways. What’s important is that you’re working with paving companies that take this aspect of a project seriously.
Why is it Important for Paving Companies in Chicago to Focus on Drainage?
Most people see asphalt paving as a resilient material that can withstand anything you throw at it. While it is tough, water is more destructive than most realize. Water penetration and poor drainage can cause substantial damage.
When water penetrates asphalt, whether through cracks or pooling, it can slowly eat away at the pavement’s foundation layers. That results in alligator cracking, pothole formation, differential settling and more.
Water exposure is unavoidable. But paving companies in Chicago should construct surfaces to prevent standing water. Otherwise, water penetration, pooling and overall weakening should occur. Water management is a crucial piece of the puzzle, and paving contractors must prioritize good drainage to ensure finished surfaces last.
How Do Chicago Paving Companies Understand What My Property Needs?
It all begins with an inspection and site analysis. Reliable paving companies will never start a project without studying your property first. In addition to performing soil compaction tests, contractors look into existing drainage infrastructure, soil composition, overall topography and more.
Asphalt companies will collect a treasure trove of information while performing tests to understand everything there is to know about your property. That data will help experts understand potential drainage problems, equipping them with the knowledge to develop the right solutions.
How Do Chicago Paving Companies Ensure That Drainage Doesn’t Become an Issue?
There are many ways to avoid drainage problems, and paving companies in Chicago will typically adopt several techniques to minimize the potential for headaches later. Proper subgrade preparation is one of the most impactful ways to prevent problems.
Paving companies will begin grading after excavating the site and adding any necessary aggregate to create a stable base. Grading is a process that involves moving material to achieve a subtle slope. The slope isn’t enough to create walking or driving issues. But it helps direct water away.
Grading ensures that water doesn’t settle at any spot in your pavement. Instead, it runs off to the appropriate drainage infrastructure.
Does Material Selection Matter for Asphalt Paving?
In addition to subgrade preparation, paving contractors will choose appropriate materials for your application. While all asphalt paving looks the same, there are subtle differences in materials and formulas. The best asphalt companies will choose superior materials that are purpose-made for optimal water drainage.
Chicago asphalt companies can use unique materials to create porous asphalt that allows water to drain into a layer of aggregate before moving into a waterway. Or, they may choose a material with lower porosity in areas with substantial water exposure to ensure that every drop of rain moves into nearby catch basins.
When it’s time to start planning your next asphalt paving project, let Black Hawk Paving & Construction be your trusted contractor. We understand how important drainage is to a long-lasting asphalt surface and go the extra mile to ensure we do things correctly. We’re approaching our 50th year of business and have a growing portfolio of successful projects still holding up and serving clients today!
You can turn to Black Hawk for new paving, asphalt repairs, milling, overlays, sealcoating, excavation, grading, striping, concrete curbing, concrete flatwork and more.
Call Black Hawk Paving & Construction today at (708)787-8765 to discuss our project in greater detail. If you’d rather a team member reach out to you, submit our online contact form or email us at info@blackhawkpaving.com.
