Paving is a complex process that often requires the best paving contractors Springfield, Lincoln, and Jacksonville, Illinois have ever seen. These individuals typically utilize several different concepts to ensure that they get good results. Some of these techniques are, in some ways, hacks that you can use when pouring your own pavement or even when you work with contractors on a project.
So if you’re interested in the best paving experience and want to ensure that you know how to handle this unique process, make sure that you pay attention to these hacks below. Each provides you with a specific series of benefits that makes your paving easier. Just as importantly, these tips also help to make your pavement stronger after it dries and ensures that you don’t need repair or perform much maintenance for a few years.
Set Your Paving Depth Properly
Before you start working with paving contractors, you need to understand the concept of the screed plate and how this affects your pavement. The screed plate is angled at such a way that it will distribute a certain amount of pavement at a specific speed. This design, in essence, lets you set the depth of your pavement without complication. As a result, you need to find an angle that works for you.
Here’s a good hack: a 45-degree angle is typically a good one because it distributes pavement at a reasonably medium pace. However, you may want to increase the angle to boost the depth of your concrete and make it firmer. Typically, you should find measurements on the side of the paving machine that gives you an idea of what to expect when using your screed plate properly.
For example, you need to pay attention to the width of the pavement, the slope of the driveway, the thickness of the sidewalk, and the crown that you plan on adding to the top of the roadway. Utilize the measurement device on the paver to get a feel for how to achieve this goal. Typically, you want your pavement to be at least three inches deep, but may wish to use deeper pours for specific situations.
Use Dry Blades for Cutting Asphalt
Paving contractors typically have to cut your pavement after it has been poured to provide you with expansion cracks. These cracks allow your slabs to “breathe” as the temperature changes. In essence, this means that your concrete will expand and contract due to changes in temperature. And these cracks will give it a little leeway to ensure that the surface doesn’t crack as its size changes.
The best way to cut your pavement is to measure out your slab while it is being poured and makes cuts every 4-6 feet along the surface of the roadway. The cuts should be done using proper blades, which typically come in both wet and dry varieties. Wet blades are useful if you want to cut thicker and wetter pavement, but dry blades are a better overall choice for many reasons.
For example, dry blades don’t require water to keep cool while you work. As a result, you don’t have to run separate machines to cut your pavement correctly. And these blades also offer a higher level of control, though do require you to do a little physical pushing. Try to find the best option for your needs and stick with it to ensure that you cut your pavement correctly every time.
Keep a “Head” on Your Paving
When you’re pouring your pavement, a buildup of materials will exist at the front of your machine. This extra debris is not a problem but is a part of the pouring process called the head. The head of your pour helps to dictate various elements of your pouring integrity and is something that real pros know how to not only correctly create but maintain throughout a pour.
Unfortunately, an uneven head can cause issues with your paving, such as increasing and decreasing your width and drying out individual sections too quickly. The head of your pavement is a combination of a few factors, including the speed of your paver, the angle of your pour, and the rate you are pushing the machine. These must stay consistent but can quickly become irregular if you aren’t careful.
As a result, you need to monitor the amount of material that comes out of your paver as you work. One of the easiest ways to do this is to hire a professional to watch and to give you tips when your flow is too low. You should also ask your paving contractors about this flow to get an idea of their understanding of this problem and how they adjust to it appropriately.
Fans May Help in Some Instances
Lastly, drying your pavement is a critical part of the process and one that often takes an excessive amount of time to do correctly. Thankfully, there are a few different ways that you can improve this process. Start by making sure that it isn’t going to rain for a few days before and after your paving job. This helps to ensure that your paving contractors can do the job without getting your pavement wet.
Just as importantly, you need the temperature to be over 50 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure that everything dries well. And, if you’re smart and don’t mind investing in a little wind power, you can use fans to help speed up the process. The fans will cause the water and moisture in your pavement to evaporate more quickly and can give you a finished driveway faster than simply waiting.
The speed at which you’ll get this new pavement will vary depending on many factors. For example, you can turn up the speed of your fans to get faster results but may disrupt the surface of the pavement if you aren’t careful. A good middle ground is the medium speed rate on your fan. This level of wind provides a steady drying power but won’t disrupt your pavement or cause any complications.
Let Us Help You
As you can see, these simple hacks are a great way to make your driveway or parking lot a more attractive and high-quality job. However, you need to ensure that you do these processes properly, or you may end up disappointed. Thankfully, there are many different ways that you can enhance these simple methods, such as working with a professional who fully understands these hacks.
So if you’re interested in working with the best paving contractors Springfield, Lincoln, and Jacksonville, Illinois have to offer and want to ensure that everything goes well, please contact us at Illinois Paving to learn more right away. Our professionals fully understand how to implement these techniques and will work hard to ensure that you get them done correctly on your property.