Well-paved surfaces are lifesavers, literally. Aside from the aesthetics and convenience of properly constructed pavement, a successful paving project guarantees safety for users, longevity, and savings down the line, as there won’t be a reason to redo the paving.
But what constitutes a successful reno asphalt paving project? In a contest between ensuring an aesthetic finish and a structurally sound pavement, the answer would be simple: anywhere but Reno.
Unlike many places, Reno has a unique geography, which calls for a special approach to asphalt pavements. If you’re short on time, here’s a quick rundown of the five tips:
1. Plan The Project and Ensure Proper Site Preparation
Any successful Reno paving project calls for proper planning. This includes but isn’t limited to assessing the site, getting permits from authorities, deciding on the design and materials to be used, and developing a budget.
In addition to this, site preparation is the first and most important thing in paving projects. Unfortunately, not many people put much thought into it and the reason behind the need for proper site clearance and preparation. This may result in uneven surfaces, which easily degrade or settle with time.
To avoid this, ensure that you clear all vegetation and debris from the site where you’ll be laying the pavement. Additionally, excavate the site to the right level and prepare the subgrade surface for paving. Standard practice prescribes that you only install paving on a subgrade surface with adequate carrying capacity to avoid settling.
2. Choose The Right Paving Materials for The Job
The materials you use for your paving project determine the quality of the work and durability in the long term. This is why it’s necessary to plan the project. Site assessments, the design, and the scope description would inform the right choice of materials. Furthermore, regulations or permits may require specific materials, so ensure you get this done first.
Simply knowing the suitable paving materials for the project is only half of it. Confirm your suppliers deliver what you request per the prescribed bill of quantities. Some are shady and may try to deliver low-quality or different materials to cut costs on their end. One way around this is to only source from trusted and established suppliers.
Alternatively, you could have a construction professional you trust to assess the quality of all materials you source from suppliers. You could also check them yourself if you know what to look for.
3. Ensure You Use Proper Paving Techniques
Sadly, cutting corners is a norm in the construction industry, but it’s less talked about and addressed adequately. A successful asphalt Reno paving project involves proper planning, site clearance, and grading. It also requires the use of the appropriate materials and equipment.
When you get the base and foundation right, everything falls in place, and the work becomes more manageable. Back to the equipment issue, you must ensure the equipment can properly compact the subgrade and, later, the asphalt immediately after you place it on the surface.
If you don’t get this right, you’ll end up with uneven surfaces with zero structural integrity. The need to use proper paving techniques and follow industry standards can’t be emphasized more.
4. Pay Particular Attention to Drainage
Water is a powerful degrading agent. Stagnant water lying around or close to your asphalt pavement can slowly sip into tiny pores. Considering the wild temperature fluctuations, you can only imagine this water now trapped in pores expanding when frozen.
Over time, this water degrades the foundation. With the foundation gone, the pavement’s structural integrity becomes compromised, so it won’t manage loading as designed.
On the other hand, a raging flow of water (in sufficient amounts) could easily sweep away even a well-laid-out pavement. This is why it’s vital to ensure you address all drainage concerns. If there’s a chance your site will be submerged or come into contact with a lot of water for extended periods, it would be better to make extra provisions to drain this water.
A construction professional is best placed to advise on the mitigation approach to address drainage in your Reno asphalt paving project.
5. Maintain and Repair Regularly (and As Needed)
Naturally, wear and tear is expected for any structure, but asphalt pavements bear the brunt of it all, from extreme loads they were not designed for to near constant loading from people and equipment. It’s normal for your asphalt pavement to degrade not due to any fault during construction but due to use and the effect of the elements.
You can prevent all this with regular preventive and protective maintenance. Any successful asphalt paving project isn’t a one-time job. Corrective maintenance is necessary in case any defects develop over time with use. This helps arrest any further deterioration.
Similarly, you must conduct several preventive or protective maintenance procedures like seal coating and crack fillings. Some scenarios are entirely unpredictable, like anticipating the need for better carrying capacity of your asphalt pavement.
In the case where you now have heavier vehicles parked on it or driven through regularly, which wasn’t the intention during the planning phase, constant monitoring and regular inspections are required to root out issues before they become a major problem.
Final Thoughts
There, you have five asphalt construction tips for successful Reno paving projects. Remember, the success of any construction project begins at the planning stage. The choice of materials, technique, and considerations, such as drainage, are equally important.
