Ron La Porte – Suburban Asphalt

- February
  14
  2022
- 1091
- 0
- By Ron La Porte
- In Solutions
3 Ways Suburban Asphalt Can Help Your Lot Recover from the Effects of Winter
If you have lived in Wisconsin for any amount of time, you know that there are four seasons – winter, winter, winter and road construction. We’re proud to say that we can help you with all four of those seasons! For expert tips on keeping your business booming during construction, visit our blog about construction phasing. And, for the other three seasons, we bring you the top three ways we can help your lot recover from the effects of winter. Read on to learn more.

Why Does Cold Weather Impact Pavement?

It’s important to first understand how cold weather affects your asphalt and why it causes so many issues. The root of most of the asphalt-related winter problems is temperature fluctuations. Additional factors that increase the chances of winter asphalt wear and tear include:

– Salt or other de-icing agents
– Snowplow damage
– Poorly maintained asphalt

In most cases, as rain falls or snow melts, the water seeps into cracks and imperfections on the surface of your asphalt. When the temperature drops, that same water will freeze and expand. As it expands, it causes tiny imperfections or cracks to grow larger. This will continue to happen all winter, with the water seeping further down each time, making the cracks bigger and deeper. It’s known as the freeze/thaw cycle.

Pothole Patching

One of the more common results of the freeze/thaw cycle comes in the form of potholes. The water beneath the surface of the road combined with the constant pressure of heavy traffic volume leads to depressions in the road or parking lot. It’s important to address potholes early because of the damage they can cause to vehicles that use your road or lot.

Our Milwaukee asphalt contractors recommend patching as one of the top ways to repair this damage. Pothole patching involves a localized application of asphalt material. The pre-measured amount is poured into the hole and compacted either by machine or hand-tools. It is then left to harden, resulting in a smooth, flat surface.

Concrete Grinding

Another common winter-related surface issue is heaved concrete or frost heave. Although not everyone knows this problem by the name, most of us have seen it before. It’s when one part of a walkway, lot or driveway juts up higher than the rest. Causes of heaved concrete include the following:

– Improper drainage
– Lack of recommended maintenance
– Freeze/thaw cycles
– Improper installation of concrete

The best way to address frost heave is with concrete grinding. You will want to find a paving company who is well equipped to smooth these areas out by using a grinder. We also recommend discussing more long-term solutions if your lot, walkway or other surface is improperly drained.

Catch Basin Repair

Catch basin failure is another serious problem that can be caused by the severe conditions of winter. Catch basins are open-grated manholes that have a collector known as a croc. Usually, a pipe is cored into the side of the catch basin where the water escapes and is directed to a bigger storm water system, ditch, or retention pond.

The freeze/thaw cycle can easily cause the catch basin to crack on the inside, causing the surrounding asphalt to fail. At times it can even cause a sinkhole to form which can be very dangerous. It’s essential that this problem be addressed as soon as possible. Read our blog on the importance of catch basin repair to learn more about how Suburban Asphalt can help you resolve this problem.

Milwaukee Asphalt Contractors

With over 55 years of experience and real focus on customer satisfaction, you can rely on us whether its new construction, major rehabilitation or winter repair. Suburban Asphalt provides paving solutions that are long-lasting, aesthetically pleasing and cost effective. Contact us today to request a quote for your next commercial or residential asphalt project!

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- January
  21
  2022
- 1174
- 0
- By Ron La Porte
- In Solutions
How to Know if a Career in Asphalt is the Right Fit for You
Are you a high school graduate who is looking to jump into the trades? Or maybe you’re reading this because you’ve been in the wrong career for a while and you’re ready to make a change. Either way, we’re thrilled that you’re considering a career in asphalt.

To help you out, your friendly neighborhood asphalt specialists over at Suburban Asphalt, located in Franklin, WI, have put together this quick guide to finding out if a career in asphalt is right for you. Included in this blog are four different ways of knowing you would LOVE this career. Read on to see if this describes your version of “living the dream”!You’re a Hands-On Learner

Experts in education have been telling us for decades that there are three main types of learners: visual, auditory and kinesthetic (or “hands on”). Although most of us use a blend of 2 or all 3 of these styles, many people have a preference that’s most effective for them.

– Visual learners learn best with charts, graphs, power points, images, reading and visualizing

– Auditory learners learn best with lectures, audiobooks, spoken instructions, conversation/discussion, and by giving spoken presentations.

– Kinesthetic learners learn best through movement, touch, motion, physical activity, active participation, practicing the task themselves (versus watching a demonstration).

If the last one best describes you, paving crew jobs have your name written all over them. You will get to feel the freedom and success of learning as you go. Your days will be spent full of fresh air, physical activity and team participation in accomplishing goals. Everything you learn on the job will have a practical, real-life application.

You Don’t Want the Debt Associated with a Traditional Degree

We know there are a lot of fantastic benefits to pursuing a traditional 4-year degree at a college or university. However, there are also a lot of financial challenges that come along with that commitment. Data collected in 2021 shows that the average college debt is currently $39, 351 and is held by approximately 43 million student borrowers.

When you choose to dive into a career in asphalt, however, your finances look significantly different. For example:

– Zero student debt. Yep – you read that right. Zero.
– Even more exciting than a lack of debt – you can begin setting aside savings sooner!
– Access career benefits like healthcare, dental and retirement right away rather than waiting for your first major job out of college.
– No need to sacrifice your lifestyle-related expenses like you would in college; you have a secure, consistent income.

These are just a few of the top financial perks of choosing a trade path rather than a 4-year degree path. Each of Suburban Asphalt’s team members has personally experienced all these benefits and more. Contact us if you want to learn more – we’d be happy to share our life lessons (free of charge)!

You’re Looking for a Career with Excitement & Variety

If you’re the kind of person who gets a thrill from trying new things and enjoys travel and variety, this is another sign that you would LOVE a career in asphalt. Every day there’s a new task or a new setting. You will see new places and experience new challenges at every job site. Watch this short video to learn more about this perk firsthand from two of Suburban Asphalt’s talented asphalt specialists.

Not only will there be variety in daily tasks but there’s equal amount of versatility in roles and career building, too. As you experience different roles in each asphalt project, you will get to discover which ones are the best fit for your skills and career goals. Check out our career page to get a feel for just a few of the many opportunities you can try!

You Are Not a Sit-Behind-a-Desk Kind of Person

If you were always that kid in class who was told to sit down (and stop talking), it’s very unlikely that you’re eager to sit down (and stop talking) as an adult. We respect that! The world needs all different types of skill sets and we take pride in hiring the go-getters who find fulfillment outside the cubicle.

If are a go-getter who is considering getting into paving crew jobs, we would love to introduce you to wild world of construction labor. This is the furthest you can get from a desk job. Each day will give you a chance to flex different physical and mental muscles as you help with the following tasks:

– Preparing work sites with measurements and lining out the area
– Directing traffic
– Assisting in dumping trucks
– Operating a variety of different machines
– Transporting equipment to and from job sites
– Much, much more!

Asphalt Jobs Hiring Near Me

If two or more of these categories describes you, then a career in asphalt might just be your dream career! Suburban Asphalt would be thrilled to help you become an asphalt avenger today. Contact us to learn more about the different opportunities that we are currently hiring for at our Franklin, Wisconsin branch. We can’t wait to welcome you to the team!

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- October
  31
  2019
- 3618
- 0
- By Ron La Porte
- In Solutions
Drainage and Asphalt
Drainage is a crucial component to how a parking lot, driveway, or roadway function. Puddles are fun to play in when you’re a kid! But if you are the owner of a property that has a puddle in a driving or parking area, they can be a nuisance and liability.

How are puddles formed on pavement surfaces?
Puddles formed on a pavement surface are low spots where the water collects. In these areas the surrounding pavement is higher than the bottom of the puddle. Surface puddles can be formed during the paving process. There are a few ways this occurs. The first manner is when the stone below the paving surface isn’t smooth allowing a “dip” in the asphalt as the paver moves past it. Another way this happens is when the sub grade below the stone and asphalt is unstable causing the section below the asphalt to sink when being paved. Finally, slow draining paving surfaces can occur during the design process.

Slow draining pavement
As mentioned above, slow draining pavement surfaces can occur during the design process. Simply put, if water doesn’t have ample amount of elevation drop over a span, it will move slowly and sometimes not at all. Before a parking lot, driveway, or roadway are replaced it is important to check the existing slope of the pavement surface to determine if a new design is required.

Grades, elevations, and slopes
Making the grade isn’t just a cute saying when it comes to the design of a paving area. The stone and subgrade below asphalt are required to be shaped in a way that promotes positive drainage. This is done by recording existing elevations and determining the slope between two areas.
Taking this back to freshmen algebra; slope is determined by the following equation.

Point A – Point B= Elevation Difference x 100 = Slope
Distance
Recommended slope for an asphalt paving surface is 1.5%. In simple terms, that is 1.5’ of fall for every 100 ft. Asphalt is a flexible pavement that is susceptible to the freeze/thaw cycle more so than concrete, so the parameters for asphalt are greater. For example, concrete can function at less than 0.5%, but this certainly isn’t ideal for either application.

Correcting drainage
The method used for correcting drainage is mostly simple. The basis is finding an area where the water should flow to, usually a catch basin or drainage ditch, and then determining where the water should be flowing from. Drainage can then be corrected by either lowering the area the water flows to and/or raising the area the water is flowing from.

Construction Staking
Once a slope is determined between two points, the span between these points should be set to reflect that slope. The sub grade and stone should be smooth within this span. Smoothing out an area may require material to be added or taken out. The most common method to display the cuts or fills at each point is displaying them on wooden stakes and/or lath. Stakes are pounded into the ground with a hammer and can be placed at increments or stations along a length between two points. A permanent marker is then used to mark the stakes or lath. The markings used are a matter of preference based on the type of work that is being performed.

Tools for the job
Construction staking has come a long way since its inception that can date way back to the Egyptians who used plum bobs and other means to establish line and grade. Fast forward a few thousand years and now the tools that are available are highly technical and accurate. The most common tool that determines elevation is a laser level used with a Lenker rod. For more professional means, a robotic total station and GPS units can be used. In addition, a spirit level should be used as a double check of the final grade.

Engineering measurements and benchmarks
The easiest way to display grade elevations are in engineering notation rather than standard or even metric measurements. This breaks down measurements to whole numbers which are easier to use in calculations. In order to ensure measurements are relative to each other, a benchmark should be established. A benchmark is simply a spot, preferably permanent such as a building floor elevation, for which all other grade elevations are tied to. To simplify things, the benchmark is often set at the lowest spot where the water flows to, usually a catch basin. When 100.00 is set at this location it makes the math easier to determine slope from areas beyond.

Summary
Puddles and slow draining pavement are a nuisance and can be a liability due to these areas freezing in colder temperatures and aiding in the premature failure of the pavement. These areas can be addressed during the paving and design process. To ensure positive drainage, grade elevations should be checked, and slopes determined. Construction staking can then help establish a smooth grade.

Do you have an area in your parking lot or driveway that holds water? We can help! Check out examples of projects we’ve redesigned and let us know if we can do the same for you.Racine Apts- Survey.1

Brookfield Hills- Grading Plan

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- October
  24
  2019
- 3244
- 0
- By Ron La Porte
- In Solutions
The Importance of Catch Basin Repair
One of the most important elements that determine the performance of a parking lot is how the water is controlled. Water can be corralled in jut two ways. It can runoff the edge of the asphalt into a ditch and/or grass or the water can be directed towards a catch basin. Catch basins are open-grated manholes that have a collector known as a croc. Usually, a pipe is cored into the side of the catch basin where the water escapes and is directed to a bigger storm water system, ditch, or retention pond.

Sinkholes and Failure

A clear sign that a catch basin is failing is the emergence of a sinkhole near the storm grate. This happens when there is a crack or hole in the side of the catch basin. Water below the pavement surface finds its way through that opening. The water that rushes through that opening “washes away” the stone near the catch basin creating an area where the stone is eroded below the pavement surface. Eventually, this creates a very dangerous sinkhole! Sinkholes can be considered an emergency liability and should be repaired as soon as they can.

How to repair a damaged catch basin?

Attending to catch basins breaks down into three methods, as most objects that require repair; maintenance, repair, and replacement.

Maintenance to a catch basin involves “tuck-pointing” which is the act of spreading cement mortar in between cracks in the croc of the catch basin. This method should be considered a short-term solution and will need to be done on a consistent basis.

Repair of a catch basin includes removing the top section where the opening appears. This can include replacing concrete rings, bricks, and/or a portion of the storm sewer croc. While working to repair this area, new stone is installed surrounding the catch basin.

In the event, the croc has completely failed it should be replaced. Older catch basins are made up of bricks whereas newer catch basin crocs are a poured as one piece of concrete. This prevents the probability of weakened areas developing into holes or cracks causing the inevitable sinkhole.

What type of pavement should surround a catch basin?

There are two options: concrete or asphalt. In the event that the catch basin is in the center of an asphalt section, we recommend surrounding that catch basin with concrete. Usually it is an eight foot by eight foot section of concrete that surrounds the catch basin. The thought process is that a catch basin represents a weak point in the asphalt area. Using a rigid material such as concrete solidifies this weak area.

Summary

Catch basins are a very important fixture to a parking lot. They collect water and direct it away from the surface of the pavement surface. If repairs and/or maintenance is deferred, damaged catch basins can cause dangerous sinkholes that can cause injury or damage to vehicles. The best method to catch basin repair is to replace at least to the area that is cracked and surround the catch basin with concrete.

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- February
  3
  2019
- 1668
- 0
- By Ron La Porte
- In Solutions
It’s Just a Phase
Construction isn’t easy! In fact, it usually is a pain! No one knows this more than business owners that understand certain actions must be taken to protect their investment, improve their image, and ensure the safety of their customers; but are hampered by the inconvenience of a construction project. In order for business to operate

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- January
  30
  2019
- 1652
- 0
- By Ron La Porte
- In Solutions
The Asphalt Avenger Debut

DOWNLOAD PDF HERE

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