Even if the asphalt contractor displayed extraordinary skill when installing your asphalt pavement, the time will come when it is showing obvious signs of fatigue. It may be riddled with cracks or been patched more times than you can count. You may be considering having the pavement rebuilt, but there may be a more cost-effective solution.
What Is Asphalt Resurfacing?
During the resurfacing process, paving companies will essentially install an asphalt overlay on top of your old pavement. This overlay can give your pavement many additional years of life and allow you to postpone having your pavement reconstructed. The overlay will be virtually indistinguishable from a new pavement in terms of functionality and appearance. However, the existing pavement’s foundation must be in reasonably good shape for resurfacing to be a viable option.
Why Edge Milling Is Important
Asphalt milling involves the use of a machine that can be calibrated very precisely to remove a specific depth of pavement. As it is an environmentally friendly process, milling machines are seeing increased use for removing asphalt pavement all the way down to the base or subbase. They are also being used to cut rumble strips in existing pavements on high-speed thoroughfares as well as city streets to warn drivers that they are approaching a school zone, stop sign or lane closure. Milling can also repair asphalt surfaces that have experienced rutting, bleeding, shoving, or traveling as well as surfaces damaged by accidents or fires.
Edge milling is a special type of milling that is commonly used when an overlay is installed. If you can imagine what adding as much as two inches of paving asphalt to your existing pavement would do, you can easily see the need for milling.
• The height difference between your pavement and any pavement connecting to it will be increased by the depth of the overlay. This can make those transitions quite rough for vehicles and a hazard for pedestrians and cyclists. Edge milling can restore a smooth transition.
• If you have ever driven over a manhole cover that was recessed several inches into the pavement, you have experienced another example of what happens without edge milling. With edge milling, manhole covers and the grates covering catch basins can be kept at the appropriate height.
• Curb ramps can be rendered unusable for those with mobility challenges. Federal guidelines state that accessible curb ramps must have a smooth transition without any change in level or lip. Edge milling ensures that the transition complies with the guidelines.
• Gutters and curbs can be affected, impacting the pavement’s ability to keep runoff confined and channeled away. Edge milling ensures that drainage will not be negatively impacted.
• If grates or manhole covers are too far below the surface of the pavement, water can collect around them. Over time, the water will find its way under the edges of the pavement surrounding these fixtures. The water can damage the foundation as well as accelerate the degradation of the pavement.
Alpha Paving is an asphalt paving company in Austin, TX. We understand the importance of edge milling when resurfacing a pavement. We are an industry leader with an outstanding reputation for superior results and exemplary customer service. We offer a complete line of asphalt and paving-related services, including asphalt milling, resurfacing, asphalt paving, street maintenance, seal coating, road construction, parking lot markings and striping, asphalt repairs, speed bumps, parking lot signs and asphalt maintenance. We also offer concrete services. Reach out to us today at 512-677-9001 or submit the online form if you would like to request a free estimate.
