Wolf Paving Blog

The Dos and Don'ts of Blacktop Sealcoating

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 19:51:00 GMT

Blacktop sealcoating is easily one of the best investments a homeowner or business can make into the longevity of their asphalt. Like how lacquer sets a piece of wood, sealcoating keeps the elements out of your blacktop, giving it a much longer lifespan.

It's known that you need to get new sealcoating every few years as it wears out, but many don't know that there are simple things you can do to extend your sealcoat investment!

Here are a few simple ways you can make your blacktop sealcoating last longer:

When You Have Blacktop Sealcoating...

Don't: Drive near the edges. The sealcoating is going to be weakest on the very edges of the asphalt, which similarly isn't designed to have angled pressure put on it. Try to stay a foot away from them, and avoid parking on the edge.
Do: Regularly wash it clean. This is as simple as maintenance gets. A couple minutes with a water hose to keep the surface clear is all it takes, as debris will flow easily off. It is important to prevent these materials from building up, as they could begin to dig into the sealcoating – especially if cars are driving over hard debris like sticks.
Don't: Store pointed or narrow objects on it. An object such as a large ladder, left in one place long enough, can begin to sink into the not-quite-solid material. This compresses it, weaken it and making it more likely to crack in that area. In weather over 100F, avoid putting anything pointed directly on it, even high heels.
Do: Change where you park slightly. Over the years, parking in the exact same place every time can similarly cause the blacktop sealcoating to compress. If you have a car that stays parked for extended periods, move it a few feet every couple weeks. (Besides, cranking it up occasionally is good for the engine.)
Don't: Allow large vehicles. Asphalt and blacktop sealcoating are designed mostly around how much weight they can hold before they begin to compress and sink. Residential and small-business grade installations will be damaged quickly by lorries or industrial equipment. Similarly, anything with treads should be avoided as well, even “personal size” equipment like Bobcats. Keep them on the street.

In most cases, expertly-installed blacktop sealcoating will last for years. However, these few simple tips can ensure you go as long as possible between new coatings.

How Sealcoating Asphalt Helps Prevent Water Damage

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 15:29:00 GMT

Water is an amazing and powerful force, essential to life. But it’s also the primary agent of entropy for other materials, eroding way surfaces or getting inside them and damaging from the inside out. Given enough time, a smooth surface can become like the Grand Canyon, just from the power of water.

While the Grand Canyon might be awe-inspiring, this same force applied to a surface you need to remain smooth can be a real issue. You certainly don’t want your driveway or business parking lot to have anything in common with that craggy canyon! Fortunately, we here at Wolf know how to keep water damage at bay.

Protect Against Water Infiltration

Sealcoating can help protect the life of your asphalt. A sealcoat is basically a thin liquid layer added over a paved surface to protect it from damage caused by UV rays, rain and snow, and fluids from vehicles. Sealcoating won’t cure existing issues, like cracks, but will help prevent such damage from forming in the first place. Besides keeping out damaging elements, properly applying a sealcoat on a regular basis keeps the paved surface looking new and attractive.

Give Water Somewhere Else to Go

Effective water management requires thought about how much water might stay on a surface, how much runs off how quickly, where it naturally goes, and where it could be directed or stored. Collectively, these considerations are called storm water management.

We know that water, given enough time, can damage most surfaces. Therefore, we don’t want water to simply collect and sit on top of a paved surface. Nor do we want it rushing off into roads and drainage systems, which can become overloaded and flooded very quickly. Asphalt can be designed such that it allows water to percolate through the various layers, imitating the natural layers of earth that hold and clean water before allowing it to move into waterways. In fact, full-depth porous asphalt pavements are so effective at storm water management, they’re encouraged by the EPA as a best practice for green infrastructure.

If you want to keep your asphalt surface smooth, functional, and attractive, you need to consider how to manage water. Whether it’s with simple sealcoating applications or with porous or permeable surfaces, water damage can mitigated effectively. If you’d like to discuss how you can best prevent the Grand Canyon effect with your paved surfaces, contact us today!

Manufacturing Cold Mix Asphalt for Pothole Repair

Tue, 14 May 2013 16:54:00 GMT

At Wolf Paving, many different types of asphalt can be mixed and created for any type of paving project. Wolf Paving creates special cold mix asphalt, specifically used for pothole repair.

Cold mix asphalt is made of quarter inch chip and proprietary oil, which keeps the asphalt soft and helps to repel water. The special part about this mix is that it doesn’t have to be hot to be workable. Additives in the oil keep the mix soft all year long to allow for pothole patching in all different types of weather. It stays soft in cold temps and repels water, so when you're filling wet potholes in the springtime, it will drive water out of the pothole and adhere to the surface underneath. This mix will flex and move with a pothole, allowing it to stay in the hole keeping it patched.

It's a pretty simple process to produce this type of cold mix and can be made at almost any temperature. We use a portable pug mill, and since we're using only one size of stone, we feed the chip in at one end; it's weighed and runs up the conveyor to be mixed with the correct amount of oil. It then runs through the pug mill, which does all the mixing and it comes out as a coated cold stone mix.

Along with this type of cold mix, we make another type of cold mix, with very similar properties. It does the same thing and is a little more workable in cold weather. It does have sand in it, making it look more like a driveway or parking lot type mix. Both products work very similar, it just depends on the customers’ tastes and needs.

The cold mix is sold by the ton all year round. We can deliver it or you can bring a truck in and we'll sell just about any amount needed for your project. It can be delivered or can be picked up at either of their locations in Oconomowoc and Sun Prairie.

Contact Wolf Paving if you're interested in purchasing cold mix asphalt or to learn more about our asphalt solutions.

When Should You Sealcoat or Repave Your Asphalt Driveway

Mon, 13 May 2013 19:38:00 GMT

As a homeowner, you understand the importance of maintaining your property, including your driveway. Taking care of your driveway isn’t always the easiest thing. You have to know when to seal coat it or when to have it repaved. But when is the right time? And how do you go about maintaining and repairing a driveway?

Thankfully, Wolf Paving is here to help you. Project Manager Riley Stendel took the time to answer some important questions homeowners often ask. Here’s what Riley had to say about maintaining asphalt driveways.

How does a homeowner know if they can just sealcoat driveway verse when it is time for a new asphalt driveway?

If the driveway has areas where the pavement is rutted or severely broken, where the pavement sort of looks like the hide of an alligator – we call this “alligatoring” – this is when you need to start thinking about new asphalt. When a pavement gets to that point you really can’t crack fill it any more.
To crack fill something like that would basically turn the area into a continuous sheet of crack filling rubber. If you would do that, in warmer weather, vehicle tires can adhere to this large area of crack filler and literally pull the pavement out of the driveway.
Also, a driveway that has been sealed/oversealed over the years can cause this alligatoring effect. The key is to look very closely at the pavement. Alligatoring from oversealing has more of a look of cracked glazing on pottery and doesn’t actually crack the pavement underneath, while alligatoring of the pavement will show actual cracks down into the pavement where an object like a butter knife could be inserted. Merely sealing really can’t cure both conditions.

What do you look for to base your recommendation on?

I take a good look at the cracking on the driveway and whether or not the driveway drainage mechanics are working properly. Significant cracking of the pavement underneath allows water into the base, which in turn accelerates cracking during freeze-thaw times of the year. On the drainage mechanics, I look to see if the driveway is draining properly and not allowing drainage towards foundations, doors, or other undesirable places. If I see either of these things, I recommend a new driveway to cure the issues.
If the driveway has the alligatoring effect where just the sealcoat has that cracked glazed pottery look, a sealcoat will merely make everything nice and black again, but the effect will still be there once the sealcoat has been completed. This type of cracked-pottery alligatoring effect has no effect on the structural integrity of the driveway and is merely cosmetic in nature. If cosmetics of the drive are of significant importance to the homeowner, I recommend a new driveway.

If a homeowner tried to "do-it-yourself" sealcoat and it went horrible wrong, how can Wolf Paving help fix it?

Much off-the-shelf sealcoat types of products have been formulated to be able to withstand being on a store shelf for an extended period of time, and as such aren’t the quality of the types of sealer that Wolf Paving uses. We custom mix our sealers with the appropriate additives, and this material is kept in a suspended state by frequent mixing, which the store brands cannot. I have seen driveways where an attempt by a homeowner went badly and we were asked to see what we can do - with mixed results. As we have no control over the chemical makeup of the material the homeowner used, we can’t guarantee against a reaction between their sealer and ours, and any adhesion issues that may result.
I have also seen homeowner attempts where their sealer never fully cures and remains a little tacky, which can be an issue. I’d recommend us coming in and sealing over the top in hopes that there are no issues (most of the time there is not an issue), but there needs to be an understanding that we can’t guarantee against that reaction but will do our best.

Why would someone just sealcoat the end of their driveway?

There are quite a few municipalities that will not allow a concrete driveway to extend all the way to the road edge- thus requiring a short asphalt approach. All driveways weather and given enough time, concrete driveways can become grey, while asphalt driveways can fade to grey as well- giving the appearance of a similar type of driveway. There is no sealcoat that will bring a concrete driveway back to white, so once the homeowner sealcoats the asphalt portion, the difference in driveway types becomes very noticeable.

Any advice or quick tips for a homeowner with weathered asphalt driveway?

Definitely. Call for an estimate to a reputable established trusted contractor stating that you have a weathered driveway and would appreciate suggestions on what the best cost-effective course of action would be. So much depends on the visual inspection of the driveway by the estimator. A weathered asphalt driveway (depending on the needs and wants of the customer) could basically be left alone until budget allows for a new driveway. It could only require crack filling to protect it from the harmful effects of freeze/thaw (if cosmetics are not a high priority but function is), or the driveway could be crack filled and sealcoated to bring it as close to the appearance of a new driveway as possible- again. So much is up to the inspection by the estimator and conversation with the homeowner.
The single biggest tip is to never ever have a person/company travelling through the neighborhood offering to service your driveway work on your driveway because they “have extra material and will give you a great price”- whether it be sealcoating or actual paving or patching. Do your homework and check out the contractor ahead of time. Diluted sealcoat or substandard paving materials are the norm with these types, and if and when you have a problem the chance of receiving any support or solutions is a long shot.
Check your prospective contractor out and see how receptive they are to customer concerns down the line. Concerns and problems happen with any contractor in any line of work, the key is how they are treated once they arise. It’s time well spent.

If you have any other questions, please reach out to Wolf Paving to learn more about maintaining an asphalt driveway!

7 Reasons to Consider Asphalt for Your Driveway

Fri, 03 May 2013 15:05:00 GMT

If you’re looking into a new driveway or parking lot, you’ll need to decide whether asphalt or concrete is the better choice. Both materials are good choices and offer certain advantages. We believe that asphalt, properly installed and maintained, is the best option for most driveways and parking lots.

So why should you choose an asphalt driveway over a concrete one? You can find seven good reasons just in the name!

A – Affordable

Asphalt is usually the most cost-effective option for driveways and parking lots (by far).

S – Strength

Asphalt is very strong and durable. Of course, it must be installed properly to ensure its strength and durability (poorly installed materials will always fail, regardless of the type), so be sure the contractor you choose has a good reputation.

P – Proper Mix

It’s not just the material, it’s the mix. Wolf Paving has its own asphalt mixers and expert technicians to ensure the proper mix of oil and aggregates. Extensive testing ensures density and proper compaction properties. Properly mixed, installed, and maintained asphalt is less likely to crack than any concrete mixture when subjected to the forces of traffic or freeze-and-thaw weather cycles.

H – Hands-on Project Management

Wolf’s knowledgeable project managers will help you understand the job from start to finish and work closely with you throughout it. We think it’s important to keep our customers informed!

A – Asphalt Options

Your particular project has its own particular needs. There are many asphalt solutions that should be considered. For example, is it best for you to have porous, permeable, or pervious pavement?

L – Longevity

The longevity of asphalt is well known. There’s a reason it’s the preferred choice for most municipalities – they know the material is virtually permanent. It’s the go-to material for roads that will see heavy traffic, and it will serve you just as well for your driveway or parking lot.

T – Treatment

Asphalt is easy to maintain, requiring only regular sealcoating and crack treatment to ensure it stays just as strong and good-looking as when you first installed it. If it does need further repair, it looks better than repaired concrete.

We know asphalt, and we think it’s the best option for most paving situations. Considering an asphalt driveway or parking lot? Contact us today to discuss how our asphalt solutions can best meet your needs.

The Importance of a Well Maintained Asphalt Parking Lot

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 18:33:00 GMT

The first impression your business makes matters, and many customers’ first impression will come from your parking lot. Is it in disrepair, with have cracks and potholes? Does it look dull? Are there low areas collecting scummy water? If your parking lot needs attention, your customers’ confidence in your business could be negatively affected.

Luckily, asphalt parking lots can be kept both functional and beautiful with good planning from the start and simple maintenance.

Planning Asphalt Parking Lots

Before you pave or re-pave, you need to understand what surface type offers the best solution for your area. What kind of soil do you have? Some soils need to be stabilized and most need to be compacted before paving. How do you manage stormwater run-off? The right porous asphalt mixture, one of the most popular choices for parking lots, allows water to trickle into the surface so it doesn’t build up, puddle, or run off too quickly (which can cause flooding and severely stress drainage systems). Are there any landscaping features or obstacles that need to be considered? Do you need curbs to prevent the edges of the asphalt from being damaged? An experienced contractor will resolve all of these factors for your particular site before beginning the job.

Maintenance for Asphalt Parking Lots

A good paving job deserves a good maintenance plan to keep it strong and beautiful. Six months after the paving job, it’s a good idea to sealcoat the surface. This gives the asphalt time to settle and harden first, and then protects it from auto fluids and UV rays. Sealcoating should be done every two to three years to maintain the protection and keep the surface looking dark and new. Good maintenance also means filling in cracks and potholes before they can spread.

Wolf Paving will customize the right asphalt solution to meet your particular project needs. The right porosity and surface grading will ensure no standing water or excess runoff. Commercial paving and sealcoating is done around business hours to minimize any disruptions. Our knowledgeable project managers are on site during the job, ensuring the best quality paving job and keeping you informed throughout the process. We’ll also help you create an appropriate maintenance schedule to keep your asphalt looking like new, and thus keep your customers' impressions positive.

How Soil Stabilization or Rebasing Helps Your Parking Lot or Driveway

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:21:00 GMT

Here at Wolf Paving, we care about ensuring our work is the very best it can be and that it lasts as long as possible. To achieve the best results, we carefully consider every aspect of a paving project, literally from the ground up. What kind of soils exist at the site? If paving has been done before, what materials were used and are they re-usable in the current project? We ask these questions because we know an excellent base is required for an excellent result. A weak base could result in the pavement above it shifting, cracking, or even sinking.

When we’ve analyzed the soils and any existing base at the site, we consider whether soil or base stabilization is needed. If the soils or base are not strong enough for the paving surface to last in good condition for a long time, then stabilization needs to be undertaken.

What is soil stabilization?

Soil stabilization is one part of base stabilization. It’s the permanent alteration of the underlying soil’s chemical and physical properties to enhance its strength. Usually this means that additives like lime and concrete are mixed into the soil to harden it. This needs to be done if the soil will not be strong enough on its own to maintain the layers above it properly.

What is base stabilization?

Base stabilization is very similar to soil stabilization: existing base material is modified to improve its strength and durability so that asphalt can be paved properly over it. This process also reduces the plasticity and lowers the water content of the base.

Base stabilization usually starts with pulverizing whatever existing materials are on the site. Then the appropriate additives, like cement powder, are spread on the surface. The pulverizing machine is used again to mix the additives in with the base materials to a set depth. The concrete or other additives then go to work, hardening the other materials. Once the appropriate moisture and hardness are achieved, the material is compacted to reduce spacing and air between the materials. This usually requires several passes with a roller. Finally, a grader is used to ensure a smooth surface on which the asphalt paving will be laid.

The result is a level, attractive, strong, and long-lasting paved surface.

Check out this video of a base stabilization project completed by Wolf Paving.

Want your paving project done the right way from the ground up? Contact Wolf Paving for a quote today!

Asphalt Pulverizing - An Asphalt Recycling Process

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 14:42:00 GMT

How do you keep roads and parking lots in good condition cost-effectively? We’ve already talked about many of our routine maintenance suggestions, such as filling in cracks and sealcoating, but sometimes a surface is too damaged for these small actions – in these cases, it would take more money and time to repair than it would to perform a full rehabilitation. But asphalt pulverizing offers a very economical way to fully rehabilitate a road or lot with minimal traffic disruption. It’s also a great way to save on paving materials.

What is pulverization?

Pulverizing is a process that grinds up existing surface layers right in place, blending the asphalt layers with any sub-layers, essentially creating a new paving mix using all the old materials. No pavement is hauled away, saving costs on excavating and trucking, and rarely does new material have to be brought in (though sometimes additives or a new overlay are suggested). Asphalt pulverizing solves most common problems, such as severe cracking and sharp edges created by continuous traffic (called “polishing”).

What are the benefits?

Pulverizing existing layers has many benefits over excavating and re-paving.

It saves money: old base layers don’t have to be excavated (they’re mixed in during the process) and new material doesn’t have to be hauled in.
It’s fast: the reconstruction process goes much more quickly when everything is done right in place.
It’s environmentally friendly: since new base materials do not have to be imported to the site and all existing material is recycled into that location, with excess recycled for other uses, it’s one of the most environmentally friendly options available.

But will it last?

Absolutely. When paving is completed, the newly pulverized/compacted base and pavement should outlast the original parking areas original lifespan. Asphalt pulverizing makes an extremely durable and long-lasting surface. The intermixing of all the existing materials, including base layers, increases structural strength. In fact, maintenance needs are frequently reduced for pulverized surfaces!

Need help rehabilitating your paving surfaces or considering asphalt pulverizing? Contact Wolf Paving to discuss the best solutions for your situation.

5 Benefits of Using Perpetual Pavement

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:03:00 GMT

Perpetual pavement is a flexible but strong asphalt pavement that doesn't exhibit structural damage even when very high traffic flows over long periods of time. They’re made up of multiple layers of durable asphalt. The bottom layer is designed to be strong but flexible to resist strains that could cause cracks to form from the bottom up. A similar intermediate layer adds additional structural protection, and the final layer, made of rut-resistant hot-mix asphalt (HMA), requires only minimal maintenance.

These surfaces have been around a long time. Some of the oldest perpetual pavements have been around since before the 1960s. The surfaces created then that were well designed and executed have provided very long usefulness without much maintenance even with heavy traffic. These days, advancements in milling, recycling, and asphalt production technologies make it even more likely that perpetual pavements will perform better and longer.

It might seem obvious that pavement that lasts a very long time without requiring major construction fixes (called perpetual pavement) is a good thing. But what are the specific advantages?

Saves Time

If maintenance does need to be performed on a perpetual pavement, only the top layer needs to be addressed, saving time. Commuters are less inconvenienced when maintenance is quick and easy.

Saves Money

Perpetual pavement saves money because it doesn’t require a full reconstruction as often as other surface types. Re-doing a pavement down to the surface requires a lot more time and effort for planning and execution. But perpetual pavements usually only need the top surface patched or re-done.

Improves Visual Contrast

Asphalt (the key component of perpetual pavement) is proven to be a safer driving surface. It allows for better visual contrast with road lines and other markings.

Decreases Skidding

Asphalt pavements are also proven to provide greater skid resistance than other surface types, helping keep people safer.

Uses Recyclable Material

Since asphalt is one of the most highly recyclable materials, and perpetual pavements are made of asphalt, perpetual pavements are also highly recyclable. (Of course, since they last so long, they won’t need recycling for a long, long time, which is even better for the environment!)

As you can see, there are several advantages of perpetual pavement. If you need a paving solution you can count on to last, contact Wolf Paving today to discuss our perpetual pavement options.

The Process Behind Asphalt Milling

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 13:55:00 GMT

One interesting part of the asphalt process that you might not be aware of happens before any asphalt is laid. It’s called asphalt milling.

What is asphalt milling?

If new asphalt were simply added on top of old asphalt every time a new surface were needed, the height of the road would increase enough to decrease the effectiveness of curbs and drainage ways. Essentially, asphalt milling is the process by which existing asphalt is removed to a specified and even depth to allow new asphalt to be laid down without increasing the height of the road.

How is asphalt milling done?

Asphalt milling is done using a milling machine. The first production milling machines were called Galions because Galion Iron Works manufactured them. They now come in various sizes to handle small or big jobs. Some of the larger machines, depending on the depth of the cut, can cut close to 15,000 square yards (13,000 square meters) a day, at 75 feet per minute.

The three basic components of a milling machine are:

Cutting drum
Vacuum
Conveyance system

The cutting drum rotates cutting heads across the surface, chewing up the existing asphalt to the depth of the cutting heads. The vacuum sucks up the milled material and deposits it where the conveyance system can then move it to a dump truck. The dump truck and the milling machine move together so the material is collected as it is removed from the surface, saving a lot of the time and effort that would be needed to collected later. The milled asphalt is recycled and reused in future paving projects.

Once the milling machine has removed the asphalt to the desired width and depth, the surface is swept and cleaned. This removes dust and debris that might cause problems with the new asphalt bonding to the surface. Once clean, the bond between the old and new asphalt should be very good, particularly as the old asphalt has a rough surface from the milling that will bond to the new better.

Proper milling allows new layers of asphalt to be laid evenly and at the same depth as the old surface, ensuring other structures like curbs and drainage ditches are not negatively affected. It also allows for the easy collection of old asphalt to be recycled for new applications.

Need help with an asphalt surface? Contact the professionals at Wolf Paving for a quote today!

Image Source: NCDOTcommunications

The Differences of Pervious, Permeable, and Porous Asphalt

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:04:00 GMT

Have you ever felt like the terminology of a subject strands you in an unknown land? Take asphalt -- if you’re just learning about it, terminology can be a barrier. Those in the industry don’t think twice about terms like “hot-mix” or “sealcoating,” but for the layman, these can be confusing.

Pervious and Permeable and Porous, Oh My!

Some terms that often get mixed up are pervious, permeable, and porous. These sound similar, like they all mean the same thing. In fact, if you look up “pervious,” “permeable” is part of the definition! Both mean a substance that allows liquids or gases to pass through (as opposed to being a solid barrier). These terms are also used synonymously in asphalt. Pervious or permeable pavements have connected spaces that allow water to percolate through the surface.

“Porous” has a similar, but slightly different, meaning. Holes or spaces in the surface allow water in, but these are not necessarily connected. While fluids could get in, they have nowhere to go from there and can't easily percolate down to the water table. This distinction, however, is not generally recognized in the industry.

But What Does it Really Mean?

So now you can define the terms, but what do they really mean? If you’re seeing these, you might be looking at stormwater management for your property. Impervious pavement forces water to run off into drainage systems and waterways too quickly. That can cause flooding, and the water can carry a lot of debris and pollutants into those systems. Using an impervious surface could mean you have to take other measures to manage stormwater runoff from your property, such as installing a detention basin. Using a permeable pavement can help reduce your environmental impact and meet regulations for stormwater management.

How Do I Apply This?

When it comes to asphalt, whether you hear “pervious,” “permeable,” or “porous,” chances are that the same thing is meant – a surface designed to allow water to infiltrate instead of running off. However, you might need to clarify with your contractor to be certain they’re using the terms interchangeably. If not, check the stormwater management efficacy of the different types they’re using. Also, check pricing, as prices may vary on the different types of asphalt they offer and your specific job specifications.

If you’re ready to talk permeable pavement (or any asphalt), we’re here to help! Contact us today!

Also, download our free brochure that further explains what permeable pavement is.

The Asphalt Manufacturing Process

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 20:22:00 GMT

Ever wonder how asphalt is made? Watch our latest video of the asphalt manufacturing process, taken at our Sun Prairie Asphalt Manufacturing Plant.

If you're interested in learning more about asphalt manufacturing, distribution, recycling asphalt, or asphalt paving, please contact us for more information.

Raising the Roof on Recycling with Recycled Asphalt Shingles (RAS)

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 13:00:00 GMT

You may already be aware that the asphalt being laid down for new roads and patching older roads is largely made up of recycled material. In fact, asphalt is one of America’s most recycled materials. You may also be aware that, in some cases, the recycled material comes from roofing shingles as well as roads.

Using RAS in Asphalt Mixtures

The use of recycled asphalt shingles, or RAS, has been fairly limited in the past, though, mostly because roofing materials contain a lot of extra material besides the asphalt itself. For example, roofing shingles may have nails, plastic, fiberboard, paper, cellophane, and wood. This makes the recycling process much more challenging.

Additionally, local and state governments have been waiting on additional studies to be done regarding whether asphalt-using RAS is as reliable as asphalt that does not use it. These studies are increasingly showing that asphalt that uses RAS is as reliable and durable as more standard asphalt mixes, provided they are properly mixed. Therefore, the use of RAS mixtures is on the rise.

Benefits of Using RAS Mixtures

There are many benefits to using proven RAS mixtures. Studies show:

Improved asphalt stiffness
Decreased likelihood for cracking
Decreased susceptibility to rutting
Decreased need for “virgin” asphalt

That last one’s a doozy! Asphalt holds up very well with current recycling techniques, which helps decrease environmental impacts dramatically. This is why Wolf Paving is proud to use as much recycled material, including asphalt shingles, as we can. So if you need asphalt, we’ve got it, and you can feel good about it. Contact us today!

Patching Potholes with Cold Mix Asphalt

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 17:20:00 GMT

The snow falls, gets plowed, and then melts – and the cycle repeats. Because of all the freezing, plowing, and melting, roads gets damaged. As many of you may have noticed, many potholes have been appearing on the roads. Potholes form due to the wear and tear from weather and the amount of traffic on the pavement. Most potholes appear in late winter and the early spring due to the extra amounts of water from the freezing and melting cycle, which weakens the pavement and leads to cracks and potholes.

Thankfully, these potholes can be fixed, even during the winter, by using cold mix asphalt. Cold mix asphalt is produced by mixing bitumen emulsion or cutback with cold aggregates, sometimes also with addition of anti-stripping agents. Cold mix asphalt has been used in the past as temporary patching material, or if hot mix asphalt is not available. The benefit cold mix asphalt has over hot mix is that it can be used at low temperatures. It can also be put in stockpiles for six months or so after production.

That is the definition of cold mix asphalt. Basically, it is a product we produce and stockpile to sell (mainly to government agencies) for maintaining streets and filling potholes in the winter months when hot mix is not available. It does remain more flexible than hot mix because of the extended cure time. The mix of aggregates is very similar to that of hot mix, it just has additives that keep it workable in cold conditions. There are also number of researches for improving the quality of cold mix, allowing it to be used as a permanent fix for our roads and parking lots.

As winter starts coming to an end, beware of potholes in the roads, as they can cause serious damage to your vehicle if they’re not avoided. Potholes can be and are being fixed. Are there potholes in your driveway or parking lot? Is your asphalt in need of spring maintenance or sealcoating? If so, contact the paving experts at Wolf Paving for residential and commercial asphalt paving, repair, or maintenance.

Pervious Pavement - A Small Choice that can make a Big Difference!

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 15:47:00 GMT

With each year, smart business owners look for ways to maximize their return on their investment. One thing to consider is getting a “green” reputation (and getting ahead of environmental regulations). And one way to decrease a negative environmental impact is to use pervious pavements for your parking lots and thoroughfares.

What are pervious pavements?

It can be somewhat difficult outside the industry to understand the differences between pervious, porous, and permeable pavement and asphalts. The terms are often used interchangeably. This is because the ultimate goals achieved are similar – water, instead of simply running off, can percolate through. Allowing it to do so helps decrease flooding, better manage storm water because less of it has to rush into gutters and sewers, helps keep water tables filled, and even helps the environment by removing toxic substances via the percolation process. While they all accomplish the same goals, there are some differences between them.

Pervious pavement is generally considered the umbrella term for all the types of paving that accomplish these goals. Within that, you have porous or permeable pavements, such as porous asphalt pavement, which allow the water to percolate through the entire surface area. You also have permeable pavers, which are really impermeable except that they allow water to percolate through wherever they’re joined to one another. So, in this case, the paving stone itself is not porous, but using paving stones still allows water to percolate through a lot more than non-pervious pavements because of how many paving stones are used and thus how many joins there are throughout the surface. Paving stones are often more decorative and more expensive. However, regardless of which type of pervious pavement is used, the benefits to the environment are similar.

What are some of the benefits of using pervious pavements?

As you can see, there are many benefits to using pervious pavements. To recap, by using pervious pavers:

You’re less likely to have to deal with flooding and overflow from gutters and sewers
You’ll improve your reputation as a green company
You’ll stay ahead of regulatory trends that might eventually force you to make similar changes
Most importantly, your business will decrease its environmental impact, positively affecting stormwater runoff, water tables, and the toxicity of runoff

Porous asphalt pavement is one small choice you can make to help your business achieve large benefits. Contact us for a quote today!

Permeable Pavement to be used in Milwaukee County Roads

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 17:36:00 GMT

The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) is continuing its work on keeping Milwaukee “green.” In July 2012, an article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel revealed that MMSD began required rooftop plants and the installation of other “green infrastructures” to help collect and absorb storm water. MMSD announced in a recent article that permeable pavement will be used along portions of three Milwaukee county roads.

One goal of this work is to improve the water quality in nearby wetlands and along rivers. “Reducing the volume of soil and sand eroding from the shoulder and capturing storm water laden with pollutants washed off the pavement will improve water quality.”

The permeable pavement blocks will collect rain and melting snow so it goes into the ground instead of along roads and rivers, preventing washing and the spreading of pollutants.

Wolf Paving stands by their priority of keeping asphalt “green.” We use permeable, or porous, asphalt, which can be used as a storm water management system. The small pores in this type of asphalt allow water to percolate through the asphalt and into the ground below. This infiltration system helps to control water run off and washouts.

We can help incorporate porous asphalt into your green infrastructure or expansion plans. Find out ‘How Porous Asphalt Pavement Helped Expand a Business’ in New Berlin, Wisconsin.

Snow Melting? Spring into Action for Sealcoating and Paving!

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 19:16:00 GMT

The weather has been unseasonably warm here in the Milwaukee and Madison areas. With the sun shining and the snow melting, you might have noticed that your asphalt pavement has suffered some damage. It’s nice to have a cessation of winter storms long enough to find out the state of your asphalt so you can plan for any springtime repairs or maintenance in advance. Spring is closer than it seems!

You can greatly improve the “curb appeal” of your home or business with some simple asphalt protection and maintenance. Do you need to repave or sealcoat? A properly installed, quality sealcoat can make the asphalt look like new, plus it will protect the asphalt from damage from fuel or oil, weather and UV rays, and traffic. Without the appropriate sealcoating being applied regularly, it’s much easier for asphalt to crack and potholes to form.

If you’re noticing potholes in your driveway or parking lot already, you may need to patch them or repave. Potholes get worse over time, so if you're seeing a lot of them, paving may be the appropriate solution.

Remember, Spring is closer than you think – there are only 77 days until the Brewers’ home opener! If you’re seeing that your driveway needs attention, now is the time to contact usfor your Springtime sealcoating or paving project. You’ll have the peace of mind knowing your work is scheduled and will be done right.

Protect your Property through the Plowing Season

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 14:52:00 GMT

We talk a lot about the benefits of winter snow plowing and snow removal service. However, sometimes plowing and snow removal can be hard on a property. For example, landscaping features can take a real beating, and existing potholes might increase in size from the heavy plowing trucks. Here are some winter preparation tips to help you make it through the snow removal season without damage.

Protect Landscaping

Landscaping damage can occur in two ways.

The first concern for landscaping comes from plows and shovels. Before the snow covers your landscaping features, take the time to mark them. Use brightly colored flags to show the boundary for plows and shovels along driveways, walkways, medians, and curbs. Cut back plants that overhang driveways – these can cause damage to vehicles or be damaged by them.

The second threat to landscaping comes from de-icing agents, particularly sodium chloride, which can be very toxic to both plants and the surrounding soil. Strategies to protect your plants include:

Using salt-tolerant plants along boundary areas where de-icing agents are likely to be needed.
Directing drainage away from plants and/or using raised beds for landscaping along boundary areas so de-icers will not run off into the soil.
Covering plants with burlap, plastic, or snow fencing in areas where salt spray (from passing traffic) is likely.
Mixing sodium chloride with other less toxic agents such as sand.
Applying de-icers early after shoveling or plowing so the ice does not have time to fully form and bond with the surface beneath it.

Store Materials Properly

If you’re storing your own materials, be sure to store them in such a way that there is no run-off. Besides killing plants, de-icing agents can be harmful to groundwater and stain or otherwise damage asphalt. Some professional snow removal companies, like Wolf Paving, have EPA-approved bulk storage containers to overcome this concern.

Coordinate with Your Plowing Company

One way to ensure your winter preparation is complete is to consider using a professional plowing service. They can work with you to ensure sensitive areas are guarded, snow is removed quickly and efficiently, and de-icers are handled with care. They can also guide you on the best ways to protect your property. Additionally, they'll work with you proactively to schedule asphalt maintenance, like applying a sealcoat before winter or filling in cracks and potholes.

To get started, contact us today!

What You Get From Hiring Professional Snow Plow Services

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 19:42:00 GMT

Have you ever considered hiring a professional snow removal and snow plowing company? We think it’s a good idea for everyone involved. Here are a few of the reasons why.

Reason #1: Peace of Mind

Dealing with snow and ice can be risky. Potential injuries can come from slips or falls and exertion. If you hire a professional snow removal company, you’re moving much of the liability risk to them. They should be insured for general liability, auto liability, and worker’s compensation. If anything should happen to vehicles or workers during professional snow removal, you’ll have the peace of mind that coverage is in place.

Reason #2: Convenience

A snow removal company can help keep your business open even during heavy snowfalls and blizzards that force your competitors to shut their doors. If you have a pre-arranged contract in place, you don’t even have to think about it when it does snow. You don’t have to change your business routine in any way.

Besides all this, professional snow removal companies like Wolf Paving offer around-the-clock support. If you find yourself in need of snow removal at 3 a.m., isn’t it nice to know you’ll have that support in place?

Reason #3: Quality Workmanship

Snow removal, as we’ve said, can be risky. It’s a real skill to be able to remove snow and ice safely and quickly. Professional snow plowing and removal companies have the experience, manpower, and best tools available to handle the job. Therefore, they can get the job done faster and better with less risk to you and your business.

Don’t spend another winter fighting the snow and ice! Give yourself and your workers the peace of mind, convenience, and quality assurance professional snow removal offers. Start by getting a free quote today.

Paving, Plowing, and Plenty More!

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 19:46:00 GMT

Wolf Paving. What we do is in our name. But we offer a wide variety of services that you may not be aware of.

When it comes to asphalt paving, we can handle any type of project, large or small. We love to bring our expertise to large jobs like highways and roads, but we also enjoy the challenges of meeting the unique needs for smaller jobs, too. For example, walking paths and golf cart paths may meander through various terrains and need to be both pleasant and functional. Tennis courts are another example – these may sound like simple jobs, but often they bring greater challenges than expected. We, at Wolf Paving, pride ourselves on not just completing the job, but doing so with excellence all around. We control the process from start to finish, including manufacturing our own asphalt. Then we can be sure of the results we want!

Sometimes our paving customers are surprised to learn that we also provide winter services like plowing, snow removal, and de-icing. In winter, businesses need to pay special attention to keeping their lots clear and safe. Wolf Paving offers 24-hour service to keep municipalities, commercial lots, retail facilities, and large commercial sites going even in the worst conditions. We use the same trucks and equipment we use for plowing, and we never subcontract the job out. It all comes back to being able to control all factors so we can be certain we’re delivering the excellence you expect and deserve!

Need paving services? Wolf Paving can help with all of the following:

Driveways
Parking lots
Highways
Tennis courts
Golf cart paths
Walking paths
Municipal roads

Need winter services?

Plowing
Snow Removal
De-icing
Salts and salt mixtures

Contact Wolf Paving today for more information on any of our services!

Integrating Landscaping with Residential Asphalt Design and Paving [Case Study]

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 16:37:00 GMT

Dirk Debbink and his wife take pride in how their home looks. This is evident by the asphalt paving and landscaping project that was recently completed. The house was bought in December of 2010, and went through a really extensive remodeling of the house. The last part of this project was the landscaping and driveway.

“We wanted to have the driveway actually be part of the entire architectural work we were going to do to get everything how we wanted it to look. It wasn’t just going to be a regular driveway,” says Dirk Debbink of the project. “It was going to be a special driveway.”

The Debbink’s were looking for a job that not only looked good but would also last. This led them to contact Wolf Paving, where they worked with Jim May, who put together a proposal for the project. The project was more than just asphalt paving. There were also unilock pavers that the landscape artists came up. Jim was asked to put together a complete proposal, which included both the landscaping and paving projects. So, he teamed up with the landscaper and coordinated the projects, having a single source responsibility. “That was really important to me. They worked really well together,” Dirk said of the coordination.

And so, the project began. “It was fun watching Wolf Paving execute the project. There was a lot of coordination that went into it.”

The old driveway was removed and the base was graded and leveled, preparing it for the arrival of the landscaping, and then in came the paving crew from Wolf Paving. “I was impressed with what it takes to pave a project like this. I think it was a dozen or more trucks, which also had to do with the load limit on the bridge.”

The Debbink’s have known of Wolf Paving for many years. “Wolf Paving is the company to go to. They do a great job. Their plants are out here. They have a great reputation and have been around for many years. I'd absolutely refer them, and I do refer them. We're very happy with the way [the project] came out.”

“The coordination between the sales teams, Jim May, and the sub groups, Geno, and the pavers and Conrad, it was fun to watch them all together. And the glue that held them all together was Jim May. Great job.”

What Everybody Ought to Know About the Asphalt Industry

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 15:58:00 GMT

Unless you’re involved with the asphalt industry in some way, you might not know much about it. Great strides have been made over the years as those in the industry have worked to improve the products and processes.

Take, for example, asphalt repaving. Asphalt is incredibly low-maintenance when you consider its usability versus maintenance needs over time. Many asphalt pavements are considered “permanent” because of their longevity. Some of those on record have lasted 50 years with proper asphalt pavement protection!

It is true, though, that the top surfaces of asphalt pavements, particularly in high-traffic locations like intersections, have to be maintained or re-done on a regular basis. However, re-doing the top surfaces takes much less time than an entire repaving project would take.

Asphalt manufacturers and city planners want to do everything possible to ensure that repaving needs are met with a minimum of inconvenience for commuters. Therefore, the company performing the repaving will often try to accomplish it in a minimum number of days or will work during the night. New paving techniques and technologies allow the process to go much more quickly than in the earlier days of road construction. Today, commuters often wake up to smooth, newly paved roads with no interruption at all.

This convenience is remarkable when you consider all that needs to be done for repaving. The typical process involves using a milling machine to remove the surface material from an existing roadway and loading that material into a truck to be brought to a recycling location. Then a brooming machine cleans the surface, followed by a distributor truck putting down a tack coat (helping “glue” the new surface to the old). The truck carrying the new paving material backs up and dumps this material into a hopper or material transfer device. The paver lays a smooth mat, which then has to be compacted to make it more dense. This is accomplished by a series of compactor vehicles.

Thanks to the long-lasting nature of asphalt and the new technologies and processes being used by asphalt paving companies, disruptions to commuters are minimal. Those in the asphalt industry continue improving the techniques and technologies so repaving goes ever more quickly.

Are you interested in learning more about the asphalt industry or asphalt pavement? Contact the experts at Wolf Paving to have all your questions answered!

How Asphalt Pavement Helps You in Winter

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 15:07:00 GMT

Oh, the joys of winter. The ice, the snow! The de-icing, the plowing! And (worse yet) the after-effects of cracks and potholes!

Winter is nearly here, and you can count on it being hard… at least on pavements. The freezing and thawing, the de-icers and chemicals, and the plowing and weight of plow trucks add up to the perfect storm for damaging pavements.

However, some pavements hold up better than others through all this. If you want your parking lot or driveway to last through many winters, consider using hot-mix asphalt.

What is hot-mix asphalt?

Hot-mix asphalt pavement is an aggregate of stones, sand, and petroleum, which is engineered, heated, and mixed in exact proportions to match the needs of the area being paved. It is poured very soon after mixing and while still hot, but cools very quickly after pouring (so it can be used nearly right away).

What are the benefits of hot-mix asphalt?

Hot-mix asphalt has many benefits:

Strong and durable
Engineered specifically to withstand freezing and thawing cycles
Unaffected by salting and de-icing agents
Designed to flex and give with pressure and ground settling instead of breaking or cracking
Most cost-effective
Requires minimal maintenance

Winter can be tough, especially on pavements. But some pavements, like those made with hot-mix asphalt, hold up much better than others. Don’t let the “joys” of winter interfere with the joys of having a functional and attractive driveway or parking lot. Choose your pavement material carefully, and winter will lose much of its sting!

Are you in need of snow removal and plowing for the winter? Wolf Paving can help! Contact the experts for more information.

How to Use Asphalt Pavement to Lower Carbon Footprints

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 17:33:00 GMT

There are many ways to measure the eco-friendliness of various materials and processes. For example, the amount of recycled and reused material employed might be one gauge. Another commonly considered factor is the amount of greenhouse gas emissions caused by the material or processes.

We’ve seen several ways that asphalt pavement is “green,” but we haven’t talked about asphalt’s greenhouse gas emissions. To evaluate the greenhouse impacts of asphalt, we need to understand how these emissions are calculated. Several gases are measured, such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, and hydrofluorocarbon. A paper presented at the 2009 International Conference on Perpetual Pavements shows how asphalt stacks up particularly well. Using methods pioneered by VicRoads, a state authority in Australia, the researchers analyzed the carbon footprint – that is, the amount of carbon released into the air –for asphalt and concrete pavements in typical applications.

The study revealed that the greenhouse emissions from asphalt are only 22-25% the amount caused by a typical concrete pavement (using only virgin materials, not recycled ones, which would improve the number further). A longer-term look (50-year maintenance cycle) reveals a similar trend, with asphalt causing only 30% of the negative emissions concrete causes. This is because the processes used to create concrete involve heating the aggregate and clay to around 1,450°C, causing the production of a great deal of carbon dioxide, which is released into the atmosphere.

As you can see, the use of asphalt pavement over concrete is very helpful in the effort to fight greenhouse gases and protect the environment. When pavement options are considered, protecting the environment is just one more great reason to choose asphalt.

For more information about "green" asphalt and its many benefits, contact the experts at Wolf Paving.

Source: http://asphaltroads.org/images/documents/carbon_footprint_web.pdf
Image Source: http://www.ecosyste.ms/

The Long and Winding Road to Residential Paving Success [CASE STUDY]

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 13:59:00 GMT

Driveways are not always short and straight, especially in rural areas. Jeff Schmoeger’s driveway is approximately 800 feet long with a hilly slope, but this didn’t stop Wolf Paving from completing the residential paving project.

Moll Construction Inc. referred Wolf Paving to Schmoeger, after the construction company did the excavating to carve a pathway through the woods where the driveway was to be paved.

When Schmoeger made the call to Wolf Paving and was directed to project manager Darren Bosshard, who personally came out to see the property. A couple days later, an estimate was given to Schmoeger. The entire paving project took proximately 3.5 hours, with 8 hours of prep time.

“Darren was prompt and came back to me, he was courteous and professional. Everything he said would happen did happen, and it happened when he told me it would,” said Schmoeger of the project.

He went on to say, “I am very happy with the quality of the workmanship. The experience was great, and I would use them again.”

For more information or to request a quote on residential sealcoating for driveways and commercial sealcoating for parking lots, contact the experts at Wolf Paving.