Steps Involved in Asphalt Paving

If you have an asphalt paving project scheduled, there’s one thing you can be sure of: it’s a big deal! Even small paving jobs, if done correctly, require several steps to complete. That’s why it’s helpful to know what to expect from your contractor before the work begins. While the exact sequence and steps may vary slightly depending on factors like the site, the weather conditions, the size of the project, etc., what follows are the typical steps involved in asphalt paving:

• Removal of old pavement — If your asphalt project involves replacing existing pavement, then the first step in the process will be demolition and removal of the old surface. As you can imagine, this type of demolition is a lot of work, which is why it’s typically done with heavy machinery that loads the old pavement into dump trucks for removal from the site. If you’re replacing old asphalt, don’t be surprised if your paving contractor goes to some lengths to recycle the old material. In fact, one of the benefits of choosing asphalt as a paving material is the fact that it is recyclable and environmentally friendly.
• Sloping and grading – After the old pavement is removed and the site is cleared of debris, the next step is to grade the location and provide adequate sloping for water drainage. This is essential in order to ensure that your new paved surface won’t collect water, which can lead to pavement damage.
• Preparing the sub-base – The sub-base is what will provide a stable surface for your new asphalt pavement. Your contractor will lay down the sub-base and compact it as the next step in the process.
• Applying the binder layer – The binder layer of the asphalt consists of large aggregate mixed with oil. This provides both strength and durability to the new pavement.
• Installing asphalt – Once all of the above steps are completed, your contractor will apply fresh asphalt on top of the binder layer. You can expect this new pavement – which consists of small aggregate, oil and sand – to be pristine, smooth and black in color.
• Transitions and butt joints – If your new pavement adjoins any other existing paved surfaces, one of the final steps in the paving process will be to smooth out the transitions and butt joints that connect the new pavement to older surfaces.
• Smoothing and compacting the surface – Using a roller truck, your paving contractor will complete the project by smoothing and compacting the entire surface one final time.

Getting a new asphalt surface requires several steps and a certain amount of time to complete. But the end result is well worth the wait! To find out more about the specific steps involved in your project, talk to your paving contractor.