As soon as they walk into your premises, clients can quickly develop conclusions based on the first impressions of the building. The driveways, pathways, and walkways are just as important as other aesthetic elements around them.
Finding the right commercial paving solution for your business can be taxing. Rebuilding your driveway or walkway is an important investment that you ought to consider carefully. One of the options you may choose is asphalt paving. It is durable, affordable, robust, and suitable for areas with a lot of traffic, such as retail establishments. Here are a few facts that you may not know about asphalt.
Asphalt has been around for years
One misconception many people have of asphalt paving is that it is a modern phenomenon. But this material has been in application for road construction for several centuries. The Romans and Babylonians were the first to build their roadways with the material more than a millennia ago.
The first roads to be built in modern times were by an Englishman, John Metcalf, in 1700. In America, asphalt would be used in road construction from around the 1870s. Most of the materials before the 20th century were from naturally occurring asphalt.
In the first decade of the 20th century, cars became more commonplace. There was a demand for better roads that could handle the high speeds of automobiles. Asphalt was later mixed with aggregate materials to enhance its performance. Better laying techniques and efficient equipment boosted its viability for large-scale commercial use.
Paving involves a lot of recycled materials
Due to the rising awareness of environmental issues, consumers are demanding businesses to adopt more sustainable practices. Recycling can not only reduce pollution but has been shown to create more jobs than sending waste to landfills. Asphalt paving is an eco-friendly solution, thanks to its ability to undergo reprocessing without losing its value.
Approximately 99% of asphalt in the United States is taken back for recycling. About 400 million metric tons of asphalt are recycled every year in more than 4000 sites across the country. It can be mixed with other materials to improve its mechanical properties, before reusing it for road construction.
It’s popular in commercial applications
Nine out of 10 parking areas in America have asphalt paving, making it the top choice for most development owners. Additionally, approximately 85% of roadways are paved with asphalt in the United States. It has been effective for the construction of cycleways, footways, and even residential paving for sports areas.
All around the world, asphalt has proven to be reliable for paving highways, runways, and commercial enterprises. It produces less noise when you compare it with alternative materials, such as concrete. Asphalt paving has been accepted by major commercial enterprises, government agencies, and residential consumers.
It’s both durable and cost-effective
Business premises need a driveway surfacing option that can withstand wear and tear from the effects of the weather, automobiles, and foot traffic. The commercial paving solution you choose should ideally be durable and easy to maintain. Asphalt is long-lasting, yet is more cost-effective than other materials such as cobblestone, bricks, and concrete.
Sealing is one of the additional processes that can minimize the effect of the weather on the driveway or walkway. It is possible for contractors who specialize in commercial paving services to add multiple layers of the material. The process is sometimes referred to as sub-base.
The purpose of the sub-base is to ensure that the construction requires only minimal maintenance work to keep the pavement in perfect shape. Asphalt is not only affordable to install, but also saves on resources in terms of long-term maintenance work.
In Conclusion
Asphalt paving is one of the best choices for commercial premises. Before you use it for driveway resurfacing, you ought to familiarize yourself with the local zoning laws. The durability of the material will also depend on the quality of the installation. Poorly laid pavements can deteriorate quickly and cause fall and slip hazards. As a result, you should seek out a professional, conversant with commercial and residential paving installations.
