There are several striping and markers needed in a business parking lot or garage such as: Parking Spaces, Handicap Parking Spaces, Employee/Visitor Parking Spaces, No Parking Zones, Stall Numbering, Hashed-out Areas, Pedestrian Crosswalks, Fire Lanes/Emergency Vehicles, Loading Zones, Directional Arrows, and Entrances/Exits.
Yes, Striping keeps your customers safe and you must follow your city’s codes and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards and guidelines. You can be heavily fined for not keeping up to code.
Your asphalt striping should last 2 to 3 years but it depends on how much traffic you have and if there’s any weather damage. You will need to restripe if you add a seal coat to your parking lot because it’ll cover the existing markers.
No, regular store bought paint will fade quickly so you need to use traffic paint or molten thermoplastic road paint for asphalt striping.
Asphalt striping is the painting of lines, symbols and markers in business parking lots, garages, and roadways.
No, you should wait 3 to 6 months before applying a seal coat to new asphalt. Fresh asphalt is soft because of oils in it. It needs time to harden by letting the oils evaporate.
The best time to apply a seal coat is between April and September but you should check the weather to make sure there’s no rain in the near future and humidity is low.
A seal coat is a layer that protects the asphalt from UV rays and chemical spills. Asphalt resurfacing is the process of adding a thin layer of asphalt over the entire asphalt surface.
Potholes are created when water freezes and then warms up causing expansion and contraction which weakens asphalt.
The benefits of asphalt are its cost efficiency, noise reduction, good traction in wet weather, recyclability, and durability.
When oil leaks into asphalt it causes damage by dissolving the binder and weakening the asphalt causing cracks and depressions.
The best time to install asphalt is in the spring or the fall when temperatures are around 70 degrees. Moderate temperatures make pouring asphalt easier on the crew and keep the asphalt mix at a good temperature so it doesn’t dry too quickly.
Yes, asphalt can be recycled and is the most recycled product in the USA. Recycled asphalt is as strong as new asphalt and can be recycled several times.
The best time to repair or patch asphalt is in spring. Most damage occurs in winter when water seeps into asphalt and freezes causing cracking. You don’t want to push any repairs into the summer when it gets too hot and affects the asphalt installation.
Yes, asphalt can be repaired or patched. It’s best to patch any cracks or potholes as soon as possible before more damage occurs. Repairing early will stave off having to completely replace the entire asphalt surface.
You should reseal your driveway every 1 to 3 years. Residential driveways can apply a seal coat every 2 to 3 years. Business driveways see a lot more traffic and should reseal every year.
It’s recommended to apply a seal coat to asphalt. It will protect it and extend its lifespan.
An expertly installed asphalt driveway can last up to 20 years if preventative maintenance is performed.
It takes about 24 hours before you can drive and park upon asphalt. You should wait up to 48 hours if the temperature is really high during late spring and summer.
Yes, structures such as basements are frequently made of standard CMU blocks. Bigger buildings and retaining walls can be built of CMU blocks as well.
You don’t need an engineer if your retaining wall is less than 3 feet tall. An engineer is needed for a wall taller than 3 feet to ensure safety and building codes are followed.
Standard CMU and Split-face blocks need mortar especially if it’s a building. Interlocking CMU blocks are the only ones that don’t need mortar. They rely on a lip and notch system or flanges.
CMU blocks are measured by their thickness which can range from 4” to 16”.
Retaining walls are walls that support or hold back soil on sloped or different leveled ground. They range from small walls you can build in your garden to large walls you see around highways.
You can build basements, buildings, retaining walls, and other structures with CMU blocks.
Yes, CMU blocks can be primed and painted.
Split-face blocks come in natural stone colors like varying shades of gray, tan, brown, red, orange, and white.
Split-face blocks are manufactured concrete blocks that have at least one side that is rough and looks like natural rock.
Interlocking CMU blocks connect together through a notch and lip system or flanges. These blocks are strong and stable without the need of mortar.
Standard concrete, interlocking, and split-face blocks are the most common CMU building blocks in use.
The blocks may look the same but are composed of different materials. Concrete blocks are stronger and designed to be used in the construction of buildings. Cinder blocks are weak and don’t have the strength to safely withstand pressure.
A Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU) block is a standard rectangular block used in the construction of buildings.
Crushed granite is a beautiful and unique option for driveways. It has a lovely crunching sound when you walk on it and it also doesn’t crack or stain like other paving materials.
Crushed granite comes in a variety of colors like black, gray, tan, brown, red, and blue.
Crushed granite is made up of solid granite that has been harvested, crushed and broken down to a specific size for use in landscaping and construction projects.
Yes, concrete pavers come in several styles and cobblestone is one of them. Cobblestone is a favorite because it has an air of old world elegance.
Yes, flagstone pavers look natural and mimic organic stone very well. They have all the beauty of natural stone but none of the flaws like breaking easily.
Flagstone pavers come in several sizes from 4”x 8” to 16’x 24’ linear cut pavers. Large irregular shapes can be up to a few feet wide.
Yes. Flagstone pavers can be molded to be in a linear form like tiles or have a natural cut so they look more like real stone.
Flagstone pavers are better than natural flagstone because they’re less expensive and stronger. Natural flagstone tends to flake and crumble but manufactured concrete flagstone pavers don’t flake.
There is no waiting period after the installation is complete. You will need to wait 24 hours if you have opted to apply a sealant to your driveway.
Weeds can grow between pavers if your foundation is loose and allows seeds to grow inside of it. Remove the weeds and apply a weed killer or common table salt to prevent any more weeds from growing.
Yes, concrete pavers can be used to create a pool deck. They come in a wide assortment of colors and shapes. They are also less porous than wood and some stones, so it’s harder for mildew or algae to grow on them.
Yes, concrete pavers are strong enough to be used in driveways. They also add a touch of elegance to your house. Pavers come in a variety of colors and shapes and you can create any design you can think of for your driveway.
Yes, concrete pavers can be easily removed if you need to conduct any underground work. You can remove just the pavers you need to go under since they are separate pieces. The pavers will not be ruined and can be replaced once the ground work is done.
Sweep the pavers to remove loose dirt and debris. Follow up with rinsing it off with your garden hose. Don’t use a power washer because it is too strong for pavers. You can use a mild detergent, bleach, or a degreaser to scrub the pavers. Thoroughly rinse with water afterwards. Do not use any acidic products on the pavers.
Flagstone pavers mimic the look of slate, travertine, limestone, sandstone, quartzite, and bluestone.
The great thing about pavers is that they are single units that can easily be replaced instead of repairing them like a solid piece of concrete. It’s good to have some spare pavers on hand in case you need to replace a few of them.
Interlocking pavers come in a variety of shapes such as: rectangle, square, hexagon, octagon, arching, rounded corners, and many more. Choose different shapes to create unique designs when laying them out.
Interlocking pavers come in a variety of shapes and colors that connect together like a giant puzzle using sand to join them. They are like other pavers but are stronger as a unit because of how they connect.
Pavers are installed in driveways, patios, gardens, and walkways.
Pavers will shift over time but a leveled and strong base will help prevent this. You can also add edging to keep the pavers in place.
The most common types of pavers are brick, flagstone, and interlocking.
Concrete pavers are concrete paving stones molded and colored to look like stone, tile, and brick. They’re usually used in exterior areas.
Steel mesh or rebar can be used for a concrete driveway. It depends on the thickness of the driveway and the weight of the vehicle(s) you plan to park on it. Heavy box trucks will need to be parked on a rebar enforced driveway.
Rebar isn’t needed for sidewalks if it’s less than 1 foot thick. Steel mesh is better suited for sidewalks.
An expertly installed concrete driveway can last from 20 to 30 years. It also depends on whether you perform regular maintenance, repair cracks, and apply sealant every few years.
Reinforcement bar (rebar) strengthens concrete and helps to withstand tension forces.
The three most common foundations are concrete slab, crawlspace, and a basement. Most southern homes are built on slab and crawlspace foundations and northern homes tend to have basements. Climate and environment are the main factors to include when deciding which foundation is best for you.
The average concrete foundation is 8 to 12 inches thick. It depends on what kind of soil is beneath it, the water table of the area, and what kind of material will be used in wall construction.
A concrete slab is one form of a foundation. It provides a leveled area to build a home upon.
You don’t need to follow the ADA guidelines for ramps but they’re good as a reference. The guidelines ensure that ramps are safe and easy to use.
An ADA ramp is needed if a person in a wheelchair can’t easily enter your business. ADA ramps are required and enforced by the government to meet the requirements in the Americans with Disabilities Act. A lack of an ADA ramp is dangerous for disabled people and can be considered a form of discrimination under current laws.
ADA stands for Americans with Disabilities Act. These are rules and guidelines that need to be followed to ensure the ramps leading to your business or curb to street are safe and legal.
You usually don’t need a permit to build a driveway on your personal property but it depends on how high your driveway is compared to the rest of the area. You will probably need a permit for a patio if it is taller than 30 inches. We can help you determine if you need a permit according to city and neighborhood codes.
It’s best to wait 7 days before parking on your concrete driveway so as not to damage it while it cures. It will take 28 days for it to completely dry and reach its maximum strength.
Concrete and mortar are both made up of water, sand, and cement. The main difference is that concrete also has coarse aggregates like rock or gravel. This makes concrete stronger and more durable than mortar.
Stamped concrete assimilates wood, brick, slate, tile, cobblestone and more through the use of dyes and molds. Check out our decorative concrete page for more info.
Yes concrete acid staining is one of our decorative concrete options. It’s an easy way to update the look of your concrete without completely replacing it. The good thing is that new and existing concrete can be acid stained.
Concrete can be painted but you’ll need a special paint just for concrete and several preparation steps need to be taken. Another more sustainable option is acid staining. It can be applied to new and old concrete for a splash of color. Check out our other decorative concrete options here.
Yes! Concrete floors were primarily used in industrial sites but it’s now common to see it in houses, hotels, and museums. Pick any style from our decorative concrete options and everyone will be surprised that it’s concrete in the first place.
Pouring concrete in extreme heat or cold is not recommended. The best time to pour is in the spring or the fall. Pick a time when the weather is moderate, not humid, and rain isn’t expected.
Yes, concrete can be repaired if it is structurally sound. Repair any cracks as soon as possible before more damage occurs. Call our concrete crew to inspect your concrete if you’re not sure of its stability. We’ll help you decide if you can repair, resurface or need to replace your concrete.
You can control the strength of concrete by adding more cement to it. However you will weaken the concrete if you add too much water to the cement. Too much water will make the concrete loose, thin, and fragile which will lead to cracking.
Yes. Sealing concrete extends the life of your concrete. Water penetrates the concrete and cause cracking if left unsealed. You should apply sealant every two years as preventative maintenance. Wait 1 month to apply sealant if your concrete is freshly poured so it has time to cure completely.
Decorative concrete is the art of acid staining, dyeing concrete, stamping, and engraving. These techniques make concrete look like wood, tile, and stone. It also adds color to concrete ranging from earth tones to reds, blues, and greens.
Concrete cracks if the mixture is too thin and if it doesn’t have enough time to cure/dry before use. It will also crack if control joints weren’t placed in the proper areas.
Buying or renting a power washer to clean your concrete surfaces is an excellent start. Use a biodegradable detergent or ammonia if water by itself isn’t doing enough. Muriatic acid is good for tough stains but it’s dangerous to use and extreme care and protective gear must be worn when using it. You should apply a sealant once the concrete is clean. This will protect it from staining and be easier to clean.
Standard concrete usually dries to varying shades of gray. Concrete can be dyed or stained in a wide variety of colors ranging from blues, reds, greens, and earth tones. Check out our decorative concrete page for more information.
Concrete takes 1 to 2 days to dry enough for you to walk on and 7 days to drive on in the case of concrete driveways without damaging it. However it can take up to 28 days before it is completely dry and reach its ultimate strength.
Cement is a binder or adhesive. It’s used to bind other materials together in construction. Cement mixed with water becomes a paste and is part of the mixture of concrete. Concrete is stronger and more stable than cement.
Concrete flatwork is a poured concrete surface along a horizontal plane such as foundation slabs, sidewalks, patios, driveways, and ramps.
Concrete is a mixture of water, aggregate (sand, rock, or gravel), and Portland cement.
Natural flagstone is a layered rock that over time will break down. It will flake away or holes will appear and cause quick deterioration. Flagstone pavers are manufactured out of poured cement; that means there are no layers like natural stone to flake away. They don’t need a sealant so there is less maintenance for you to worry about.
Flagstone is the general name for natural sedimentary rock stones such as: slate, travertine, limestone, sandstone, quartzite, and bluestone. Flagstone comes from different quarries around the nation and each stone has their own distinctive texture, and colors such as browns, blues, grays, and reds. The stones are cut out in small to large square or irregular shaped slabs that are perfect for paving areas such as walkways, patios, stepping stones, and pool decks
Bricks used in building have holes in them and are referred to as face bricks. A brick paver used in paving is solid all the way through. It’s designed this way to make it durable to bear extensive weight like in your driveway
We will shoot grades to establish the existing elevations. We will then remove all vegetation & excavate down to the required depth in order to provide positive drainage. We will then install A2 Base and compact. We will set forms and install the required steel for the structure and place the concrete.
The concrete construction crew will start off by leveling the ground and adding gravel if needed. A wooden frame will be built around the perimeter of the pour. Think of it like a mold that a sculptor uses when pouring plaster or wax. It is there for form only and will be removed once the concrete has hardened a bit. Rebar or a wire mesh will be added depending on the structure’s use and how thick the concrete slab will be. The concrete will then be poured, spread out, and leveled. It can be finished in several decorative ways or kept as plain concrete.