3 Ways To Ensure A Proper Asphalt Paving Job
When you do an asphalt paving job, you want to make sure that you do a high-quality job. There are certain steps as a contractor or do-it-yourselfer that you can take to ensure that the job is done to high standards.
#1 Inspect All Paving Equipment
Before you start a paving job, you need to make sure that the equipment that you have is up to the task as hand. You are going to want to check each piece of equipment. Make sure that it has the right fluid levels and check all the gauges on the equipment.
Make sure that you regularly apply a release agent to all the parts of the machine that come into direct contact with the pavement. This will help keep the equipment from getting damaged from the very material that it is used to apply.
After that, you want to make sure that you set up each machine for the exact job that you are doing. Setting up the machines to the right specs for the project you are doing will help save time.
#2 Keep the Right Amount of Material In Front of the Machine
Next, you are going to want to make sure that you keep the right amount of material in front of the machine. This is called the head of material, and it is the material that is right in front of your machine. In order to get a level paving job, you need to make sure that you keep the head of material at the right level and thickness in front of the machine. Monitor and closely watch the amount of paving material in front of the machine to ensure a smooth application.
#3 Take Your Time
When you work on a paving job, do not speed things up just to finish the job and move onto the next one as quickly as possible. When you pave an asphalt surface, it is important to maintain the same speed with the paving machine. You want to operate the paver at the same speed, as closely as possible, throughout the entire job.
Keeping the speed the same will help ensure that the hot mixture of material is delivered at the same rate throughout the project. This will help get rid of ripples and waves that can occur when the depth of the mat that you are putting down with the paving machine is inconsistent because of speed. Taking your time will help ensure that the job is done right on the first go-around and that additional work and care are not needed.
For more information, contact a residential paving contractor such as New England Paving.