FOUNDATIONS
  • New Asphalt Pavement
  • ​Asphalt Overlay
  • Cold Milling ​

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MAINTENANCE
  • Sealcoating
  • Crack Sealing
  • Patching​​
For more information on maintenance of asphalt pavement click here.


FINISHING TOUCHES
  • Pavement Markings
  • Parking Signs
  • Wheel Stops
Often times existing pavements are overlaid as they typically are a good solid base for a new pavement layer.  In most parking lots, driveways, and streets with curbs the existing asphalt pavement is paved up flush to existing concrete curbs, pavements, sidewalks, etc.  This creates a drainage issue or a walking hazard as an overlay would leave the new pavement grade higher than the old grade.  In order to facilitate an overlay in these situations some of the old asphalt pavement is ground off using a milling machine to profile the old pavement to the desired grade needed.  This allows almost any asphalt pavement surface to overlaid without impacting drainage or grade with the finished product.

crack sealing

Crack sealing involves using melted asphalt material and placing in pavement cracks to seal off any water infiltration and to keep weeds from taking root in your pavement causing further damage.  The best way to keeping your asphalt pavement intact is having a strong base below it.  If the base is consistently saturated it can begin to flex and pump causing exaggerated movement in your pavement leading to pot holes and pavement failure.  Most water infiltration is due to surface cracks in the pavement that are not sealed and expose the base to these conditions.  You should inspect your pavement annually (typically in the spring) to determine if crack sealing is necessary. 

asphalt overlay

This is the process of adding a new surface layer of asphalt pavement to existing asphalt pavements.  This is typically done when the existing pavement surface is oxidized from age and sealing the surface is no longer an option.  Not all pavement can be overlaid for various reasons ranging from existing drainage and water run off to the pavement being too distressed to support another layer of pavement.

sealcoating

Longevity can be added to asphalt driveways and parking lots by sealing the surface with an emulsion sealer.  Sealing your pavement every 2-4 years (depending on traffic and wear) can add years of life to the pavement surface as it slows the oxidizing process and helps keep surface aggregates in place.  If a pavement is neglected for too long, sealing will lose its benefits.
Sometimes the majority of your pavement is fine, but there are a few areas that are falling apart.  These areas can typically be patched to restore the pavement surface to a uniform smoothness and eliminate cracks and pot holes.  This process is done by either sawing and removing the material in chunks or by milling out the old material, inspecting the existing base, compacting the area, and placing new asphalt material.  Often times base repairs are necessary as a bad base is typically the culprit of pavement failure.

Why you should choose Asphalt!

There are a lot of misconceptions about asphalt, and well pavement in general.  Many people think that asphalt is a dirty industry that uses oil to make its product and so it must be bad for the environment.  Did you know that 99 percent of asphalt pavement is recycled and reused as asphalt pavement making it one of the most recycled materials in the world?  We will try to lay out a few things here about various types of pavement, and some facts about asphalt pavement when considering your own pavement.

  • Recyclability and a sustainable perpetual product.  Asphalt is recycled every single day all over the world.  Recycled as what?  Well, asphalt mostly.  Some mixes contain up to 30% or recycled materials in them including asphalt pavement, asphalt shingles, ground tire rubber, and several other materials.  At Higgins Asphalt we utilize recycled materials in many of our mixes.  You can find out more here https://www.asphaltpavement.org/recycling
  • Over 90 percent of all roadways and parking areas in the U.S. are surfaced with asphalt pavement.  While many people choose asphalt pavement because of the quickness and ease of installation and the fact that it can be maintained easily for a very long time, many times asphalt is chosen due to the fact that it is clean.  Asphalt occurs naturally in several parts of the world in the form of asphalt lakes and in rock asphalt.  It does not leach out into the soil or release alkali into water like concrete can, so it will not impact the soil or water it is paved next to, or over the top of.  This is why asphalt pavement is used by many government agencies when storm water runoff is in consideration.
  • Pavement will crack.  Whether you choose asphalt pavement or concrete pavement, one guarantee is that it will most assuredly crack at some point.  Nothing lasts forever, no matter how it was installed, or what you may be told.  In Missouri our pavements are subjected to some of the most extreme conditions that you can experience.  Between the very hot summers and the constant freeze and thaw cycles of our winters, pavement takes a beating.  This is why pavement maintenance is important to the long life of any pavement.  If you had a crack in your roof you would repair it right?  The water coming in would destroy your whole house.  Pavement is the same way.  When water gets into pavement cracks, it freezes, expands, and causes the crack to become worse, eventually causing pavement failure or worse base failure.  Asphalt, unlike concrete, is readily and easily repaired, and at a much cheaper price.  At Higgins Asphalt we provide all manner of asphalt maintenance including asphalt patching, crack sealing, and seal coating surfaces.     
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If you want to check out more facts about Asphalt Pavements, this site has a ton of good information http://www.asphaltfacts.com
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