Phase 2: Installation
Asphalt
Determining whether new asphalt is required is the first consideration. New construction requires total installation, and existing asphalt sometimes requires repairing or overlay depending on its condition. Design Paving utilizes reheating equipment which makes patching or adding to existing pavement seamless, often eliminating the need to overlay patched areas, therefore cutting down costs.
Asphalt installation may be provided by a builder,
contracted by the client, or sub-contracted by Design Paving.
Imprinting looks best when the finest of state-approved asphalt mix
possible is used by the installer. To provide the best appearance for
the end product, please put us in contact with the pavers before
installation if possible to discuss small details.
Edging systems are available for first time installations, overlays,
installing asphalt over concrete, and smaller areas where sharp turns
by traffic might travel off the paved surface. This is an aluminum
edging installed before the blacktop is laid. Click here for more
information (Coming Soon).
Imprinting
Design Paving utilizes asphalt reheating equipment to
soften the surface of the area to be imprinted.
This equipment uses
propane flame through a ceramic blanket (called blue flame technology)
which prevents open fire from burning the petroleum-based binders in
the blacktop.
Templates are made of heavy-gauge steel wire that is welded to form the desired pattern. After heating the blacktop, the template is placed on the surface and a vibratory plate is run over the template, leaving a 3/4 in. groove (or grout line) to form the impression of perfectly laid masonry.
After all desired imprinting is complete, the outside edges of the blacktop are saw-cut with a circular saw to give a clean, 90 degree edge (unless an edging system has been used).
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Color-Coating
The color coating consists of a high-polymer resin
with sands and cements added for traction and thickness. The coating
is not harmed by snow removal chemicals or automotive fluids, and
resists fading from the sun. (In order for this formula to behave as
designed, the color-coating process must be completed in temperatures
45 deg. F. or higher.)
Design Paving always applies a minimum of two layers
of color coating. The base layer is hand-rolled, rather than sprayed
on, to ensure excellent adhesion. This lengthens the life not only of
the color treatment, but also of the asphalt itself, since it seals
the entire surface from invading moisture.
All other colors (such as border, accent, and faux-finish colors) are
applied in the subsequent layers.
