Paving Q&A
Retail Facility Business recently talked about new trends in the paving industry with Gary Rabine, CEO of Rabine Paving America and ConcreteLot.com.
RFB: How can retailers extend the life of their asphalt pavements?
Regular sealcoating, crack sealing and striping are the first steps to insure the longevity you expect in your asphalt pavements. By keeping the pavement sealed, the long term effects of oxidation (the drying out of the pavement) are minimized and when combined with crack sealing, storm water runoff does not infiltrate into the aggregate and sub-base layers through the cracks in the pavement. In addition, regular maintenance in the form of infrared repairs, removal and replacement and resurfacing applications will allow for optimal life expectancy for asphalt pavements.
RFB: what is the most up-and-coming trend in the pavement industry?
Concrete pavements and Ultra-Whitetopping, a bonded concrete overlay over existing pavement, are advancing in the pavement industry because of concrete’s competitive initial price to asphalt pavements. In the past, concrete construction has cost up to three times the amount of asphalt construction. However, over the last 15 years the price of hot-mix asphalt has risen substantially and, because of innovations in concrete paving technology and engineering processes used by our national company, ConcreteLot.com, labor costs in concrete construction and maintenance have dropped. This has put concrete and asphalt pavements at a competitive first cost price, and concrete with lower maintenance costs over its life span. Concrete parking lots and Ultra-Whiteopping are becoming fast-growing trends in the pavement industry.
RFB: How can retail property owners control the long term costs of their parking lots?
The most important step in controlling long term maintenance cost is pavement engineering and budgeting. Asphalt and concrete parking lots have life cycles that are predictable based on quantity of vehicles, types of vehicles using the pavement, age, specifications and climate. Through proper pavement engineering and due diligence we can identify the correct pavement maintenance application and develop long term (5-7 year) budgets to assist in making decisions consistent with the needs of the parking lot. The opportunity cost of not addressing these needs at the correct time can cost as much as 200% to 300% more over a matter of a few years.
RFB: What sustainable trends does the pavement industry offer today?
One of the most sustainable, environmentally friendly pavement solutions today is pervious concrete pavement. Concrete pavements in general (including Ultra-Whitetopping) are a “green” option in that they reduce site lighting costs because of a higher reflectivity, reduce heat island effect due to decreased surface temperatures, and are regionally produced recycled materials. Pervious concrete not only has the sustainable benefits of regular concrete, it is a specific pavement mix design that allows stormwater runoff to filter naturally through the pavement. It acts as a natural purification process, allowing water to be re-absorbed into the earth, replenishing aquifers and reducing the need for wastewater treatment plants. Pervious concrete pavements are eligible for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) credits with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) when designing and modifying buildings and properties for LEED certification.
RFB: What are the latest trends and changes made in sealcoating?
There are several current trends in sealcoating right now, including new types of sealers and paint. Three high-quality sealers becoming more popular are Jennite, liquid road and poly tar. Each of these is fortified with high solids and is able to accommodate a high sand load. With these sealers, first cost is higher but they will last up to 200% longer than traditional sealers.
Other trends in sealcoating are due to a shift towards environmentally friendly, “green” solutions. One type of sealer gaining ground is asphalt-based sealer (as opposed to coal tar) because it does not contain creosol, which emits fumes into the atmosphere, and can burn the skin while applying. It is a trend of many municipalities to prohibit coal tar sealers, and manufacturers have developed asphalt-based sealers as a safer alternative. Other “green” sealcoating solutions are low-VOC water-based paint because of its environmentally friendly composition and solar reflective coatings, which offer a grey color rather than black. They reduce site lighting costs with their higher reflectivity, reduce heat island effect due to decreased surface temperatures and are eligible for LEED credits with the USGBC.
Gary Rabine is CEO of Rabine Paving America and ConcreteLot.com. He has over 30 years’ experience in the pavement engineering, construction and maintenance industry and has been leader of Team Rabine since 1981, overseeing growth from three employees to over 330 teammates in 2009. 888-722-4633, www.concretelot.com and www.rabinepavingamerica.com |
