Upgrade Your School's Blacktop

July is almost over, and next month, schools all around Connecticut and New York will be opening their doors for the start of a new year. In order to leave a good impression on new and returning students, your facility should be in as good of shape as possible.

One of the first things that students and staff see when pulling in to the school is the parking lot; what is yours saying about you? If your facility's parking lot is riddled with cracks and potholes, it could be leaving a bad impression on your students, in addition to creating safety hazards.

If your school is located in Westchester County, NY or Fairfield County, CT, let Roccie's Asphalt resurface your blacktop surfaces before the start of the new year. For more than 50 years, we have provided high quality commercial and municipal paving jobs at an affordable rate.

Time is running out! In less than one month's time, your students will be coming back to school – make sure they come back to something worthwhile. Whether you need your parking lot resurfaced, more sidewalks installed, or extra tennis and basketball courts, look no further than Roccie's Asphalt for all of your paving needs! Visit our website for more information or give us a call at 888-88-ROCCIES.

How is Asphalt Made?

Asphalt pavement is everywhere – it accounts for roughly 93% (or 2.5 million miles) of America's paved roadways and interstates, but how much do we really know about it? Where does it come from? How is it made? This article gives you a small glimpse into the production process of asphalt pavement.

When you hear the word “asphalt”, you probably picture a smooth black concrete surface, but that is not the case. In its purest form, asphalt is a hydrocarbon mixture which is a byproduct derived from the waste material of oil refinement. During the production of asphalt cement, this hydrocarbon byproduct is heated to about 300° F, or until it has the consistency of tar. At this point, other elements such as crushed stone, sand, and gravel are mixed in to provide a solid, durable surface. When mixing is complete, the resulting product only contains about 5% asphalt and 95% crushed stone.

From there, the hot asphalt concrete is poured, flattened, and steamrolled to make the roads, parking lots, and highways that you drive on every day. Other common uses for asphalt include roofing shingles, waterproofing underground storage tanks, and improving the durability of certain dark paints and finishes.

Interested in learning more about how asphalt is made? Check out this article.

Roccie's Asphalt is a paving contractor and stone mason located in Stamford, Connecticut. Since 1956, we have provided Fairfield and Westchester counties with high-quality services at affordable prices. Visit our website to see what we can do for you or call us for a free estimate at 888-88-ROCCIES.

What Sets Roccie's Asphalt Apart

If you are considering a new driveway for your home or parking lot for your business, look no further than Roccie's Asphalt. Home and business owners in Fairfield County, CT and Westchester County, NY have depended on us for decades for all of their paving needs, and you can too.

Here are just a few things that set us apart from the rest:

Family Owned & Operated.

Since our inception in 1956, Roccie's Asphalt has remained family owned and operated. What does this mean for you, the customer? It means that we are still as committed to our clients as we were all those years ago. You will get fast, reliable, service of the highest quality which we are proud to call our own – that's why we put our name on it.

50+ Years of Experience.

When it comes to asphalt paving, the contractor you choose can make a world of difference. Even the most durable materials on the planet won't last long if they are not properly installed. If you are shopping for a new asphalt driveway or commercial parking lot, you want a company that knows what they are doing – you want Roccie's Asphalt. Our vast level of experience is just one of the reasons that the Better Business Bureau has given us an A+ grade.

Attention to Detail.

At Roccie's Asphalt, we believe that the start of every job is a blank canvas. We aren't just paving asphalt and laying stone; we are making art. All of our employees are highly trained and experts in their craft, see for yourself by checking out our customer gallery.

Want to get started on your next paving project? Visit our website for more information or give us a call at 888-88-ROCCIES.

Asphalt's Three Biggest Enemies

When professionally installed, a new asphalt driveway can last upwards of 20 years, but not without a little bit of maintenance. Although asphalt is an incredibly strong and durable material, it too has its kryptonite – in fact, it has three of them.

Read below to find out the three biggest enemies of asphalt, as well as what you can do to prevent your driveway from meeting its early demise.

Water
When left standing, water can penetrate the surface of your asphalt driveway and begin to weaken its base. This is made worse in cold weather, where the water can freeze and expand, causing cracks and potholes to develop. Prevent water from damaging your driveway by using porous asphalt or by installing an effective drainage solution, such as trench drains.

Oil and Gasoline
Not only are oil and gasoline stains unsightly, they can quickly deteriorate your driveway's surface. The binding agent in asphalt pavement is derived from crude oil, and almost any petroleum distillate can cause this agent to break down, weakening the pavement and causing it to become soft. The best way to prevent this from happening is by sealcoating the surface as soon as the pavement is cured and cleaning up all oil and gas spills immediately. Click here to learn how to remove oil stains from your driveway.

Sunlight
Just like exposure to the sun can damage our skin, it is also harmful to your driveway. On a molecular level, UV rays speed up asphalt's reaction with oxygen, which causes faster discoloration and fading of your driveway's surface. The best defense against this is by routinely sealcoating your driveway, which is a staple in any good asphalt maintenance plan. You can learn about the benefits of sealcoating here.

The asphalt experts at Roccie's Paving have been repairing, resurfacing, and repaving residential driveways and commercial parking lots in Connecticut and New York for well over 50 years. Family owned and operated since our creation, we are committed to providing our customers with high quality services at an affordable rate. Visit our website for more information or call us for a free estimate at 1-888-88-ROCCIES.

What Attracts Customers to a Parking Lot?

Your parking lot is one of the first impressions that your business makes on potential customers; what is your parking lot saying about you? An old, unappealing parking lot could actually be turning customers away before they even step foot in your store, while a professionally-paved surface could attract new customers who are driving by.

Here are three qualities that attract customers to a parking lot:

• A Smooth, Beautiful Surface. First and foremost, a newly-paved parking lot with a deep black finish and freshly-painted parking lines stands out – in a good way. When you are driving, you tend to avoid cracks and potholes; parking is no different! These kind of blemishes are not only unsightly, they put your customers at risk of injuring themselves and damaging their vehicles.
• Available Spots. Nobody likes driving around in circles waiting for a parking spot to open up. Can your current lot accommodate the parking needs of your customers? The quality of your asphalt surface is important, but the quantity of spots available should not be taken lightly either.
• Proper Draining. Whether it is pouring rain or melting snow, your parking lot needs to sufficiently drain any water on its surface. Not only will standing water lead to the premature deterioration of your asphalt parking lot, your customers will not want to park their car or walk through a massive puddle outside of your business.

Does your parking lot have all three of these qualities? If not, Roccie's Asphalt can help! Whether you need to expand the size of your commercial parking lot, resurface it, or add a drainage solution, you can count on Roccie's to provide a high-quality job at an affordable rate. Homes and businesses in New York and Connecticut have counted on us for their paving needs for more than 50 years, so call us today for a free consultation at 1-888-88-ROCCIES.