Reasons to Expand Your Driveway

Is your driveway currently meeting the needs of your household? If you find yourself with too little room for your liking, expanding your driveway is always an option. Here are four common reasons that homeowners may expand their driveway.

New Drivers in the Household

Do you have a teenager that just became old enough to drive? Or maybe you got a new roommate that is forced to park in the street? Whatever your situation may be, it is not uncommon for households to welcome in a new driver at some point – welcome them with a bigger driveway.

Parking Flexibility

If you have a driveway that is only wide enough for one vehicle, parking can quickly become a hassle. Cars must constantly be reshuffled, and people need to drop everything they are doing to move their cars so the person at the very front can leave. If you want more parking flexibility, widening your driveway is a great option.

Basketball Hoop Addition

Take a drive down any residential suburban street and you will see plenty of basketball hoops installed in people's driveways. If you have an up-and-coming sports star in your family, or just want a place to play the occasional game of “HORSE”, why not extend your driveway and add a basketball hoop?

RV Acquisition

For the free-spirited, cross-country adventurer in you, recreational vehicles provide a way to explore the great outdoors in style and comfort. The only problem is: where are you going to keep it? RVs take up a lot of room, so much so that most people can't fit one in their driveway in addition to their everyday cars. A driveway expansion can quickly take care of this problem.

So what are you waiting for? No matter what your reason is, a bigger, better driveway is just a phone call away with the paving experts at Roccie's Asphalt. We have offered high-quality paving jobs to homeowners in New York and Connecticut for almost 60 years! Call us today for a free quote at 888-88-ROCCIES.

Parking Lot Preventative Maintenance Tips

As a property manager, your asphalt parking lot probably isn't at the top of your priority list, but neglecting it will only cost you money further down the road. Properly maintaining your parking lot will not only save you money on future repair work, but a visually-appealing blacktop will also leave a strong first impression on your potential customers.

Follow these preventative maintenance tips to preserve your asphalt parking lot for as long as possible:

• Clean your parking lot every month. Washing away dirt, leaves, and other debris will help prevent staining and uneven fading.

• Be on the lookout for oil stains. If you do see one, clean it immediately using dish soap and water. If left to sit, the oil can begin to break down the surface of the asphalt.

• If you notice “birdbath” areas in your parking lot or other spots with pooling water, look into installing a drainage solution. Water is one of asphalt's biggest enemies, and will eventually lead to cracks and potholes down the road.

• All cracks should be professionally sealed as soon as possible. Cracks are usually caused by water penetrating the surface, freezing, and expanding. Although a small crack may not look like it deserves your attention now, it will continue to expand and cause more problems if it isn't sealed.

• Sealcoat your parking lot every 3-5 years. In addition to adding a protective layer to the top of the asphalt surface and effectively sealing small cracks, a fresh sealcoat will also make your parking lot look like new. A good sealcoating routine can double the lifespan of your parking lot.

• Always be sure to adhere to local regulations in regards to parking lot size, number and size of parking spaces, handicapped parking, etc.

Do you need a hand getting your asphalt parking lot in tip-top shape? The asphalt experts at Roccie's Paving are here to help! For almost 60 years, property owners and managers have depended on us to provide high-quality asphalt paving services for a reasonable rate. We serve Fairfield County CT and Westchester County NY, call us today for a free quote at 888-88-ROCCIES.

Why Is Your Driveway Cracking?

Do you remember what your asphalt driveway looked like when it was freshly paved? The perfectly smooth surface and deep black color made your home stand out, but chances are it doesn't look like that anymore.

If you don't properly maintain your asphalt driveway over the years, that jet black finish will fade to a dull gray, and the formerly smooth surface will start to resemble alligator skin. If this is what is happening to you, here are some potential reasons as to why your asphalt driveway is cracking.

Poorly Installed Base

The quality of your driveway is only as good as the paving company who installs it, which is why it is important to deal with an experienced contractor. Improper installation is the leading cause of driveway cracks, usually because the base was installed using sand or dirt instead of crushed stone.

Cold Weather

The freeze-thaw cycles of colder climates really take their toll on asphalt driveways. This happens when the water from melting snow or ice penetrates the surface of your driveway, making its way to the base. When the temperature drops, this water freezes and expands, causing cracks to form deep down. As more water enters, freezes, and expands, these cracks continue to grow until they eventually come to the surface.

Tree Roots

When paving your driveway, you should pay close attention to surrounding trees – especially large ones. Much like the freeze-thaw cycle, tree roots can put a substantial amount of pressure on your asphalt driveway from underneath. You can install a root barrier system along the edges of your driveway during installation, but be aware that these can compromise the stability of the trees.

Excessive Weight

Asphalt is a very strong material, but it is not invincible. Just like pressure from below can cause cracking, so can pressure from above. Don't park commercial vehicles on your driveway, and try not to park close to the edge, where the foundation is its weakest.

Do you need help getting the cracks out of your driveway? If you live in Fairfield County CT or Westchester County NY, call Roccie's Asphalt for a free quote at 888-88-ROCCIES. One of our trained specialists will thoroughly inspect your driveway to determine the cause and severity of the cracks, and will work with you to find the solution that best meets your needs.

How to Plan Your Parking Lot Layout

If you own a large business or shopping center, a pristine parking lot should be near the top of your priority list. You may think a customer's first impression comes when they step foot in your store, but their opinion starts to develop from the moment they turn into your parking lot.

If your parking lot is small, crowded, and ridden with cracks and potholes, it could be turning customers away before they even make it to your store. On the other hand, a freshly-paved parking lot with plenty of space and available spots has the opposite affect. We have already discussed what attracts people to a parking lot, and if you are planning on repaving yours, you will need to a plan.

Step One: Determine how much space you have to work with.

The first step in laying out your parking lot is determining how much space is available. If you are simply repaving your lot, you should already know this information, but if you are purchasing a new property, you might have some room to work with. After you have calculated your total square footage available for paving, you can move on to the next step.

Step Two: Determine a layout.

Your parking lot layout will be contingent on local zoning regulations as well as the size and location of the store relative to your property. Always check to make sure you aren't violating any town laws when planning commercial projects. Once everything is squared away from a legal standpoint, you will design your parking lot around your store. If the store is centered on the piece of land, you could designate parking all around the building, whereas if it is on an edge, you have to put everything in front of it, which would lead to longer walks for your customers.

Step Three: Plan your parking spaces.

The last step is to plot out your parking spaces. Ideally, you should be able to provide enough spaces to accommodate more customers than you will ever have at your store at one time, but there could be space limitations. If you are tight for room, arranging your parking spots correctly could help you maximize the space you do have.

According to this report from Planning.org, there are four main ways to lay out your parking spots:

It is recommended to designate about 300 square feet of space per car; a 9'x18' space for the car to park and the remaining ~140 square feet of space should be factored into aisles, landscaping, entrances, and exits. Cars are seven feet wide, so a space that is nine feet wide provides enough room to comfortably park. If you try to save space by making your spots narrower, it will encourage customers to park over the divider, taking up two spots and costing you room instead of saving it.

Do you need an extra hand in designing and paving your new parking lot? Call the experts at Roccie's Asphalt! Connecticut and New York business owners and property managers have trusted us with their commercial paving projects for 60 years. Call us for a free quote today at 888-88-ROCCIES.

4 Signs of a Reputable Paving Contractor

Buyer beware: if you need to repave your driveway, you should take extreme caution when choosing an asphalt contractor. Unfortunately, scammers and con artists run rampant in the paving industry, you need to protect yourself. For every reputable contractor who will do a good job, there is a shady businessman trying to take your money.

If you are having trouble determining if a paving contractor is legitimate or deceitful, look for these four signs.

They are accredited by the Better Business Bureau.

The Better Business Bureau should be the first resource you turn to when you are trying to find out whether a business is credible. For over 100 years, the BBB has helped consumers find reputable companies in their area – trust them to steer you in the right direction.

The are fully licensed & insured.

A paving contractor should be fully licensed to work in their respective state and should carry general liability insurance. Ask prospective contractors to show you proof of these two things, if they make an excuse or are unable to provide you with documentation, quickly move on and look for another company.

They provide a written contract.

When it comes to a big investment such as asphalt paving, you will want all information to be provided in the form of a written contract. This includes the start date, end date, work to be done, price, and materials used. If a contractor simply writes a price on the back of a business card or won't make anything other than a verbal commitment, consider this a red flag.

References & past projects.

Any paving contractor who has been in business for a while would be more than happy to provide you with a list of references or show you a portfolio of their work. Better yet, they should be able to take you around town and show you some of their past projects in person.

If you are looking for a reputable paving contractor in Fairfield County, CT or Westchester County, NY look no further than Roccie's Asphalt! We are A+ accredited by the Better Business Bureau and fully licensed and insured in both Connecticut and New York. We have served thousands of happy customers over the past 60 years, check out some of our work in our online showcase! Click here to visit our website or call us for a free quote at 888-88-ROCCIES.

Fall Maintenance Tips for Your Asphalt Driveway

The weather is cooling down, football season has kicked off, and the coffee shop around the corner is now serving its seasonal pumpkin lattes. While autumn doesn't officially start for another week or so, it will be here before you know it.

Be prepared this fall and use these tips to keep your asphalt driveway strong and robust for another cold season.

If you haven't sealcoated in 2+ years, do it now.

Winter is the most damaging season for asphalt driveways. If you live in a cold climate, melted snow and ice can penetrate your driveways surface and get into the base. When this water re-freezes, it expands, causing structural damage to the foundation of your driveway. Taking the time to sealcoat during the fall will help prevent winter damage.

Keep your driveway clear of leaves and other debris.

It is important to keep your driveway clear of dirt, grass clippings, and other lawn debris year-round, but during the fall, the leaves present an added challenge. Use a push broom or a leaf blower to keep fallen leaves off of your driveway, they will cause uneven fading from the sun.

Take care of your drainage.

Hurricane season runs through November 30 on the Atlantic Coast, so there is a very real possibility that you will experience heavy rain and thunderstorms within the upcoming months. As mentioned in this blog, water is one of asphalts three biggest enemies, so you will want to make sure to have a proper driveway drainage system in place to keep water flowing away from your driveway.

Do you need an extra hand preparing your driveway for fall and winter? If you live in Fairfield County, CT or Westchester County, NY look no further than Roccie's Paving! We offer a full suite of services for your asphalt driveway such as sealcoating, repaving, and drainage system installation. Visit our website for more information or give us a call for a free quote at 888-88-ROCCIES.

Common Asphalt Driveway Drainage Solutions

If you are experiencing pooling water on your asphalt driveway or parking lot, it is more than just an inconvenience. Standing water can not only freeze during the winter and create a safety hazard, it can also breakdown the asphalt surface and cause it to prematurely deteriorate.

There are many reasons that you could be experiencing drainage problems. It could be due to an uneven slope in your driveway, cracks and potholes collecting water, or simply the lack of an existing drainage system.

Luckily, no matter what the reason for your drainage problems, a solution exists to fix it! There are many drainage solutions for your asphalt driveway or parking lot, but in this article we will be taking a look at three of the most popular options, which are:

• Porous asphalt. Even though asphalt is one of the greenest materials on the planet, one thing it was criticized for was not taking water run-off into account. That is why porous asphalt was developed. Porous asphalt is just what it sounds like; it has small openings which allow water to naturally run through it and drain into the ground.

• Trench Drains. Trench drains are essentially gutters installed into your driveway or parking lot. You have probably seen them before: they are long, narrow drains with metal grating that run the width of your driveway. Usually, they are placed in front of the garage to prevent flooding, but they are also common along the edge of your foundation if you frequently suffer from basement floods.

• Relocation or Resurfacing. Sometimes, poor landscape design makes driveway drainage problems inevitable. If your driveway sits on a low-lying piece of land, it is doomed to collect water. In this case, it may be worth your while to consider relocating your driveway to the other side of your yard, or resurfacing it to alter the slope and create a runoff into the street.

If you are experiencing drainage problems with your Connecticut or New York driveway, these are just a few solutions you can take to correct the issue. If you live in Fairfield County, CT or Westchester County, NY, call the drainage experts at Roccie's Asphalt to discuss your options. Consultation is free, and we will even give you an up-front estimate! Call us today at 1-888-88-ROCCIES.