Why Is It Better To Dismantle The Concrete Pavement Before Asphalt Paving?

One of the questions that one has to face before repairing or replacing access roads is: “Should I lay new asphalt over the old concrete road?”

You really need to think about this, because the concrete road under the asphalt can create additional problems for you.

If you are convinced that they will not affect you, we will be happy to help you make asphalt driveways over concrete. The advantage of this method is the low cost, since heavy equipment is required to retrieve the existing concrete slab.

There are significant drawbacks, after analyzing which we still recommend removing the concrete. We will give several reasons for this.

Laying asphalt on concrete

Laying asphalt on a concrete base means using concrete slabs instead of gravel. Such roads are highly valued because they are characterized by high strength and durability, wear less, and are not subject to severe mechanical damage.

Benefits of placing asphalt on concrete:

good resistance to high loads;
smooth, even surface;
good grip of the car with the road.

Paving asphalt on old concrete makes the surface less slippery and the road markings maintain better.

Preparing the base layer for the road

A big problem with asphalting roads over concrete is related to the initial preparation of the site.

If the decision is made to place asphalt on top of concrete, you must be sure that it is poured onto the appropriate base. Because concrete contractors rarely worry about site preparation, the ground underneath can be prone to skidding or sinking, and there is no way of knowing what’s underneath.

The duration of the service of the access roads depends on the base

Unfortunately, when asphalt is poured over concrete, which rests on an unstable base, the pavement is more susceptible to stress. In addition, expansion joints in concrete promote cracking in the asphalt. In extreme cases, displacements in the ground can break the surface altogether.

Asphalt driveways last longer and look better when built from scratch. Your new paved access road will have a proper stable base and therefore will require less maintenance time, which will help you save money.

Asphalt paving technology on a concrete base

If asphalt is laid on old concrete, it is necessary to test the substrate for puddles. To do this, the surface is poured with water and looking at the resulting puddles. To lay asphalt and get a flat surface, the puddles should not be more than 2 cm.
After checking the base, the workers proceed to pour the asphalt mixture. Asphalting is carried out only in dry, sunny weather. Moisture on the surface reduces the temperature of the heated mix and leads to poorer adhesion, bumps, and pits.

To keep the asphalt on concrete for a long time and not be covered with cracks, the temperature of the asphalt mixture must be at least 170 degrees.

The compaction of the asphalt with a roller. After distributing the mixture, wait a little before using the roller. With proper asphalt paving, the roadbed will last for many years without requiring repairs.

Is it possible to put concrete on asphalt

Concrete can be laid over old asphalt to reduce sub-base preparation costs. To lay concrete on asphalt, the asphalt technology must be followed.

First, the old asphalt is cleaned of dirt. If there are holes, pits, cracks on the canvas, they are cleaned and deepened.

Then proceed to the application of bitumen. The material is heated to a high temperature and spread along the edges of the asphalt road, carefully filling all cracks and holes.

After filling all sides with bitumen, the craftsmen proceed to the classical technology to asphalt with concrete.

Old asphalt or concrete is not a hindrance to new paving. The main thing is to follow the technology exactly and take into account the purpose of the road. The best solution for your site will be selected by the specialists of our company, who will conduct a comprehensive diagnostics of the territory and then select the technology for creating a new road.

Skye Asphalt continues to acquire new customers and meet the highest quality standards. Carrying out hundreds and hundreds of asphalt paving jobs per year, we can safely say that we are asphalt paving experts in Plano, TX! We carry out asphalt work of all sizes, mainly in the residential and commercial field, but also in the institutional and municipal sectors.

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