 When it comes to driveways, many homeowners prefer asphalt paving for its consistent appearance, durability, and affordable cost. Throughout much of the year, asphalt can withstand all weather conditions. However, when winter arrives, a driveway can become unusable due to years of damage caused by freeze-thaw cycles. To understand what this is, how it affects asphalt, and what you can do to protect your driveway, take a look at the useful guide below.
How a Freeze-Thaw Cycle Damages Asphalt A freeze-thaw cycle occurs when temperatures fluctuate back and forth around the freezing point, or 32 degrees. When the temperature is above freezing, water will seep into tiny cracks and pores in asphalt paving. When the temperature drops back down, this moisture will freeze and expand, forcing cracks to grow and weakening the paved surface. Once the water thaws again, it can spread deeper within the pavement, and the cycle repeats. If it penetrates far enough, ice and frost can even degrade the foundation beneath a driveway and cause soil to settle, weakening the pavement even further. Tips for Protecting Your Asphalt Driveway The first step to protect asphalt from freeze-thaw cycles is to ensure that it’s properly graded when laid down. Asphalt should have a slope of at least 2% to help it drain off as much water as possible and minimize the risk of saturation. After installation, the most effective way to protect an asphalt driveway is to have it sealcoated every two to three years. There are many varieties of asphalt sealcoating, the most common of which is coal tar emulsion, a mixture of coal tar, water, emulsifying agents, and additives. When applied to asphalt, sealcoating forms a protective, watertight layer that can substantially reduce or eliminate the risk of cracking and spalling. Finally, if you find any cracks in your driveway, you can limit the spread of damage by having them repaired and resealed as quickly as possible. If you need reliable asphalt paving or snow removal, contact Guarco Construction in Granby, CT. We are family-owned and -operated, and have served Hartford County and the surrounding areas since 1974. We specialize in commercial and residential paving and snow removal. We are renowned for their friendly, dependable service, attention to detail, and competitive rates. Learn more about us online or call (860) 278-5558 to schedule your snow removal or asphalt paving.
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 With the arrival of a Connecticut winter, you can almost certainly expect a season full of snow, ice, and freezing rain. These elements can be difficult for both people and structures to deal with, and your business's parking lot is no exception. However, proper preparation will help protect your commercial pavement and reduce the risk of damage in the colder months ahead; here are a few ways to get your parking lot ready for winter weather.
How to Prepare Your Parking Lot for Winter 1. Consider Resurfacing Commercial pavement resurfacing involves adding a new layer of asphalt on top of the existing surface. The months leading up to winter are an excellent time to invest in this service. It strengthens your parking lot and increases its durability against the harsh winter elements. It also extends the life span of your parking lot, often up to 15 years or more. If your commercial paving professional offers sealcoating, consider having sealant applied to your resurfaced lot. Sealcoating is a thin, clear, protective membrane that prevents damage from water—always a concern in winter—as well as from oils and sunlight. 2. Fill Cracks Cracks in pavement create an easy opportunity for water to enter and penetrate the surface. Over time, this causes the structure to weaken, increasing the size of the cracks and contributing to the development of potholes. Since you can pretty much depend on the winter being a wet season, filling parking lot cracks now will mean less chance of water getting into and damaging your pavement. If you're not going to sealcoat, filling cracks should be essential parking-lot prep-work for winter. 3. Repaint Lines When parking lot lines are weak, faded, or chipped away, they are hard enough for your customers and employees to see. Add a layer of snow or ice on top, and they are virtually indecipherable. Not only can this cause confusion and chaos in your parking lot, but it can also lead to accidents and injuries, opening you up to liability issues. Before winter weather starts to ramp up, take the time to repaint all lines, including space dividers, handicap zone markers, and traffic direction indicators. If you need reliable asphalt paving or snow removal, contact Guarco Construction in Granby, CT. We are family-owned and -operated, and have served Hartford County and the surrounding areas since 1974. We specialize in commercial and residential paving and snow removal. We are renowned for their friendly, dependable service, attention to detail, and competitive rates. Learn more about us online or call (860) 278-5558 to schedule your snow removal or asphalt paving.  Winter weather can transform a safe, comfortable business into a slick, dangerous situation. The risk of slip and falls and injuries increases substantially with ice and snow. To protect customers and avoid liability claims, it’s important to be proactive and utilize professional commercial snow plowing services. Here’s a closer look at what else you can do to keep your company safe on icy days.
3 Ways to Reduce Business Slip and Falls 1. Maintain Roofing Exterior damage to commercial spaces often goes unnoticed until leaks appear. Dripping water is a common cause of business injury as customers and employees can slip on wet floors. Equipment, like pallet jacks, can also skid on slick surfaces, putting the machinery, the operator, and bystanders at risk. Getting ahead of leaks is key to reducing these hazards. Schedule a yearly maintenance inspection to identify roofing, gutter, and downspout damage. Problems with any of these elements can inhibit the flow of moisture as it melts, causing leaks. As such, if any issues are found, have them fixed immediately. 2. Use Walk-Off Mats People coming from outdoors track in snow, ice, and mud, which can create a trail of slick flooring. Placing absorbent walk-off mats at the entrances can help reduce the amount of moisture that makes its way inside. Use longer mats to help catch and remove more water. Additionally, place signage near doorways warning of wet flooring on days with winter precipitation. 3. Routinely Clear Surfaces Snow and ice make parking lots and walkways incredibly slick. Not only do such circumstances put pedestrians at risk of falling, but they also make drivers more susceptible to accidents. For these reasons, getting commercial snow plowing is essential to keeping the surfaces clear. Frozen precipitation also needs to be removed and dumped away from the building and parking areas to prevent melting runoff from refreezing as ice. If you need reliable asphalt paving or snow removal, contact Guarco Construction in Granby, CT. We are family-owned and -operated, and have served Hartford County and the surrounding areas since 1974. We specialize in commercial and residential paving and snow removal. We are renowned for their friendly, dependable service, attention to detail, and competitive rates. Learn more about us online or call (860) 278-5558 to schedule your snow removal or asphalt paving.  With the winter weather still going strong, you need to make sure you have an effective plan for clearing accumulation from your business property. Hiring a commercial snow plowing company will ensure that wintry precipitation is taken care of to provide maximum safety for customers and employees and minimize potential damage. While the professionals will take care of the plowing, you can facilitate the process with the following tips. How to Prepare Your Commercial Property for Snow Plowing 1. Do a Pre-Snow Walkthrough or Provide a Site Map As snow piles up, it can cover features that protrude out of the ground and put them at risk of being damaged by machinery and tools. This goes for any items above ground level, like fire hydrants, curbs, utility hardware, and speed bumps. Doing a pre-snow walkthrough with the commercial snow plowing company or providing them with a site map will help them be aware of these risks and take precautions to avoid them. Marking these areas with snow stakes or safety cones can also minimize potential damage. 2. Clear Your Surroundings Blizzard-like conditions during the winter can result in white-outs. In these cases, it can be difficult to see even large items on the property, like dumpsters or parked cars. Removing whatever could potentially be in the way during snow removal will ensure the plowing can proceed without delays or potential damage. 3. Make a Designated Snow Mound Area Find a safe, designated area away from the building for the snow to be dumped. This precaution will eliminate the risk of flooding damaging the foundation once the snow melts. You can mark these areas with flags or cones. Having a backup mound area in case of heavy snowfall will prepare the property if there's excess snow. If you need reliable asphalt paving or snow removal, contact Guarco Construction in Granby, CT. We are family-owned and -operated, and have served Hartford County and the surrounding areas since 1974. We specialize in commercial and residential paving and snow removal. We are renowned for their friendly, dependable service, attention to detail, and competitive rates. Learn more about us online or call (860) 278-5558 to schedule your snow removal or asphalt paving.  Hartford gets approximately 38 inches of snow annually—well over the United States average. As beautiful as this precipitation is, it can create unwanted obstacles for business operations. While you might consider buying a snowblower or a truck plow attachment and asking an employee to perform snow removal for your commercial property, this is often inefficient and risky. The guide below explains the benefits of relying on professionals instead.
Why Should You Invest in Professional Snow Removal? 1. Keep Business Operating While recent years have shown that some employees can work from home successfully, other positions benefit or require time spent on-site. Your business might also rely on deliveries or customers coming to your commercial location. If there are heaps of snow in the parking lot, it makes it harder—if not impossible—for employees to park, harming productivity. Customers may assume that the business isn't open, resulting in lost profits. While DIY efforts may be able to clear part of this space, professionals operate as a team using heavy-duty equipment and effective deicing solutions to clear the area as quickly as possible. 2. Enjoy Cost Savings & Convenience Snow removal equipment can be expensive, especially since you need different tools for different situations. For example, you will likely need a V-plow rather than a straight blade plow for breaking up snowbanks. Even when not in use, these systems need to be maintained, adding to their costs—and you have to find a place to store them. When relying on professionals, you don't have to worry about this since they will bring their own, top-of-the-line equipment and use the most efficient tool for the job. 3. Prevent Liability Issues If someone slips and falls on icy pavement or stairs and you are found responsible for their injuries, you will be expected to pay for their medical expenses. This can also harm your business reputation if it seems like you don't emphasize maintenance or public safety. Professionals work fast at clearing sidewalks—giving the salt and the sunshine more opportunity to remove the last traces of snow or ice from these surfaces to reduce risks. In addition, they have their own insurance in case a team member gets hurt lifting shovelfuls of snow or operating the plow. If you have your own employee do it, you will have to pay out a workers compensation claim for any injuries they incur. If you need reliable asphalt paving or snow removal, contact Guarco Construction in Granby, CT. We are family-owned and -operated, and have served Hartford County and the surrounding areas since 1974. We specialize in commercial and residential paving and snow removal. We are renowned for their friendly, dependable service, attention to detail, and competitive rates. Learn more about us online or call (860) 278-5558 to schedule your snow removal or asphalt paving.  With winter approaching, it's time to prepare your property for the snowy weather. The right preparations can protect your asphalt driveway from the damage inflicted by snow and ice and make it easier for snow removal professionals to clear the accumulation. Here's how to get your driveway ready for this winter season.
How to Get Your Driveway Winter-Ready 1. Clear Debris Prior to the first snowfall, make sure your driveway is free from any significant debris. The weight of ice and snow on top of branches or loose rocks could crack or otherwise wear out the surface. Consider power-washing your driveway to remove any stubborn dirt or oil residue, which can also cause deterioration and discoloration when mixed with snow. 2. Get the Right Ice Melt Many ice melts contain chemicals that can damage the integrity of your driveway's surface by wearing away the top layer. For example, standard rock salt—sodium chloride—is corrosive and can leave residue behind. This type of ice melt can also widen existing cracks. The best products use calcium-based formulas, which effectively melt ice and snow while keeping your driveway intact. 3. Have Cracks Sealed Inspect your driveway for any cracks before the snow arrives. When the accumulation melts into gaps and subsequently freezes over, the frozen water will expand the cracks and cause further damage. Having your driveway professionally sealed and repaired beforehand will ensure there are no fissures for snow melt to enter, saving you from potentially extensive driveway repairs in the spring. If you need reliable asphalt paving or snow removal, contact Guarco Construction in Granby, CT. We are family-owned and -operated, and have served Hartford County and the surrounding areas since 1974. We specialize in commercial and residential paving and snow removal. We are renowned for their friendly, dependable service, attention to detail, and competitive rates. Learn more about us online or call (860) 278-5558 to schedule your snow removal or asphalt paving.  With freezing temperatures, regular snowfall, and the routine use of heavy equipment like snowplows and tire chains, winter is a tough time for an asphalt parking lot. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to protect your asphalt paving with the help of commercial snow plowing services. Here’s what to do to get ready for the season.
How to Prepare an Asphalt Parking Lot for the Winter 1. Repair Potholes Potholes form when water enters the ground, freezes, and expands. This expansion forces parts of your asphalt paving to crack, bend, and break. When the frozen water melts, it retreats and leaves natural depressions in these damaged spots. During the winter, existing potholes will likely worsen. This presents a danger to your customers and employees, increasing the risk of falls and damage to vehicles. Have your potholes repaired by an asphalt paving professional before winter hits. 2. Seal the Surface Sealcoating safeguards your parking lot by applying a sealant layer over the top. This solid coating protects the surface from water and ultraviolet light damage. Before the sealcoat is installed, cracks need to be filled in to create a uniform surface. A paving service can handle these tasks. Just be sure to plan accordingly because the lot won't be usable for 24 to 72 hours after the application of the sealcoat. 3. Hire Commercial Snow Plowing Professionals Enlist the services of snow removal professionals to care for your parking lot. Using your own tools, such as shovels or snowblowers, can be a labor-intensive undertaking and easily scratch, scrape, or crack your asphalt surface. Professionals use industrial-grade snow plows to get the job done quickly and effectively, and they know how to navigate parking lots so as not to damage them. If you need reliable asphalt paving or snow removal, contact Guarco Construction in Granby, CT. We are family-owned and -operated, and have served Hartford County and the surrounding areas since 1974. We specialize in commercial and residential paving and snow removal. We are renowned for their friendly, dependable service, attention to detail, and competitive rates. Learn more about us online or call (860) 278-5558 to schedule your snow removal or asphalt paving.  Snow removal for your driveway seems simple enough; all you do is shovel the snow away or throw some salt on it, right? Many homeowners don’t know that there’s actually more to it than that. If you’re not convinced that you should hire professionals for this job, consider the following problems that can arise when attempting DIY removal.
Why Avoid DIY Snow Removal? 1. Injury Shoveling is hard physical labor involving repetitive movements and consistently lifting wet, heavy snow. You can easily injure your back, shoulders, or neck if you don't have experience with the proper shoveling form. You can do your own snow removal without hurting yourself by keeping your hips and shoulders aligned, bending at the knees, and lifting the shovel with your legs. However, you’ll avoid injury altogether by hiring snow removal professionals who are trained to work quickly, efficiently, and safely. 2. Inefficiency Many people start shoveling without realizing that there’s an efficient order sequence to follow. In general, it’s best to clear a path down the middle first and then work on one side at a time. You should also avoid standing or stamping on unshoveled snow; it’s harder to remove when packed. However, the most sensible methods depend on your driveway’s size, layout, and other factors. Professionals will know exactly how much deicer to use and whether shoveling, plowing, or using a snowblower is more appropriate for your property. 3. Landscape Damage Moving snow from your driveway to your lawn will clear a path for walking and parking, but it may also kill your grass with weight and over saturation. Salt is no better; it could melt the snow and ice and cause runoff into the lawn, depleting the nutrients in your soil. Snow removal experts use equipment like salt trucks that are designed to lay the salt in a precise area so that the chemicals don't harm your lawn. The professionals can also move and spread the snow evenly so that it doesn't put too much weight on your grass. If you need reliable asphalt paving or snow removal, contact Guarco Construction in Granby, CT. We are family-owned and -operated, and have served Hartford County and the surrounding areas since 1974. We specialize in commercial and residential paving and snow removal. We are renowned for their friendly, dependable service, attention to detail, and competitive rates. Learn more about us online or call (860) 278-5558 to schedule your snow removal or asphalt paving.  The first snowfall isn’t as far away as you might think! Now is the time to make sure your commercial properties are ready for Mother Nature and the approaching winter.
Without proper treatment, snow and ice events can wreak havoc on your property. The most common property injuries are slip and falling accidents. Don’t put your business property at risk. Start your search for a commercial snow removal company now so you have time discuss snow management before the snow starts! What to look for: 1. What Snow Removal Services Do They Offer? Ask what they do and won't do for your snow removal needs. Do they clear parking lots, sidewalks and entrances of snow and ice? Do they spray deicers? Are the spray deicers bad for the pavement? Do they offer preventative snow and ice measures? What do they suggest you do to prevent issues? Do they haul and remove the snow off property or is it pushed into a specific area? If so, where do you want the snow pushed to? 2. What Insurance Do they Carry? Do they have the required insurance for snow removal? 3. How Quickly Do They Come After a Winter Snow Fall or Storm? How quickly will your snow removal company will be on your property after it snows? Do they come during the storm or wait until it is completed? Share with the snow removal company your hours of business so they know how to best serve your employee and client needs. You don’t want piles of snow at the entrance of your property when employees, visitors, and clients arrive. Most importantly, find a company that you can trust and who provides quality work, quick turnaround times, safety and helps you meet your property goals for commercial snow removal services in the Hartford area. If you need reliable asphalt paving or snow removal, contact Guarco Construction in Granby, CT. We are family-owned and -operated and have served Hartford County and the surrounding areas since 1974. We specialize in commercial and residential paving and snow removal. We are renowned for their friendly, dependable service, attention to detail, and competitive rates. Learn more about us online or call (860) 278-5558 to schedule your snow removal or asphalt paving.  Snow is part of winter life when you live and work in Connecticut. While you may anticipate this weather as a business owner, your customers will expect you to deal with accumulation on your parking lots and roadways. Fortunately, you can avoid the hassle of keeping up with snowfall when you hire a local snow plowing company to clear your pavement. Here are five ways that commercial snow plowing will support your business.
5 Reasons Your Business Needs Commercial Snow Plowing 1. Prevents Accidents Even the most careful person can slip and fall on a patch of ice or snow. When these accidents happen on your business property, you may be liable for any injuries that occur. Commercial snow plowing will ensure that your walkways are clear and safe for both customers and employees. 2. Encourages Visitors When people see lots of snow cover, they might consider the area to be off-limits. As a result, not clearing your parking lot may deter customers who would otherwise spend money on your products or services. This obstacle may also make it more difficult for you to receive deliveries from vendors. 3. Keeps Staff Focused While you may be tempted to have employees clear the parking lot and walkways, this job can be time-consuming and cumbersome. With commercial snow plowing, your staff can focus on their regular business duties while professionals clear away your parking lot. 4. Cuts Costs Another pitfall of DIY snow removal—especially when it comes to covering large areas of pavement—is the high cost of equipment. Snow plowing companies are equipped with the heavy-duty tools required for the job, allowing you to save your money for more important business expenses. 5. Protects Pavement Leaving snow and ice on parking lots can contribute to moisture buildup and temperature fluctuations—problems that can lead to faded paint lines and potholes. Shoveling snow on your own can also increase the risk of chipping the pavement. If you want to avoid the need for asphalt paving, it’s better to hire a snow removal contractor who uses tools and techniques that will keep your parking lot in good condition. If you need reliable asphalt paving or snow removal, contact Guarco Construction in Granby, CT. We are family-owned and -operated, and have served Hartford County and the surrounding areas since 1974. We specialize in commercial and residential paving and snow removal. We are renowned for their friendly, dependable service, attention to detail, and competitive rates. Learn more about us online or call (860) 278-5558 to schedule your snow removal or asphalt paving. |
Carl Guarco2nd Generation Landscaper and expert in Snow Removal and Paving. Archives
November 2022
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