Facts and FAQs
FAQs
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Hotshot Asphalt does provide free quotes. Because we do have an investment in our customers’ free quotes, though, we always appreciate it when they not only let us know if they’ve chosen to use us, but also if they’ve decided to go a different route. Just a quick text is always nice for us to get closure!
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40 degrees Fahrenheit for both the ambient air and ground temperatures.
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Spring is the best time of year to schedule your project to be done and beat the rush. Spring is the slowest season, as customers are just starting to think about their outdoor work and haven’t made their decisions, yet. Since weather impacts asphalt work, last minute delays are to be expected in Spring. However, if you’re able to be flexible, you’re more assured of getting your work completed within the season and avoid price increases that may occur.
We typically get more booked up as the season progresses into Summer and have been known to have our paving season’s schedule pretty much full by the middle of August. Our sealcoating schedule is often more or less filled even earlier.
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Typically 90 days to allow it to release its volatile content. If it’s smaller patches, it can be done after 6 weeks.
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1” minus or 2” minus topped with 1” minus. Minus content is required to stabilize the rock and prevent it from rolling under the paver.
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While it is possible to overlay an overlay, it isn’t recommended. The viability of the interface between the first and second layers is unknown.
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Sealcoating is a layer, like paint or stain, on asphalt that is meant to seal and protect it from the elements and/or make it more attractive.
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What is known in the industry as ‘alligator’ cracks, otherwise known as ‘fatigue cracking’ is the crazed, shattered cracking pattern that asphalt develops when it’s in structural failure. These cracks start at the bottom of the asphalt and work their way up, so they are full-depth. The pieces fit together like a puzzle, and at first are locked together. Over time, the edges become worn and the puzzle pieces start to tilt and move on the base rock. Eventually, one of them becomes dislodged and the surface starts to unravel, forming a pothole.
If caught in time, while the pieces are still locked, the area might be able to be overlaid (depends on slopes). If not, or if the slope conditions dictate, the area needs to be removed and replaced to full-depth (patch).
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Asphalt paving is weather dependent, so in our area, it is seasonal. It typically begins in mid-March (off and on) and ends on or about December 15.
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50 degrees Fahrenheit for both the ambient air and ground temperatures.
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We recommend every 2-3 years depending on amount of traffic and slope. Also, see below for tips on how to tell when to call us.
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The majority of privately owned asphalt is residential loading design which is typically 3”.
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Longevity is highly variable and depends on thickness of the asphalt, the quality of the soils and base rock beneath it, as well as use, degree of slope, water intrusion and proper maintenance. Rule of thumb is 25 years for optimal conditions for asphalt before major rehabilitation (overlay or replacement) is necessary. In our area, properly installed 2-inch overlays over an only moderately deteriorated asphalt base typically will last approximately 12-15 years.
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When a large area of asphalt that has already been overlaid requires rehabilitation, the economical solution is sometimes to remove the overlay with a roto mill and apply another overlay.
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Pavement will move over time with settling of its base, freeze/thaw action and static and dynamic surcharges. Because asphalt doesn’t have reinforcing bar in it, as it ages and becomes less flexible, cracks will form wherever the surface is trying to relieve pressures. Applying an asphalt-based sealcoating on a regular regimen will help asphalt to retain some of its flexibility and help to deter cracking.
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Hotshot Asphalt installs French drains when needed under asphalt. When an area has shown signs of constant or near constant weeping (wetness), it indicates that there is an issue with ground water intrusion or surface water that has migrated through the base rock from another area. This causes the underlying soils and base rock to be soft and spongy, reducing their bearing capacity and weakening the asphalt in the area. Typically, there will be alligator cracking in the area, with linear cracks radiating from it.
A French drain is a perforated pipe, or series of pipes, set in a trench of clean river rock, that collects the intruding water and leads to pipe that drains it either to daylight downhill or to a stormwater structure. This can then be paved over and will not be seen from the surface.
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Sealcoating is extremely weather dependent, so in our area, it is seasonal. It typically begins in early April (off and on) and ends on or about October 15. Crack filling can be done into early November.
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40 degrees Fahrenheit for both the ambient air and ground temperatures.
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Look for these indicators:
Surface has started to “gray out”.
You see patches of sand here and there; this indicates your asphalt is losing its binder (basically drying out) and freeing up the aggregate content.
If there are spots where the sealer has chipped or flaked off (like old paint), your last seal coat was probably coal tar; it’s time to re-seal when you see this begin. Our asphalt emulsion can be used over coal tar.
If you’re unsure, call us—we’ll give you an honest assessment.
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In our area, 8” depth is the norm. This is for asphalt over non-expansive soils with typical strength.
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An overlay is a fresh layer of asphalt, typically 2” thick, placed over asphalt that has reached the end, or near-end, of its useable life. Hotshot Asphalt actually does overlays in two layers that total 2”: the first layer (wedge course) fills in potholes and uneven areas and has a rough texture. The second layer is the smooth, finish layer.
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Resurfacing is just another name for an overlay.
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For hairline and spider-webbed cracks (i.e. 1/8" thickness or less) , the sealer specified below will be sufficient for fill in.
For hairline and spider-webbed cracks (i.e. 1/8" thickness or less), crack fill is too viscous (thick) to penetrate such a narrow space, so sealer will be sufficient for fill in.
Medium cracks, less than 1/2”, will be filled with hot-pour rubberized liquid at 370ºF and squeegeed in with a V-shaped tool.
Large cracks greater than 1/2” are filled with sand followed by a layer of hot-pour rubberized liquid as described above.
Extra-large cracks greater than 1” are filled with 1/4" trap rock followed by a layer of hot-pour rubberized liquid as described above.
Extremely wide cracks can be filled with mastic, which is the same hot-pour rubberized liquid described above that has been mixed with fine aggregate and applied with specialized tools.
Alternatively, extremely wide cracks can be milled out with a 12" wide rotary mill and filled with hot asphalt.
Cracks may need to be filled again when asphalt is re-sealed every 2-3 years.
Asphalt Emulsion Sealer Versus Coal Tar:
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Behaves similar to stain in that it soaks into the surface of the asphalt, as well as a portion remaining on top.
PROS
More environmentally friendly than coal tar.
For a time, even after it has started to gray out, there is still a portion that is in the asphalt pores and still providing protection.
Will actually help to rejuvenate the asphalt surface, replacing lost binder and reducing brittleness and cracking.
Is very black (more so than coal tar) when first applied.
CONS
Will eventually “gray out” as it wears off the surface.
Should be re-coated when there is more gray than black—typically every 2-3 years.
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Behaves similar to paint, providing protection to the asphalt surface by sitting on top of it like a shell.
PROS
Looks black for the duration of its utility.
Lasts a bit longer than emulsion—typically 3-5 years.
CONS
KNOWN CARCENOGEN! Biggest CON is that it is environmentally unfriendly. It has been banned in many areas. It also causes chemical burns on bare skin, so is dangerous for employees who are applying it.
DOESN’T AGE GRACEFULLY! Like old paint, it will start to flake and chip off as it ages, resulting in a pockmarked and pitted surface that no amount of sealer will cover.
DOESN’T AGE GRACEFULLY! With more applications, it will eventually become “gunky” and cracked (like old paint), often to the point where it is difficult to tell if it’s the sealer that’s cracked or the asphalt itself.
Does nothing to improve the flexibility of the asphalt to reduce cracking.
Immediately loses protection ability as areas are exposed by flaking.
Apples to Apples - Tips When Choosing Contractors
Testimonial:
Our church organization was shopping for an asphalt contractor to overlay the entry drive for our facility. It came down to two companies—Hotshot Asphalt and another company I’ll call ‘Acme’. Acme’s pricing came in at $1K less than Hotshot’s ($13K versus $14K), so to save money, we decided to go with them.
We handed the owner a check for the balance the day they did the work. It wasn’t until we drove on it the following day, though, that we could feel how uneven and wavy it was. We all agreed it was unacceptable and needed to be fixed. When we called Acme’s owner, he said he would come back and fix it if the church paid for half of the asphalt it would take!
Instead, we went back to Hotshot Asphalt to make the repair, which entailed the need to remove almost the entire thing (including the original layer) and start over. We ended up paying significantly more than that original $1K price difference to make our driveway the way it should have been, but we are very happy with Hotshot’s results.—Anonymous
Takeaway?—Price Isn’t Everything: Price shouldn’t be the deciding factor when choosing your asphalt contractor. As with most things and services people buy, the asphalt industry has variations in quality between providers and their results that aren’t necessarily immediately apparent. As you shop for contractors, it’s important to be aware that the pricing received may not represent the same thing between contractors. Standards, equipment type and condition, operator ability, honesty—all influence the outcome of a project.
So even after it all looks comparable on paper, how can you be more assured that the contractor will actually provide what they said they would? Three factors to look closely at are:
Reputation: This is the best indicator of a contractor’s ability to deliver the results you want. It’s always good policy to search for personal recommendations from friends and neighbors or read Google reviews (though those can be manipulated) to help establish a contractor’s authenticity.
Examples of Their Work: Good contractors are always proud of their work and will be able to provide you with a list of their projects that you can drive by to see what you can expect of their quality.
Physical Address: It’s astounding how this simple factor can say so much. Search for the contractor’s physical address on-line or in person. Many small contractors in the asphalt business may offer a physical address, but further investigation on Google Earth or in person will show only a residence or an empty lot. If such a contractor is chosen—usually because they can underbid the legitimate contractors—and there is an issue with the installation either immediately or a few years down the road, it’s impossible for you to get it repaired or get your money back.
Hotshot Asphalt is Easily Found: Our office and shop are readily available. Customers are always welcome to drop by to check out the facilities and get reassurance that we are here to stay. We offer a one-year warranty on the majority of our paving work, 30 days on our sealcoats, and you know where to find us if you need anything.
Asphalt Versus Concrete
There are several choices of materials to surface or re-surface your driveway, parking lot or roadway. Much of the choice depends on size and utility. If it’s narrowed down to asphalt or concrete, asphalt has several advantages. Compared to concrete, asphalt is:
Generally, less expensive (1/2 to 2/3 of the cost, depending on the size of the project)
Faster to install
Can be driven on within a day (compared to 4 weeks for concrete)
Smoother
With periodic maintenance and refurbishment will last almost as long as concrete
When it comes time to replace, is much cheaper to remove than concrete
Has an attractive black color many people prefer
The black color absorbs heat during the cold months and helps to melt snow and ice