Within the last few years going green has really become popular! Mother earth is very grateful for this!

People are recycling, using environmentally friendly cleaning materials and finding ways to be energy efficient.

It is great! Many people don't know that asphalt is also a green substance. Using environmentally friendly paving materials is very important for following a “green” lifestyle and is also very important for the earth.

Did you know that:

There is asphalt that requires less energy to produce and uses more recyclable materials in the mix, making it a more sustainable product. Asphalt is recyclable. It can be used over and over again, with minimal loss, just by reheating. In fact, a lot of that goes back into our road systems. It’s quite possible the asphalt you drive on today is decades old. Asphalt contains other waste materials such as concrete, waste oil and other hard to get rid of materials that can be found at demolition sites go into the making of recyclable asphalt. There is asphalt that has less oxidation during production, which means extended pavement life. Porous asphalt works with water. Porous asphalt is just as long-lasting and strong as regular asphalt, but it allows for water to pass through it, just like soil. There is asphalt that reduces emissions, making it better for the environment.

If you are in need of asphalt and you would like to choose from environmentally friendly options then we can help!

Even though we love Autumn, we don’t all love the season that follows it. As the Starks say, “winter is coming” and you must be prepared. Part of that is getting your driveway ready. We can help you get prepped for the earth’s toughest season.

Seasonal Seal Coating

Time is running out for you to get your driveway seal coated before the Fall really kicks into high gear. Ideally, Spring is the best time for seal coating, but you can certainly have success in October and November, weather permitting.

For proper curing, a seal coat needs nightly temperature about 50 degrees. So, in some ways, this time of year in Idaho is perfect with warm days and cool nights. The problem is the falling leaves. If leaves fall during the curing period, they become embedded in the seal coat, which weakens the strength of the job and creates uneven surfaces. Due to this, typically once leaves begin to fall in earnest, seal coating season is over until the Spring.

Spring Ahead

If your driveway is very cracked and in rough shape, you want to get it taken care of before the Winter season. But if you are unable to or the weather won’t cooperate, don’t worry because Spring is the ideal time for seal coating asphalt driveways.

Not only is the weather ideal for proper curing, prepping asphalt in the Spring ensures that your paved surfaces will look great all Summer and Fall. Plus, seal coating can become damaged by Winter equipment such as shovels snow plows, and snow blowers. Luckily, we are experts at ensuring the best possible job, so that you don’t have to worry about seasonal damage.

When installing a new driveway or parking lot, you'll want to make sure that you are receiving quality service and that the project will last for years to come. Unfortunately, some contractors take shortcuts, use the wrong materials and bid low to snag a job. Ensure that your asphalt is installed with care with the proper materials. When done right, the investment is worth it.

Idaho Asphalt Services offers five steps to make certain that your asphalt investment is a good one.

1. The prep.

The first step is the preparation stage. Technicians will come and mark off utility lines such as power, telephone, gas, sewer, etc. We'll check for sprinklers, fences, alarms sensors, plumbing or electrical systems.

2. Clearing off the site.

Our services include clearing off any damaged pavement, loam, stumps, clay or other soft material. Hinderances underneath the new pavement (like OLD pavement) will cause it to crack. The excavation step cannot be skipped.

3. Providing the structure's foundation.

The next step involves the correct installation of base and grading. The base is evaluated, and then the proper amount of crushed processed stone is laid at the base. A skid steer aids in spreading the product to establish that the product is compacted well and allows for sufficient water drainage.

4. Asphalt installation

After the appropriate preparation, Idaho Asphalt Services fills the dump tracks with pavement mix. Effective equipment is essential to the job. Owning the proper trucks provides a minimum cooling and downtime of the materials.

5. Compacting

A thorough compacting is a crucial part of asphalt paving. Without the compaction, the asphalt will not be able to support the weight of a vehicle. The surface should be rolled with a vibratory drum roller.

Roads come in a lot of different forms. There are the loyal, reliable roads we drive on every day, communicating with us in lines of white and yellow. There are the paths that we take in our lives--and whether you take the one well-worn or the one less traveled by, these paths still make all the difference. Quieter than both of these, humbler and less noticed, are the modest little brothers: the walkways. We don't think about walkways very much. The fact that we can so easily take them as just another part of the landscape speaks volumes as to the power and grace of a well-built walkway--and that's what you'll be aiming for when you add this feature to your yard. Preparing for a walkway, then, is naturally a big responsibility, and residential paving experts can help.

Walkways in your Yard

Adding a walkway to your yard can be a great decision. Whether you're looking for a functional piece, an accent, or an attractive addition to your landscape, a walkway can do everything you need and more--but while they are reliable, they can also be fickle. Walkways can feel like they belong in their surroundings, or, if done incorrectly, they can feel disjointed, confused, and awkward. Walkways need to be attractive, but not forced; natural, but not completely overlooked; functional, but not unattractive. Preparing your yard before beginning the build is crucial to making sure that your walkway meets all of your needs. The first step is to prepare the soil.

Soil

Wait--how do you prepare the soil? It may sound strange, but preparing your soil to be paved by bricks, concrete, or brick is quite easy. Here's a quick look!

Step 1. The first thing you'll need to do is identify your pavers. Are you using brick, concrete, something else? You'll need to measure the thickness of your chosen pavers (in inches). Step 2. Take the measurement from Step 1 and add five inches--that's how far down you'll need to dig to prepare for your walkway. Use a garden shovel or another reliable tool and dig according to the path you want your walkway to take. Step 3. Once the path is dug, spread road base or gravel onto the bottom. This will help make your walkway reliable, long-lived, and safe. Make sure the gravel is about three inches thick, then smooth it out. Step 4. Using a sheet of landscaping fabric or weed cloth, cover the gravel. This will keep unsightly weeds from coming through the surface of your walkway. Step 5. Place a two-inch-thick layer of building or concrete sand over the landscaping fabric. This is another step used to help make your walkway safe and give it a longer lifespan; the sand will help solidify the other layers and provide a level surface for your pavers. Step 6. You're ready to begin work on your walkway! Begin placing the pavers along the path.

As human beings, we each have a long list of things we need to take care of, and every day requires a little bit of maintenance for one thing or another. We have to take care of our bodies, and we do that by working out and eating right. We have to take care of our minds, so we read, watch documentaries, play challenging games. We also have to take care of the dog, the house, the bills, the car--the list can, some days, seem to stretch on for miles. But one thing that rarely makes that list, despite needing just as much care as everything else, is the road.

Seal Coating

Roads, like almost everything, suffer some everyday wear-and-tear. Chips, dents, and cracks are just a few problems that any road has to face. There are many options to fix these issues--but one solution provides more benefits and fewer drawbacks than most of the other possibilities combined. Seal coating is an efficient, effective, and cost-friendly way to take care of the road. It improves the safety and reliability of the road and maximizes pavement lifetime, meaning that huge repairs can be less frequent and, when they do take place, less expensive.

FAQ's

As drivers, joggers, bikers, dog-walkers, and citizens, we all naturally have questions about seal coating. Here's just a quick look at the details of seal coating!

Why? Seal coating is like a shield for the road. Not only does it help to seal cracks or chips on the surface--it also increases the lifespan, improves cosmetic appearance, protects from the elements and other everyday hazards, and boosts safety. Plus, it can be applied to newly-paved roads, too. How frequently should we use seal coating? The time between coats differs depending on the specific road itself. If the road is frequently traveled, a seal coat will be necessary about once a year; however, less-traveled roads can require seal coating once every three years. How safe is seal coating? Seal coating does not make the surface of the road slick or slippery. In fact, it improves safety by minimizing surface hazards and making paint lines more visible.