Sealcoating
Sealcoating is designed to protect asphalt pavements from the damaging effects of the environment which include rain, snow and ultraviolet oxidation. Protecting pavement with seal coating has basically the same effect as using sun block on your skin or varnish on wood- it slows the destructive effects of our extreme midwest climate. Sealcoating can double the life of your pavement by protecting it from its enemies: sun, oxidation, weather, water, oil & gas. Houck Asphalt applies sealcoating products tailored for each particular situation to form a tough protective coating over your parking lot.

What Is Sealcoating And Why Is It Necessary?
Properly designed parking lots rarely wear out from traffic. Surface deterioration is usually caused by the weathering effects of the sun and rain as well as the softening effects of deicers, gasoline and oil drippings.

Oxidation, the graying in color of asphalt pavement, is a sign of fatigue, aging and general surface deterioration. When unprotected pavement becomes oxidized, the aggregate will begin to ravel from the surface making the pavement rough. Once the surface becomes brittle, cracks develop, and the pavement deteriorates. Furthermore, water which accumulates in open pavement structures is a major cause of pavement damage.

Instituting a preventive maintenance program before these damaging elements get a hold on your pavement is important. Application of a rubber fortified coal tar emulsion is the most cost effective maintenance procedure available. When you sealcoat asphalt you double its life by shielding it from a variety of destructive forces. In addition to its practicality, sealcoating also enhances the appearance of your pavement by giving it an attractive, easy-to-clean, slate black color finish.Silica Sand is usually added to coal tar sealer to provide a heavier wearing surface. The addition of sand also means that the sealer will last longer and will be more skid resistant than sealer which does not contain sand. Typical sand load is 4 to 6 lbs. of silica sand per gallon of the Coal Tar Emulsion. (Based on concentrate.)
Sealcoating pavement for pennies a square foot can save dollars in future costly repairs or replacement.

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Line Striping
At Houck Asphalt Maintenance pavement marking has been the core of our business for many years. Although we have expanded our services to provide our clients with "one-stop-shopping", pavement marking remains our number one provided service for which we cover the Tri-State area. Whether your lot requires repainting, a new layout, added stencil or a complete re-design, we have the most up to date equipment and skilled resources to provide you with the best service possible.

Not only are proper markings important to insure compliance with the A.D.A. and local regulations, they are the first impression your customers have of your business. A well designed and clearly marked parking area makes it easy for customers to find a space and park quickly and easily. You certainly don't want a customer to visit your establishment with added stress from difficulty locating a parking space before they ever get inside. Houck Asphalt will help keep your parking area markings looking new and easy to use by visitors to your property.

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Infrared Asphalt Repairs
Infrared Asphalt Repair equipment uses “invisible heat” to emplace recycled asphalt. The equipment produces intense infrared wavelengths that reach temperatures near 1200 degrees Fahrenheit and directs them onto the bituminous surface that absorbs the wavelength and creates energy in the asphalt. The energy is heat and this heat conducts through the asphalt to the depth necessary for the scarification and repair of the damaged asphalt area.

Asphalt absorbs up to 97% of the infrared energy it is exposed to and turns it into heat. Of course this will vary depending on the darkness of the surface. Newer, darker pavement will absorb more energy and generate heat faster than old, oxidized pavement.

Why Infrared?
Time and Cost
Most repairs are completed and reopened to traffic in under 20 minutes. The crew consists of 2 men and 1 truck. The noise and mess from saw cutting, jack hammering and excavating is eliminated. Infrared Asphalt Repairs require less labor, time, materials and equipment which, in turn, translate into a more COST EFFECTIVE repair for you.

Quality and Durability
The thermal bonding of the asphalt repair with the surrounding pavement makes the repair an integral piece of the existing pavement. There are NO COLD JOINTS! The new asphalt is thermally bonded with the existing asphalt. This ensures no water or cigarette butts will ever enter between the old and new asphalt.

 

Typical Repairs
Potholes
Utility Cuts
Depressions/Poor Water Drainage
High Spots
Paver Seams
Large Cracks
Oil Spots
Pavement Rumble Strips
Transitions
Railroad Crossings
Etc, Etc.

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The Process: Step by Step
Step 1
The repair area is swept clean and marked out 6" with chalk line.

Step 2
The infrared chamber is placed over the repair area, and the asphalt is heated for 8 to 10 minutes.

Step 3
A steel rake is used to scarify the hot asphalt within the repair aea.
Scarified material is removed to below grade to allow for new FABC.

Step 4
FABC is added to the repair, and looted to grade.

Step 5
The repair is compacted using a vibratory roller creating 2500 lbs per square inch of compaction.

Result
The result is a seamless permanent to grade Infrared Restoration.

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Recreational Surfaces
Take your old, nasty playground and turn it into a beautiful piece of artwork that is both fun and educational for the students. We offer a wide array of games from hopscotch to World Maps. Contact us today for your first step towards a new and improved playground!

Games Offered
• Hopscotch
• 4 – Square
• Computer Keyboard
• Funnel Ball
• Kick Ball
• Baseball
• Basketball
• Running Tracks
• 100 yard Dash Track
• Calculators
• USA Map
• World Map
• Etc, Etc

Before and After Photos

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Crack Filling
Cracks in parking lots are not unusual. Unfortunately, neither is the eventual deterioration of the surface if those cracks are left unattended. Unsealed cracks allow water to enter and deteriorate the subgrade and eventually the surface, usually resulting in alligatoring, potholes, and the general demise of the pavement.

Crack sealer is an elastic material designed to seal joints and cracks against the moisture infiltration into the subgrade. Subgrade moisture is one of the leading causes of pavement failure, so it is essential that asphalt cracking is attended to promptly in order to extend the life of the pavement and save money long-term. Typically, we recommend filling cracks and joints 1/4 inch wide or greater. To protect your pavement investment while ensuring a safe and attractive lot, cracks must be sealed as they develop. The freeze/thaw cycles of our winters allow moisture to penetrate under the asphalt forming ice. This process allows deterioration to begin and potholes to form.

We use hot rubberized crack sealant that remains flexible, keeping cracks sealed as the pavement expands in summer and contracts in winter. It will not pick up or "track" due to the high melting point of the materials. Hot rubberized crack repair is slightly higher in cost yet it is a vital part of the sealing process. Cracks which have been repaired with hot rubber sealants are ready for traffic in less than 20 minutes. Specify that your cracks only be repaired using a hot rubberized crack sealing process to prevent water and ice from accelerating the damage to your asphalt investment.

Cold-applied pourable crack fillers are not nearly as resilient as our quality hot rubberized sealing process. They tend to become brittle in the winter and separate from the sides of the crack allowing moisture to penetrate through the gap and even causing the filler to come out of the crack in a short time. When you pay for crack sealing make sure you get protection that keeps moisture out and that lasts.

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