FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions about 3-D Paving, asphalt and concrete.
If asphalt paving or concrete has ever been a confusing process for you, then you’re in the right place. Welcome to 3-D Paving’s FAQ or Frequently Asked Questions section where our pavement experts have put together some of the most asked questions in our industry as well as a paving dictionary of asphalt and concrete related terms that will make your asphalt knowledge journey a piece of cake. With this helpful resource, any paving contractor near you won’t be able to easily pull the wool over your eyes and you’ll be confident as can be in knowing exactly what it is that your contractor is doing when they take on your project. Go ahead and see why our reputation speaks for itself – we are the go-to paving contractor in South Florida!
Does 3-D Paving do residential jobs?
3-D Paving is a commercial paving contractor so they don’t really handle individual residential home projects however, 3-D Paving works in residential communities every day. If it’s a paving project for an HOA, property manager or community manager, call 3-D Paving today toll free 1-855-735-7623 or visit our contact page here.
Does 3-D Paving handle small business asphalt or concrete needs?
3-D Paving absolutely works with small businesses. Call 3-D Paving today for a free quote and consultation.
Can I submit photos and documents for my paving project?
3-D Paving has a document upload feature on the Get Quote page here that will allow you to upload pictures, videos, violations, site plans and more. Need more help? Call the pavement experts at 3-D Paving today 1-855-735-7623. You can also email those items to info@3-Dpaving.com
Does 3-D Paving do emergency services or emergency repair work?
3-D Paving absolutely does emergency services for it’s clients. If you are having trouble with a drainage break, sink hole, municipal violation or beyond, call us today. Call toll free 1-855-735-7623.
Why should I choose 3-D Paving for my parking lot or commercial paving project?
3-D Paving has a reputation of integrity and excellence in commercial paving throughout South Florida. Being a smaller, family-owned and operated local business, allows us a unique perspective on treating our clients as we’d like to be treated. We live in the communities we serve. We go to the same grocery stores and drop our children off at the same schools.
How is 3-D Paving different from other paving contractors?
Our management team’s expertise comes from the property management field as well as the paving and concrete fields. Combined, this knowledge leads to the best solutions for our customers based on decades of personal experience. We are nimble, technologically advanced and constantly evolving to meet our customer’s needs. Have a job you’d like us to look at? Call 3-D Paving today! 1-855-735-7623
Does 3-D Paving work with HOAs & Property Management companies?
3-D Paving absolutely does! We have decades of experience working with South Florida HOAs, Property Management Firms and Community organizations. One might even say it is one of our specialties. 3-D Paving are proud members of the of the South Florida Property Managers Association. SFPMA.org
What is 3-D Paving and Sealcoating’s service area?
3-D Paving provides commercial paving services throughout the southern part of the state of Florida. From Orlando, all the way down into the Florida Keys. This includes Okeechobee County, St. Lucie County, Martin County, Glades County, Charlotte County, Lee County, Hendry County, Palm Beach County, Collier County, Broward County, Monroe County, Miami-Dade County and beyond. For a list of the communities themselves that we serve visit our map page here.
Why should I choose asphalt paving for my commercial paving needs?
Asphalt eliminates the need to continually fill in sunken areas and costs (on average) about half as much as concrete. And more to the point, asphalt costs a fraction of concrete in install and maintain. The downside being concrete lasts much longer and is more durable in some ways. Want to see our concrete services? Check them out here.
How do I maintain my asphalt parking lot?
You can keep your parking lot in good condition by staying on top of maintenance and sealcoating on a semi regular scheduled basis (every 2-3 years) and as the need to do so arises. Contact 3-D Paving and discuss with your pavement specialist to devise a property maintenance plan. can assist you in developing the proper Pavement Maintenance Plan for your property.
What is a Pavement Maintenance Plan?
A Pavement Maintenance Plan will help you visualize how to cost-effectively maintain your pavement assets. Our evaluation, analysis and recommendation will provide you with definitive schedules, costs and justification for maintenance. 3-D Paving’s customized approach to your pavement will provide you with supporting documentation for planning annual capital expenditure budgets and schedules based on statistical modeling, on-site evaluations, prediction analysis, and client-specific budgets.
What is seal coat, sealcoating or asphalt sealer and how is it applied?
Sealcoating is a defensive layer designed to protect your asphalt from harmful elements. Sealant mixtures are bituminous- or acrylic-based liquids. The liquid base is mixed with water, silica sand, polymer additives and other fillers to achieve a premium formula. When applied on a regular schedule, sealcoating can sometimes double the life of an asphalt pavement.
How important is the quality of the sealer mix?
The quality of the sealer mix design means more than the actual sealer itself. If the sealer isn’t mixed properly, it will not last and will wear away faster. A proper balance of solids, additives, sealer and water. Two separate thin coats of sealer are better than one thick coat.
What are the benefits of sealcoating my parking lot?
Proper sealcoating benefits the pavement in many ways. It makes faded asphalt look new again and protects against South Florida’s sometimes bi-polar weather, heat, water penetration, gas and oil spills and oxidation.
When should I sealcoat my newly paved parking lot and how often should it be done?
The first sealcoat application should be done one year after paving. After the initial application, you should schedule sealcoating every two to three years depending on personal preference.
How much will it cost to have my parking lot or asphalt pavement sealed with sealcoating?
The cost of sealing depends on the amount of labor and material required to provide and apply the sealer. Reach out to 3-D Paving today for a free quote and consultation by clicking here.
What causes potholes and how do I fix them?
There are a number of reasons why potholes form. Most potholes are caused by improper drainage or lack of base material. The proper fix for a pothole is to cut it out and replace it with new base material and hot mix asphalt. If you are wondering how to fix potholes or if your searching for pothole repair near me, call 3-D Paving today.
How much does asphalt cost?
The price for asphalt varies depending on the size and needs of any given project. The cost for your project also depends on the amount of base preparation work needed. Call the experts at 3-D Paving today for a free quote and consultation. Looking for an asphalt quote near me?
How long does asphalt paving last?
Asphalt pavement should last about 15-20 years. Pavement life can vary greatly depending on base conditions, traffic, and maintenance. Unmaintained asphalt pavements in South Florida’s sun and precipitation can see much shorter lifespans.
Do I need to do anything after the asphalt paving is done?
Your asphalt will be the most susceptible to damage for the first 6-12 months after it is installed. Avoid spilling any corrosive liquids on the asphalt (such as gasoline, transmission fluid, antifreeze or oil), as they can cause damage to the surface. If you are in an area where you can not avoid these substances and exposures, tell your pavement consultant with 3-D Paving. A Sealcoating or seal coat can be applied to mitigate the damage they cause.
What is an asphalt overlay and is it appropriate for my needs?
An asphalt overlay involves paving ¾ inches to 2 inches of new asphalt over existing asphalt pavement that has minor cracking or poor surface appearance. Overlays are a less expensive alternative to replacement, but can only be expected to last 7-15 years, as opposed to 25-30 years for new asphalt. Is an overlay right for you? Contact the experts at 3-D Paving for a free quote and consultation today.
How do I best maintain my asphalt pavement surfaces to keep it looking good for years to come?
We recommend that you seal your new asphalt pavement within one year, and then every 2-3 years thereafter. 3-D Paving uses cutting edge seal coat/sealcoating products like StarSeal and expertise in mix design that are safe and effective, providing you with a beautiful, long-lasting, and environmentally friendly result.
Do I need to do anything after the paving is done?
Your asphalt will be the most susceptible to damage for the first 6-12 months after it is installed. Avoid spilling any corrosive liquids on the asphalt (such as gasoline, transmission fluid, anti freeze or oil), as they will cause damage to the surface.
The Paving and Concrete Terminology Dictionary.
We get it. Sometimes contractors can be confusing, Looking at proposals and services can be hard when you don't use the same words in daily life. If you need help, Here is and Helpful Asphalt & Concrete Terminology Dictionary.
Asphalt Terminology
Aggregate
- A hard inert mineral material, such as gravel, crushed rock, slag, or crushed stone, used in pavement applications either by itself or for mixing with asphalt.
Asphalt
- A dark brown to black cementitious material in which the predominating constituents are bitumens, which occur in nature or are obtained in petroleum processing. Asphalt is a constituent in varying proportions of most crude petroleum and used for paving, roofing, industrial and other special purposes.
Alligator Cracks
- Interconnected cracks forming a series of small blocks resembling an alligator’s skin or chicken-wire, and caused by excessive deflection of the surface over unstable subgrade or lower course of the pavement.
Asphalt Leveling Course
- A course of hot mix asphalt of variable thickness used to eliminate irregularities in the contour of an existing surface prior to placing the subsequent course.
Asphalt Tack Coat
- A relatively thin application of asphalt binder applied to an existing asphalt concrete or PCC surface at a prescribed rate. Asphalt emulsion diluted with water is the preferred type. It is used to form a bond between an existing surface and the overlying course.
Base Course
- The layer in the pavement system immediately below the binder and surface courses. It usually consists of crushed stone, although it may consist of crushed slag or other stabilized or unstabilized material.
Compaction
- The act of compressing a given volume of material into a smaller volume.
Full-Depth Asphalt Pavement
- The term FULL-DEPTH (registered by the Asphalt Institute with the U.S. Patent Office) certifies that the pavement is one in which asphalt mixtures are employed for all courses above the subgrade or improved subgrade. A Full-Depth asphalt pavement is placed directly on the prepared subgrade.
Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA)
- High quality, thoroughly controlled hot mixture of asphalt binder (cement) and well-graded, high quality aggregate, which can be compacted into a uniform dense mass.
Longitudinal Crack
- A vertical crack in the pavement that follows a course approximately parallel to the centerline.
Milling Machine
- A self-propelled unit having a cutting head equipped with carbide-tipped tools for the pulverization and removal of layers of asphalt materials from pavements.
Polished Aggregate
- Aggregate particles in a pavement surface that have been worn smooth by traffic.
Potholes
- Bowl-shaped openings in the pavement resulting from localized disintegration.
Raveling
- The progressive separation of aggregate particles in a pavement from the surface downward or from the edges inward.
Reflection Cracks
- Cracks in asphalt overlays (usually over deteriorated PCC pavements) that reflect the crack pattern in the pavement structure below it.
Resurfacing
- This word can have a dual meaning, in one scenario it could mean to place a coating of sealer over the asphalt in other cases it could mean to install 1.5 to 2.5 inches of asphalt over an existing surface.
Sealcoating or Seal Coat
- A thin surface treatment used to improve the surface texture and protect an asphalt surface. The main types of seal coats are fog seals, sand seals, slurry seals, micro-surfacing, cape seals, sandwich seals and chip seals.
Shrinkage Cracks
- Interconnected cracks forming a series of large blocks, usually with sharp corners or angles.
Slippage Cracks
- Crescent-shaped cracks resulting from traffic-induced horizontal forces that are open in the direction of the thrust of wheels on the pavement surface. They result when severe or repeated shear stresses are applied to the surface and there is a lack of bond between the surface layer and the course beneath.
Spalling
- The breaking or chipping of a PCC pavement at joints, cracks or edges, usually resulting in fragments with feather edges.
Subbase
- The course in the asphalt pavement structure immediately below the base course. If the subgrade soil has adequate support, it may serve as the subbase.
Transverse Crack
- A crack that follows a course approximately at right angles to the centerline.
Upheaval
- The localized upward displacement of a pavement due to swelling of the subgrade or some portion of the pavement structure.
Concrete Terminology
Air Entraining
- The capability of a material or process to develop a system of microscopic bubbles of air in cement paste, mortar, or concrete during mixing.
Blistering
- The irregular raising of a thin layer at the surface of a placed cementitious mixture during or soon after completion of the finishing operation, or, in the case of pipe, after spinning; also bulging of a finish coat as it separates and draws away from a base coat.
Blowup
- The raising of two concrete slabs off the subgrade where they meet as a result of grater expansion than the joint between them will accommodate; typically occurs only in unusually hot weather where joints have become filled with incompressible material; often results in cracks on both sides of the joint and parallel to it.
Calcium Chloride
- A crystalline solid, CaCl2; in various technical grades, used as a drying agent, as an accelerator of concrete, as a deicing chemical, and for other purposes.
Cast-in-Place
- Referring to a cementitious mixture that is deposited in the place where it is required to harden as part of the structure, as opposed to precast concrete.
Caulk
- To place a material in a crack or joint with the intent of retarding entry of dirt or water.
Cement, Air-Entraining Hydraulic
- Hydraulic cement containing sufficient amounts of air-entraining agent to produce a cementitious mixture containing entrained air within specified limits.
Cement, High-Early-Strength
- Portland cement characterized by attaining a given level of strength in mortar or concrete earlier than does normal Portland cement; referred to in the U.S. as Type III.
Cement, Portland
- A hydraulic cement produced by pulverizing clinker formed by heating a mixture, usually of limestone and clay, to 1400 to 1600 degree C (2550 to 2900 degree F). Calcium sulfate is usually ground with the clinker control set.
Cold Weather
- A period when the average daily ambient temperature is below 40 degree F for more than three successive days. Note: The average daily temperature is the average of the highest and lowest temperature during the period from midnight to midnight. When temperatures above 50 degree F occur during more than half of any 24-hour duration, the period shall no longer be regarded as cold weather.
Concrete, Green
- Concrete that has set but not hardened appreciably.
Concrete, Precast
- Concrete cast elsewhere than its final position.
Concrete, Ready-Mixed
- Concrete manufactured for delivery to a purchaser in a fresh state.
Core Test
- Compression test on a concrete sample cut from hardened concrete by means of a core drill.
Crack
- A complete or incomplete separation, of either concrete or masonry, into two or more parts produced by breaking or fracturing.
Crack, Diagonal
- In a flexural member, an inclined crack caused by shear stress, usually at about 45 degrees to the axis; or a crack in a slab, not parallel to either the lateral or longitudinal directions.
Crack, Hairline
- A concrete surface crack with a width so small as to be barely perceptible.
Crack, Longitudinal
- A crack that develops parallel to the length of a member.
Crack, Plastic-Shrinkage
- Surface crack that occurs in concrete prior to initial set.
Crack, Shrinkage
- Crack due to restraint shrinkage.
Crack, Transverse
- A crack that crosses the longer dimension of the member.
Curing
- Action taken to maintain moisture and temperature conditions in a freshly placed cementitious mixture to allow hydraulic cement hydration and (if applicable) pozzolanic reactions to occur so that the potential properties of the mixture may develop.
Fabric, Welded-Wire
- A series of longitudinal and transverse wires arranged approximately at right angles to each other and welded together at all points of intersection.
False work
- The temporary structure erected to support work in the process of construction: composed of shoring or vertical posting, formwork for beams and slabs, and lateral bracing.
Freeze / Thaw damage
- This word can have a dual meaning. In one senerio it could mean to place a coating of sealer over the asphalt, in other cases it could mean to install.
Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP)
- A general term for a composite material comprising a polymer matrix reinforced with fibers in the form of fabric, mat, strands, or any other fiber form.
Finish, Broom
- The surface texture obtained by stroking a broom over freshly placed concrete.
Finish, Exposed-Aggregate
- A decorative finish for concrete work achieved by removing, generally before the concrete has fully hardened, the outer skin of mortar and exposing the coarse aggregate.
Finish, Trowel
- The smooth or textured finish of an unformed concrete surface obtained by troweling.
Formwork
- Total system of support for freshly placed concrete including the mold or sheathing that contacts the concrete as well as supporting members, hardware, and necessary bracing; sometimes called shuttering in the United Kingdom.
Foundation
- A system of structural elements that transmit loads from the structure above to the earth.
Grade
- The prepared surface on which a concrete slab is cast; the process of preparing a plane surface of granular material or soil on which to cast a concrete slab.
Joint – 1
- A physical separation in a concrete system, whether precast or cast-in-place, including cracks if intentionally made to occur at specified locations; or 2) the region where structural members intersect.
Joint, Construction
- The surface where two successive placements of concrete meet, across which it may be desirable to achieve bond and through which reinforcement may be continuous.
Joint, Expansion – 1
- A separation provided adjoining parts of a structure to allow movement where expansion is likely to exceed contraction; or 2) a separation between pavement slabs on grade, filled with a compressible filler materials, or 3) an isolation joint intended to allow independent movement between adjoining parts.
Lime
- Specifically, calcium oxide (CaO); loosely, a general term for the various chemical and physical forms of quicklime, hydrated lime, and hydraulic hydrated lime.
Overlay
- A layer of concrete or mortar, seldom thinner than 1 inch (25 mm), placed on and usually bonded onto the worn or cracked surface of a concrete slab to either restore or improve the function of the previous surface, also polymeric concrete usually less than .4 inches (10 mm) thick.
Raveling
- The wearing a way of concrete surface caused by the dislodging of aggregate particles.
Reinforcement
- Bars, wires, strands or other slender members that are embedded in concrete in such a manner that they and the concrete act together in resisting forces.
Shoring
- Props or posts of timber or other material in compression used for the temporary support of excavations, formwork, or unsafe structures; the process of erecting shores.
Spall
- A fragment, usually in the shape of a flake, detached from a larger mass by a blow, the action of weather, pressure, or expansion within the larger mass.
Spalling
- The development of spalls.
Tie – 1
- Loop of reinforcing bars encircling the longitudinal steel in columns; and 2) a tensile unit adapted to holding concrete forms against the lateral pressure of unhardened concrete.
Type I Cement
- General purpose Portland cement.
Type II Cement
- A Portland cement for use when either moderate heat of hydration, moderate sulfate resistance, or both, is desired.
Type III Cement
- Portland cement characterized by attaining a given level of strength in mortar or concrete earlier than does normal Portland cement.
Type IV Cement
- A Portland cement for use when a low heat of hydration is desired.
Type V Cement
- Portland cement, low in tricalcium aluminates, to reduce susceptibility on concrete to attack by dissolved sulfates in water or soils.
