Frequently Asked Questions

We understand that everyone is cost conscience, and finding ways to reduce costs is paramount.  However, many times choosing the contractor with the lowest price results in poor quality materials and service. These problems can quickly eliminate any cost savings, and many times will cost more money down the road. We know that an asphalt lot is a significant investment that is made with years of service life in mind, don’t gamble with your investment, keep the following in mind when reviewing your bids. At Eaton Asphalt, we always strive to be very competitive when pricing projects. With multiple plants and owning specialized equipment we leverage our resources to provide the absolute best price possible and yes, many times we are the lowest bid, but sometimes we also find out that we have landed in the middle.  As the consumer it is your responsibility to make sure your asphalt bid prices are comparing similar products and services.

• Are apples and apples being compared?
  •  Asphalt can be made with a variety of mixes, as you can imagine the mix for a parking lot would differ greatly from one used on a highway. Be sure that all contractors are offering similar packages with the same depth for base and surface. 
• Is the scope of work the same?
  • Ensure that all contractors are bidding on the same area with all site work and preparation included in their bids. If some contractors are including time and resources for preparing the site and a low bid is not this should be a red flag.
• The specifications? 
  • Be sure all contractors have indicated similar quantities and depths for the asphalt. Contractors should be able to provide you with a specific quantity from their takeoff and explain the crew, equipment, and materials.
• What type of equipment are the bidders using? 
  • One issue with smaller contractors is the access to specialized heavy equipment that can be critical to the longevity of your parking lot. Compaction of the asphalt is crucial to removing air voids and ensuring it is durable and long lasting. While you may save money with smaller or less pieces of equipment on your job, you may lose big if there are failures in the first few years due to poor compaction.

Some might think that apples and apples are always being compared when evaluating a proposal, even when specifications are the same. However, there are many things that add value to a proposal that can’t been seen on paper. We pride ourselves in answering our cell phones, and providing superior customer service. We are local and our office is open to visitors during the week. In addition to this, we do not use a voice mail system on our cell phones, all phone lines are answered by our staff so that you can be attended to immediately. We believe there is value and peace of mind added with this type of customer service.    So, when choosing a contractor for your next project, please take these facts into consideration.  Consider the difference in the quality of work and the longevity of your pavement when reviewing your bids and contact Eaton Asphalt for your next paving project.

No, it is completely normal for there to be tire marking and scuffing on newly paved parking lots. This can be expected during the summer months in our region. The appearance of small marks and scuffs is normal and will not affect the long term performance of the pavement. Cause for concern would be rutting or noticeable indents in an asphalt surface as this indicated poor compaction.

This scuffing will subside after a few weeks, once the asphalt has a chance to totally cool down the marks will disappear.

Paving operations are inherently weather dependent. If it is just a morning mist or very light rain, we will sometimes work through. If it is raining heavily or snowing, we normally reschedule the project until a dry day. In Northern Kentucky we can typically apply asphalt nine months out of the year depending on how mild of an early winter or warm and dry early spring can be.

Our dedication to providing a superior asphalt pavement goes beyond the mix. While weather can affect our paving operations and schedule, please be mindful that rushing a project through unfavorable paving conditions can have detrimental effects on the longevity and performance of your surface. 

Assuming that the initial asphalt pavement was designed and constructed properly, the primary cause of failure is the penetration of water into the asphalt base. Asphalt failure often begins with the oxidation of an untreated pavement surface which causes the asphalt to become dry and brittle.

The top layer of fine particles erodes, exposing the larger aggregate and leading to small cracks on the surface. These cracks will grow if left untreated, allowing water to penetrate to the base of the pavement. When water enters the base of the pavement, the base material shifts and settles leading to further cracking and a depression in the surface. This will be noticed by motorists as pot holes. As water pools in the depressed area, the asphalt further deteriorates and becomes unstable. When the pavement reaches this stage, removal and replacement of the old asphalt is often the only remedy and base repairs may be required.

These will fade in time, usually after a few months they will begin to become less noticeable. Compaction rollers are a critical aspect of producing a long lasting quality pavement; 90% compaction level is ideal.

RAP mix is an asphalt mix made up of asphalt that was reclaimed from an existing roadway. This asphalt mix has new asphalt (binder) added and through a similar manufacturing process to virgin asphalt is made into a high quality material for roadway use. According to a study published by the Federal Highway Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency, asphalt pavement is America’s most recycled product. The asphalt industry recycles over 73 million tons of its own product every year, the largest tonnage of any industry.

Asphalt that has RAP Mix is rigorously tested and provides a sustainable paving solution without losing any of the durability and longevity asphalt is known for.