Tuesday, 30 December 2014

Choosing a Deicer for Your Driveway

Slipping and sliding down your driveway in the winter months isn’t fun.  And what’s worse -  most ice melting products will damage your concrete or asphalt driveway.  Aside from shovelling consistently and chipping away at the ice build up, deicers can be used sparingly to avoid damage.  There are also some alternative options to consider to help you avoid a fall on the ice.    


deicer for asphalt driveways
Consumer Reports released a comparison of different ice-melt products.  Categories for comparison included effectiveness by temperature, benefits, best used for and damage. 

Unfortunately, the majority of these products cause damage to concrete or asphalt. Click here for the full comparison.

Why do these products cause damage?


In most cases, damage to surfaces are caused by using too much of an ice-melt product. In addition, ice-melts increase the amount of freeze/thaw cycles on your driveway, causing your driveway to deteriorate faster.  

If you choose to continue using ice melt products, apply sparingly and always follow manufacturers instructions for use. If your concrete driveway is new, do not use any ice-melt product for at least 12 months to avoid any future damage. Finally, ensure your driveway does not have any cracks or holes as ice-melt can accelerate damage.

What are some alternative options?

If you are looking to add traction rather than melt ice, consider using some of the following environmentally friendly options:
  • Sand
  • Birdseed
  • Kitty Litter

Keep in mind, nothing works better than shovelling often and wearing boots with traction.


With over 30 years of experience serving the Barrie and Simcoe area, Road Readie Paving has built a reputation  second to none. We are committed to customer satisfaction through high quality workmanship at a competitive price. Contact us today for a free quote 705.719.0074.


Tuesday, 25 November 2014

How to Dress Up Your Driveway for the Holidays

If you want your house to really stand out this year, think about dressing up your driveway.

Driveway decorations are the perfect complement to you home decorations – and they are one of the easiest accents you can install!

Here are some ideas: 

Lights, lights and more lights!

Luminaries, arches, or accent stakes. There are tons of different options that can suit your style.

Use solar or electric pathway lighting to line your driveway – try for a classic style using all multi-coloured lights or a simple, elegant white.

You can even aim for a theme, matching your driveway lighting with the rest of your home's décor.

The added lighting is an extra detail that will take your holiday decorations from great to spectacular.

Check out these amazing houses decorated with tons of lights - see hows slides 6-9 incorporated driveway lighting.

Set a Scene

Create a magical Christmas scene by incorporating decorations on your yard, spanning the length of your driveway.  This would be a great space for Santa and his reindeer to land, or even the perfect placement for a family of snowmen.

Don't forget the shrubbery!

If you have shrubs or trees lining your driveway, take advantage of net lighting or tree wraps. This is an incredibly easy option and will definitely make an impact.

Door Décor

If you don't think you will have the time to install lights, or want to add that one final touch to your decorations, consider buying a spotlight. Not only are projectors simple to install, there are so many different options to project.  You can choose a colour, snowflakes or image.  It can become your personal light show and your garage door is the perfect backdrop.

With the addition of driveway decorations to your already spectacular holiday décor, you will be well on your way to being the best dressed house on the block!

With over 30 years of experience serving the Barrie and Simcoe area, Road Readie Paving has built a reputation second to none. We are committed to customer satisfaction through high quality workmanship at a competitive price. Contact us today for a free quote 705.719.0074.


Monday, 27 October 2014

Plan Ahead | Commercial Snow and Ice Control

October is the perfect time of year to start thinking about winter snow removal.

Making arrangements before the snow arrives will allow us to create a custom snow removal package specific to your site. In addition, we will easily identify any hazards (such as curbs, walkways or fire hydrants) before they are covered in snow.




Tip
: Remember to investigate city snow removal guidelines to check if by-laws such as sidewalk snow clearing will affect your business site. Here's a link to the City of Barrie's page about Winter Control.

Road Readie Paving offers commercial snow and ice services including:
  • Truck and Machine Ploughing 
  • Off Site Capability (Tri-axle dumps) 
  • Full Coverage Liability Insurance 
  • Ice Melting 
  • Proper Equipment  
Our professional and reliable crew will be ready 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to handle everything the winter will throw at you!

 Contact us at 705.719.0074 to discuss snow and ice removal for your commercial site.

Monday, 29 September 2014

Protect Your Driveway From Fall Frost

Fall has officially arrived. While we are still enjoying the warm weather and hope we won’t see snow for a few months, the mornings and evenings are definitely getting frosty. And with frost, comes the reminder that it’s time to get ready for winter. Potholes and cracks are common occurrences following the spring thaw, and in order to prevent these costly problems, you can inspect your driveway to determine any areas for potential damage caused by frost.

Frost can cause immense damage to your driveway as the soil beneath your driveway can rise up vertically when it attracts moisture in the surrounding area. Here’s what to look for:

Cracks. Regularly inspecting your driveway for cracks and holes can extend its lifetime. Hairline cracks that go unrepaired can expand and turn into potholes or large areas of crumbling pavement. Leaving cracks unrepaired during the winter months will allow moisture to widen the crack causing the subgrade base to become unstable and deteriorate.

Divots. Divots can be caused by vehicles sitting for an extended period of time or from parking heavy vehicles such as trailers on your driveway. While divots are easily preventable, once they have developed, they can cause water to puddle in certain areas on your driveway. Consistent puddling will cause wearing of your driveway, potentially shortening its lifetime.

Bubbling. Bubbling can indicate oxidation and deterioration of your driveway. This can worsen over time and may indicate that it’s time to repave.

If you notice any of the above issues, contact us for maintenance options that will help you avoid expensive fixes next spring.


With over 30 years of experience serving the Barrie and Simcoe area, Road Readie Paving has built a reputation second to none. We are committed to customer satisfaction through high quality workmanship at a competitive price. Contact us today for a free quote 705.719.0074.

Friday, 15 August 2014

The Benefits of Asphalt Driveways Over Concrete

When you look around your neighbourhood it is easy to recognize that the most popular driveway paving material is asphalt. The black surface enhances the homes curb appeal by providing a dark contrast to the green lawns and gardens.

People choose asphalt over other paving materials such as concrete because asphalt offers many benefits to homeowners.

PRICE: Asphalt is much less expensive than concrete. This is especially important for new homeowners or first time buyers who may find alternative paving materials outside of their purchase budget.

SPEED and USABILITY: Asphalt is professionally applied to a driveway and usable by the homeowner in about 2 days. Concrete can take twice as long to apply and even longer to set.

DURABILITY: Concrete surfaces can be severely affected by installation and finishing techniques. Poor installation can result in surface flaking exposing aggregates. The use of ice melting salts or salt from melting water off your car's tires or under-carriage can attack the surface and cause 'spalling'. An asphalt driveway is not attacked by de-icing chemicals and will look great spring, after spring. If concrete repairs are required, concrete may have to be removed and re-installed.

FLEXIBILITY: Asphalt is much more flexible than concrete and is therefore not prone to cracking.

MAINTENANCE COSTS: Asphalt cracks can be repaired easily by homeowners, but concrete cracks can not. In addition, an asphalt driveway can be re-sealed bringing the surface back to it's original dark black colour while concrete can not be touched up in this way. Engine oil or other spills show up more on the concrete surface and may require professional help to remove without damaging the concrete surface.

HEAT RADIATION: Asphalt absorbs heat in the winter and resulting in faster snow and ice melting. This means the surface is easier to clear and remove ice.

GREEN FOOTPRINT: Asphalt is easier to remove and recycle than concrete or other paving materials.

 Choosing asphalt will save you money and provide a safe easy to maintain paved surface that will last decades!


With over 30 years of experience serving the Barrie and Simcoe area, Road Readie Paving has built a reputation second to none. If you are needing asphalt for you next construction project, call Road Readie Paving for a free quote. 705-719-0074

Monday, 14 July 2014

Road Readie Paving Provides a Range of Paving Services

Road Readie Paving is a full service Contractor. We have 30+ years experience in construction services such as; asphalt paving, concrete services, interlocking landscaping, and snow and ice removal. Does experience matter? You bet it does! We have know how to evaluate your paving project and deliver a quality job on-time and budget!

We've worked for many organizations and businesses in Simcoe County and our clients know that we are committed to customer satisfaction. And our services are broader than just asphalt paving. This allows us to deliver paving solutions to a project requiring different surfaces and materials.



Asphalt Paving: Road Readie Paving is your local expert in Simcoe for asphalt paving. Call us to consult on your project and give you a detailed estimate. We have 30+ years experience in all kinds of paving projects; Residential Driveways, Parking Lots, Commercial or Industrial Road Construction, School Grounds, Walkways and more!

Recycled Asphalt Paving: Do you have a road or driveway in need of re-surfacing? If so you may want to consider recycled asphalt. Recycled Asphalt Pavement makes both environmental and economic sense. Reclaimed asphalt contains a “treasure” of pre-processed road-building materials. The use of recycled asphalt pavement has grown widely, reducing the use of new materials and helping to preserve landfill space. Find out more about recycled pavement.

Concrete Services: Did you know we offer complete concrete services - from residential to commercial? Our Road Readie staff is experienced with curbs, sidewalks and concrete pads.​  If you need concrete work, give us a call for a free quote.

Interlock Paving: Ready to add curb appeal to your home or office? Interlock paving stones can create many attractive surfaces for edging, entrance-ways, steps, paths, and more! Road Readie Paving will help you with your large or small interlock project. We'll show you materials and give you design ideas.

Snow Removal Commercial and Residential: Snow and Ice Winter Services you can count on ... at Road Readie Paving, we create snow and ice control packages specific to your site! Prior to the first snow fall, we will stake out any hazards (such as curbs, walkways, fire hydrants). Once the snow and ice arrives, we are ready to maintain your site, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

With over 30 years of experience serving the Barrie and Simcoe area, Road Readie Paving has built a reputation second to none. If you are needing asphalt for you next construction project, call Road Readie Paving for a free quote. 705-719-0074

Sunday, 8 June 2014

Road Readie Paving Is Ready to Build Your Patio!

The start of patio season is around the corner and if you're ready to renovate or install new, a stone patio gives us a call to discuss your ideas.

Our crew is experience in designing and installing walk-ways, curbing, stone garden areas, and interlock patios!

And with all Road Readie projects we back up all our work with decades of experience and a genuine commitment to customer satisfaction.

Road Readie Paving
We can give you a quote and design ideas for all sort of out-door projects. We'll show you sample materials and go over all the options.  A well edged garden area or pathway can make all the difference in keeping your backyard trim and neat.

Interlock paving stones come in so many styles an colours you might feel overwhelmed trying to pick something out. We can give you some good advice on what works with your home exterior.

So if you're planning to improve your home's curb appeal or create a backyard patio or walkway, make sure you give us a call so we can provide you with a free detailed estimate.

With over 30 years of experience serving the Barrie and Simcoe area, Road Readie Paving has built a reputation second to none. If you are needing asphalt for you next construction project, call Road Readie Paving for a free quote. 705-719-0074

Tuesday, 20 May 2014

Recycled Asphalt Pavement Is a Win Win!

Did you know that the asphalt you drive on is 100% recyclable and that asphalt is one of the most recycled materials in North America? Asphalt is recycled more than aluminum, paper or plastic!

RAP - recycled asphalt pavement has been around longer than you might think. When North America was hit with high oil costs during the 1970's, RAP was introduced to save costs. It makes sense! If you can re-use a material and reclaim it's value why not do it?

RAP is located on-site at hot mix asphalt plants and there is no need to transport in new materials. This aspect alone greatly reduces the CO2 emissions as no fuel is burned for extraction and transportation of new materials.

Over the past 30 years, millions of tonnes of RAP have been put into hot mix asphalt pavements.  In Ontario, 2.3 million tonnes of RAP was used in 2010.

When does asphalt pavement become RAP? When a road reaches its typical service life of 25 years, the asphalt is milled off and becomes RAP. RAP contains both aggregate and asphalt cement.

The Ontario Hot Mix Producers Association lists the following benefits for using RAP.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF USING RAP?

Using RAP is a win-win scenario. It is good for the tax payer, good for the environment and is good
for the quality of our roadway infrastructure.
Using RAP:

  1. Reduces road building costs by significantly reducing the need for virgin material.
  2. Saves and reuses precious, non-renewable aggregate and petroleum resources. Reduces the CO2 generated by the extraction and transportation of virgin aggregates and asphalt cement.
  3. Keeps large volumes of materials out of already overloaded landfills.
  4. Ensures a premium quality aggregate supply for paving projects.
  5. Significantly contributes to provincial and municipal recycling obligations.
  6. When we pave with asphalt, we put aggregate and asphalt cement in the “bank” for the benefit of future generations.
If you're interested in learning more about RAP, recycled asphalt pavement - give us a call to discuss your options.

With over 30 years of experience serving the Barrie and Simcoe area, Road Readie Paving has built a reputation second to none. If you are needing asphalt for you next construction project, call Road Readie Paving for a free quote. 705-719-0074

Wednesday, 9 April 2014

Road Readie Residential Paving Slideshow

Road Readie Paving Project Photographs from Residential Projects - Asphalt roads and driveways.

Road Readie Paving has a commitment to customer satisfaction through quality workmanship, at a competitive price. Specializing in commercial, industrial, and residential asphalt projects, there are no jobs Road Readie Paving cannot do.

With over 30 years of experience serving the Barrie and Simcoe area, Road Readie Paving has built a reputation second to none.

If you are needing asphalt for you next construction project, call Road Readie Paving for a free quote. 705-719-0074


 

Thursday, 13 March 2014

Why Asphalt is the Better Way to Pave!

source: Ontario Hot Mix Producers Association

Ontario rides on approximately 200,000 kilometres of paved roads, which are a part of a nearly $80 billion total infrastructure network. Our economy, public safety and environment depend on how we maintain this vital asset.

Asphalt paving is the sustainable and superior way to build upon and maintain Ontario’s roadways. It is one of the most versatile construction materials and is also used for airport runways, parking lots and driveways. There are several good reasons why 95 percent of Ontario’s roads are paved with asphalt.

Asphalt is North America’s most recycled material, more than aluminum, paper or plastic. Four out of every five tonnes of asphalt pavement removed for widening and resurfacing projects are reused. Reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) greatly reduces the amount of virgin asphalt cement needed to construct new roadways. Asphalt is easily recyclable because little additional energy is required to recapture the raw materials. When we pave with asphalt, we put aggregate and asphalt cement resources in the bank” to be used by future generations.

Asphalt pavements do not leach toxins. Drinking water reservoirs are often lined with asphalt and asphalt cement is used to line water pipes that supply potable municipal water. Landfills are frequently lined and capped with asphalt and some natural resource and wildlife agencies use asphalt pavement to line fish ponds.

Asphalt pavement designs are tied directly to anticipated traffic volume and vehicle weight. Altogether, Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) pavements can handle the toughest traffic. Additionally, HMA pavements require only periodic surface restoration, providing a smooth, durable pavement for decades. Maintenance is quick, cost-effective and less disruptive than with Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) pavements.

Paving with asphalt significantly reduces the amount of time spent on road construction projects because it eliminates the need for the long curing period required when paving with PCC pavements.
The cost of keeping motorists stuck in traffic during construction, known in the industry as user delay cost, should be considered in any analysis of lifecycle cost. When paving with asphalt, rehabilitation work can take place during off-peak hours, nights and weekends, allowing for quick, costeffective maintenance. Choosing asphalt pavement saves everyone time; less time spent in traffic delays helps to increase overall productivity, which equals dollars saved.

Choosing asphalt for paving projects allows for more competitive bidding because of the ample number of asphalt plants and crews located in each Ontarioregion. Our large market share throughout the province makes materials easily accessible, in any location, which provides easy access for construction. We have the resources, expertise and the labour to get the job done right, at the right price.

Stage construction of asphalt pavements allows for successive layers to be added as needed. This process provides a way to easily strengthen the pavement over time to handle increased load carrying
capacity requirements. Perpetual asphalt pavement combines the well-documented smoothness and safety advantages ofasphalt with an advanced, multi-layer paving design process. With routine maintenance, perpetual pavement extends the life of a roadway to half a century or more. Pavements designed and constructed in this manner will last for generations.

One hundred percent of Ontario experiences inclement weather. This fact makes skid resistance on roads paramount to public safety. The drainage capability and precision in aggregate mix play a vital role in making asphalt the superior choice when considering the importance of tire grip in relation to road safety. New porous asphalt mixes disperse surface water, which reduce blinding spray and help to decrease the risk of aquaplaning. The contrast in colour between asphalt pavement and road markers provides drivers with better road visibility in any weather condition, day or night.

Snow removal is not problematic on asphalt pavements. Unlike concrete pavements, there are no joints for plough blades to catch on when ploughing asphalt pavements. Additionally, asphalt pavements tend to move less in winter conditions due to the greater thickness of nonfrost susceptible material beneath them. Snow also melts faster on asphalt and the pavement surface is not damaged by ice-melting chemicals.

Smooth, flexible pavements constructed from HMA stand up to the punishment of heavy trucks and other vehicles, significantly reducing initial and total costs over the entire life cycle of a road. At the same time, the smoothness of asphalt pavements reduces wear and tear on all vehicles, saving on maintenance costs. Smoothness has an impact on fuel economy. In 2007, Applied Research Associates reviewed a database from Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation containing over 35 years’ worth of biannual pavement condition surveys. Their report found that asphalt pavements are much smoother initially and remain smoother over their lifetime when compared to concrete pavements. Vehicles travelling on smooth pavements consume up to 4.5 percent less fuel than when travelling on rough pavements. Asphalt pavements start out smooth and stay smooth over the long haul.

Asphalt pavement is the strong silent type. A standard asphalt surface produces about 50 percent less noise than a concrete surface. Highway noise is greatly reduced when paved with asphalt. Paving with asphalt also reduces the need to build expensive sound absorbing walls. Go to www.quietpavement.com for more information about the noise reduction qualities of asphalt pavements.

The first record of asphalt being used in road building occurred in ancient Babylon in 625 B.C. Centuries later, in 1915, Canada’s first asphalt paved roads were built in Ottawa, Ontario and Edmonton, Jasper and Camrose, Alberta. Throughout the millennia, asphalt has paved the way for better roads and infrastructure for civilizations across the globe. Asphalt’s long record of success makes it the time-tested, wise choice for paving.

With over 30 years of experience serving the Barrie and Simcoe area, Road Readie Paving has built a reputation second to none. If you are needing asphalt for you next construction project, call Road Readie Paving for a free quote. 705-719-0074