Do you know the hidden dangers of asphalt? Working with asphalt is common in construction, but there are multiple risks that can come from working with the material daily or being exposed to the fumes on a consistent basis. Asphalt needs to be heated to a high temperature in order to be poured. This creates gas or fumes that are then admitted into the air. Coming in contact with the hot material can also lead to 2nd or 3rd-degree burns. The dangers of asphalt are important to know so that you can keep yourself and others around the job site, safe.

Knowing the risks of working with asphalt and the possible fumes can help you prepare proper safety equipment and keep health concerns at bay. Working with Precision Asphalt Maintenance will give you the proper safety equipment and the peace of mind that we will do everything we can to protect residents during asphalt work.

Current Regulations On Working Around Asphalt Fumes

While it is possible for asphalt to lead to injuries or respiratory problems there are currently not currently any regulations from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) when it comes to asphalt fumes. It is important when working with asphalt to know the dangers and risks, even if there are no legal protections. Asphalt fumes are really only cause for concern when you are exposed for extended amounts of time. 

Fumes From Asphalt

In order for asphalt to be used in liquid form it needs to be heated to 150-200 degrees Fahrenheit. Hot asphalt can emit Hydrogen Sulfide Gas which can lead to lung damage, suffocation, and death. This is one of the major dangers of asphalt because it is seemingly invisible until you begin to notice symptoms. 

Respiratory issues can become more severe when workers or residents are people inhale large amounts. Common symptoms that can come when you have inhaled too much HSG are dizziness, coughing, headaches, and fatigue. Being around heated asphalt for a short period of time may not lead to major health concerns, but prolonged exposure can lead to bronchitis, emphysema, and some cancers. 

Risk Of Flammability While Heating Asphalt

There are other dangers of asphalt that come with the high temperature of the material. While asphalt is heated daily, it is extremely flammable when it comes in contact with a spark or open flame. This can lead to severe burns for those that are handling it during their jobs on road paving, piping, and more. 

Wearing coveralls, eye protection, and face shields can help prevent burns to your body and keep your vital organs protected. Taking precautions to protect yourself from the dangers of asphalt can help you live a longer and healthier life. 

Additional Protection While Working With Asphalt

There are some safety equipment and clothing that can help workers keep themselves from seeing extensive damage from asphalt. If you are a construction worker or have asphalt being installed around your home, here are some things you can do to protect yourself. 

Respirator: Working around liquid asphalt comes with high HSG so wearing a respirator can help keep clean air going into your lungs. This way you can still complete your job while protecting yourself from the dangers of asphalt.

Eye protection: Wearing eye protection while on a construction project can protect you from a lot of dangers. Eyewear can prevent blindness that could be caused by flying objects, hot asphalt, or unexpected flames. 

Gloves: Thermal gloves can protect your hands from burns that can come from hot asphalt. 

Proper asphalt mixing: The most appropriate way to mix asphalt is in an enclosed space. Doing it in an open barrel or kettle will risk fire and fume exposure. Mixing asphalt should also be done when fewer people are on the job site. 

Asphalt Work With Precision Asphalt Maintenance

Precision Asphalt Maintenance takes the safety and health of our workers very seriously. We work to provide safe job sites and appropriate safety equipment for those who are in contact with asphalt every day. 
If you are in need to asphalt paving, asphalt repair, crack sealing, or other asphalt services, contact our professionals for a bid. We want to help improve your driveway, parking lot, and more with quality asphalt and attention to detail. Working with our Utah experts will help ensure the asphalt is smooth and durable.

If you’ve been looking for ways to improve the value of your property, you may not consider your driveway in that equation. However, asphalt driveways can do a lot to increase property value. From making your driveway safer for cars to drive on to simply making your home look nicer, there are quite a few ways asphalt driveways can take your home to the next level.

Here’s what you need to know about the variety of ways in which asphalt driveways can improve your property – the value of it included.

#1. Increased Curb Appeal

When looking for ways to improve your property, it’s always a good idea to take a gander at the other houses in your neighborhood. For instance, if your house is the only one with a gravel driveway, this will make it worth less than the ones with paved driveways. 

On the other hand, if you live somewhere where dirt and gravel driveways are commonplace, an asphalt driveway sets your home apart in the best way possible. Paving your driveway says that you care about how your property looks and that you care about doing what you can to keep your cars and the cars of any guests in good condition. 

It’s a simple matter of fact that the nicer your home looks, the more attractive it will be to potential buyers. If your home looks nicer than others in the neighborhood, you can get a better price for it. However, if it isn’t up to par, this gives potential buyers leg-room to try to get a lower price than you’re asking for. 

#2. Make Your Home Safer And More Comfortable

Who likes walking around on gravel or in mud after the rain? Not many people, that’s for certain. This can hurt your feet, make your shoes dirty, and can make your property less safe. If people were to trip on a particularly large piece of gravel or if they were to fall for whatever reason, falling on gravel presents the risk of injury. 

However, when you have a beautifully smooth asphalt driveway, you don’t have to worry so much about these things. Certainly, you don’t want to walk on hot asphalt during the summer, but everything from concrete to sand can burn your feet in the summer, so you’d be wearing shoes anyway. Asphalt is safer and more comfortable to walk on. And the safer and more comfortable the property, the more you can increase property value.

#3. Protect Your Cars

There’s a lot that can go wrong when you have dirt or gravel driveways. For instance, if there’s a big rainstorm, that would leave your driveway a muddy mess. The puddles can splash onto your car, making it so much dirtier, which could damage your paint if you don’t clean it. Plus, if there are pits in your driveway, you run the risk of getting stuck – and nobody wants this!

If you have a gravel driveway, this means that you’re going to need to worry about rock chips. These can do a lot of damage to your paint and your windows. Indeed, they could even necessitate new windows or paint if they’re bad enough.

Some people won’t even drive on unpaved driveways due to the fact that they want to avoid damaging their cars. As such, asphalt driveways increase property value by helping to prevent damage to your vehicles.

#4. Good For Cold Climates

Asphalt driveways are often preferable to concrete driveways when you live somewhere that gets cold. This is because asphalt is less likely to be damaged by the freeze-thaw process than concrete is. You also don’t have to worry so much about whether or not your driveway will be damaged by salt and deicing agents.

Plus, if your asphalt driveways does sustain damage, it’s usually fairly easy to fix. You can get both crack repair and pothole repair. Since asphalt is not as expensive as concrete, this means that when the time eventually comes to replace your asphalt, you won’t be spending as much as you would otherwise.

Are Asphalt Driveways Worth It?

As you can see, there are a variety of ways in which asphalt driveways can increase property value, and we haven’t even touched on them all. As such, asphalt driveways are more than worth the initial investment.

Precision Asphalt Maintenance provides professional asphalt services, from paving to repairs. Contact us today to learn more or to receive a quote for your project and let us help you improve your property!

Asphalt is an incredibly durable material, so it’s no wonder why it’s used for paving roads, parking lots, driveways, and more. You may have heard some debate about the pros and cons and asphalt sealing and wonder whether or not you truly need to seal your asphalt. You may wonder whether asphalt sealing is just one of those add-on services that can certainly help to spruce up your asphalt, but ultimately, isn’t necessary. 

You’re in the right place! If you’re considering whether or not you need to seal your asphalt, continue reading to learn more about asphalt sealing and what it can and cannot do for you.

What Is Asphalt Sealcoating?

In order to better understand whether or not to seal your asphalt, it’s helpful to gain a better understanding of what asphalt seal coating even is. Asphalt seal coating is essentially a layer of protection laid on top of your asphalt. It helps to preserve the condition of your asphalt, as well as prevent damages from the weather and wear and tear. 

That all sounds great, but here’s why some people question whether or not you really need to seal your asphalt: asphalt is already durable, and if you have your asphalt seal coated, it’s a service that will need to be redone every few years. 

What Happens If You Don’t Seal Your Asphalt?

If you’re trying to save some money, naturally you want to know if it’s bad if you don’t seal your asphalt. If this is truly just a bonus service, then it seems like not doing it will save you money in the long run. As you’ll find through talking with a wide range of professionals, whether or not asphalt sealing is even necessary is quite a controversial topic. 

People who advise against sealing your asphalt say that it is a waste of money and that it can lead to harmful side effects. You must decide whether or not the benefits outweigh the money expenditure, and whether or not you are willing to maintain the seal coating.  

This depends on a variety of factors. The major determinant is the condition of the original asphalt and how well it was laid down. A professionally installed asphalt pavement can last for years on end. However, if your asphalt is subject to significant wear and tear or your area has lots of inclement weather, this can shorten your asphalt’s lifespan. 

Is Asphalt Sealcoating Worth It?

If you do decide to seal your asphalt, this can extend its lifespan. Since seal coatings already necessitate maintenance and you need to have your asphalt resealed every few years or so, they encourage you to stay on top of the condition of your asphalt. If you didn’t seal your asphalt, it would be easy to ignore issues until they become major problems.

Seal coating can also help you to save money by preventing damages and needing to prematurely replace your asphalt. This is because seal coating prevents water penetration (and potholes), resists chemical damages, and makes a smooth, easy surface to clean, while normal asphalt could prove more difficult.

While there are those who advise that you don’t seal your asphalt, most experts recommend that you have this service done. It’s important to note that in order for your seal coating to perform well, your existing asphalt needs to be in good condition. A seal coat is not a magic fix for an old, deteriorating asphalt parking lot. However, it can help a new or in good-condition asphalt parking lot stay in good condition for longer. 

Should You Seal Your Asphalt?

Technically, you don’t need to. However, it is highly recommended that you do. Not only can a seal coat beautify your asphalt pavement, but it can also prevent damage to it and help it last longer. In order to prevent premature deterioration, you should indeed seal your asphalt. 

Precision Asphalt Maintenance provides professional asphalt sealing services. We can help you with all of your asphalt needs, from fresh pavement to asphalt repair to crack sealing and more. Contact us today to learn more about our asphalt services or to schedule yours today!