Posted by Jesse Willoughby on Wed, Dec 17, 2008 @ 12:35 PM
Doesn't it seem the requirements for ADA compliance seem to change daily? If you had work done on your property even a few years ago there is a good chance that it is no longer in compliance. In California there exist two methods for ADA enforcement.
The first is local building departments. When a request for a building permit is initiated the local government will send an inspector to check on disability accessibility. At this time the government agency will demand upgrades to existing facilities from bathrooms, paths of travel and parking areas.
The second method of enforcement is far more expensive. California has given individuals the right to seek remedies in court for unfair restrictions. A few disabled lawyers have made a living out of visiting public establishments and then going to court for their inability to use the facilities because of their handicap. In most cases the owners of the facility are forced to settle in or out of court and also make the demanded upgrades. It is a little like tax enforcement: you may be able to avoid taxes but if you are audited the price can be substantially higher than paying up front.
Don't take the liability risk of not having updated ADA signage, ramps, and parking. Call Alaniz for a free consultation to see if you are currently meeting ADA standards and if not, how much it will cost you to upgrade.
Posted by Jesse Willoughby on Wed, Dec 17, 2008 @ 12:18 PM
Isn't it ugly to see a sidewalk damaged by tree roots growing below and pushing the sidewalk every different way?
Everyone by now is familiar with the sight of concrete ground down to eliminate the trip hazards created when one block of concrete is pushed up more than the adjacent block. Anyone who has had this work done recognizes that this is a short term solution caused by nearby trees. But it is not a very economical solution since the grinding weakens the concrete at the place it is under the most stress. When it does break, the trip hazard is much worse and more immediate.
And if it took several years for the trees root to cause the problem you should know that the problem is going to accelerate in the years to come. You see the root is rubbing against the pavement and it is developing a thick callus that grows twice as fast as regular root growth.
For these reasons most reputable pavement contractors will not recommend this type of work unless asked. It is not that much more to have the pavement removed and replaced and it is a long term solution.
You should also consult an arborist if you do not want to risk the health of an existing tree.
Request a bid on our contact us form for a free quote.
Posted by Jesse Willoughby on Wed, Dec 17, 2008 @ 12:14 PM
Why don't people do their own asphalt repairs if asphalt is available in home improvement centers?The answer is the asphalt in stores is referred in the industry as cold patch, cut back or temporary asphalt. It contains oils that keep the asphalt soft enough to use but it also makes the material too soft to be permanent. It can be a temporary fix to a pot hole but it does not address what has caused the problem in the base and surrounding areas. It's like putting a band-aid fix on something that needs correction for long-term solutions.
Pavement stays fixed when the damaged pavement is removed, the base is re-compacted (or additional base rock used) and then hot mix asphaltic concrete is placed to a sufficient depth and compacted with a heavy roller while the material is above 175 degrees (ideally between 275-300 degrees).
Posted by Jesse Willoughby on Wed, Dec 17, 2008 @ 12:10 PM
Ninety four percent of all pavement in the United States is asphalt. Why?
Based on use, it could be assumed that asphalt is the better product when compared to concrete. However, that is only true in limited instances.
Concrete is more expensive mostly because it is labor intensive to prep, form and pour. It has to be placed to minimum depth of 4" (Asphalt 2" minimum). However, a very general rule of thumb states concrete lasts about twice as long as asphalt.
Asphalt's popularity comes from its lower cost (again, a very general rule of thumb states asphalt is about 35-40% less than concrete when applied to minimum depth). The biggest cost components of asphalt are the material and equipment used to place the asphalt.
Concrete is placed where areas might be smaller, such as a sidewalk rather than a street, or where heavy weight is likely to damage pavement. Asphalt is a lower cost alternative where large areas need to be paved.
Posted by Jesse Willoughby on Sat, Dec 06, 2008 @ 03:06 AM
Asphalt Roads as Solar Collectors the Next Alternative Energy Revolution
Blast into the Future: Alternative energy is revolutionizing the world. Solar collectors are everywhere and everything: they are home pathways, roof shingles, parking lots, roads, supermarket pavements, airport tarmacs...
Roads and parking lots as solar collectors? Is that the newest revolutionary innovation since the term "alternative energy"? Capturing solar energy from pavements has been perfected for years now.
Researchers at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute will unveil Tuesday, August 19, 2008 the findings of a research project on the concept of using the heat absorbed by pavements. Rajib Mallick, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, who was the team leader will hail the achievement as "revolutionary".
By using the heat from asphalt, the researchers have developed a solar collector that could turn roads and parking lots into invisible and cheap sources of electricity and hot water.
The research team will prove that asphalt has a lot of advantages as a solar collector. It is known that the blacktop stays hot and could continue to generate energy after the sun goes down, unlike traditional solar-electric cells. In addition, there is already a massive acreage of installed roads and parking lots that could be retrofitted for energy generation, so there will be no need to find additional land for solar farms.
Because roads and parking lots are typically resurfaced every 10 to 12 years, it will be ideal for retrofits to be built into that cycle, while cooling the asphalt surfaces by the heat extraction process without any visibility.
The team believes the key to successfully turning asphalt into an effective energy generator will include a specially designed, highly efficient heat exchanger that soaks up the maximum amount of the heat absorbed by asphalt to create a potentially important future source of renewable, pollution-free energy.
Mallick worked on the project with Bao-Liang Chen, a PhD candidate at WPI, and Sankha Bhowmick, associate professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth.
They will present a paper, Capturing Solar Energy from Asphalt Pavements, showcasing the revolutionary energy capture methods before the International Society for Asphalt Pavements (ISAP) symposium on Asphalt Pavements and Environment between August 18th and 20th, 2008 in Zürich, Switzerland.