Property owners with a large gravel turn-around or a wide shared residential parking area often deal with mud and dust. Property owners in Kalispell, MT experience freeze-thaw cycles that can damage poorly prepped ground. Coastal Asphalt Solutions receives many questions from property owners living near Evergreen or out toward Whitefish Stage before starting Asphalt Paving projects. Coastal Asphalt Solutions answers these common questions directly.
How thick does residential parking pavement actually need to be?
Coastal Asphalt Solutions installs Asphalt Paving for residential parking areas. For standard passenger vehicles or pickup trucks, Asphalt Paving requires at least three inches of compacted hot-mix asphalt. Heavy farm equipment, an RV, or a loaded horse trailer requires four to five inches minimum of Asphalt Paving, sitting on top of a well-graded, heavily compacted crushed gravel sub-base. Without proper base prep, Asphalt Paving will look like a washboard by spring.
When can you actually pave in the Flathead Valley?
Weather dictates Asphalt Paving schedules in Kalispell, MT. Asphalt plants in the area typically open up in May once the ground thaws out completely and the night temps stay reliably above freezing. Coastal Asphalt Solutions schedules Asphalt Paving straight through the summer and deep into October, sometimes early November. If the ground is still wet and spongy from spring snowmelt, Asphalt Paving will not be performed. Laying hot mix on frozen or saturated subgrade is a waste of money.
Why is proper drainage such a massive deal here?
Water damages Asphalt Paving. Kalispell, MT receives heavy rain and massive snowpack that melts fast in the spring. Asphalt Paving areas must feature a slope of at least one to two percent to prevent water from pooling on the surface. When that water freezes overnight, it expands and cracks Asphalt Paving from the inside out. Coastal Asphalt Solutions designs every square foot of Asphalt Paving to shed water away from foundations and out toward proper ditches.
How long do I have to stay off a freshly paved lot?
Vehicles must stay off Asphalt Paving for at least 48 to 72 hours. Hot asphalt takes days to fully cure and cool down, especially during warm July afternoons in Kalispell, MT. Driving a heavy pickup onto fresh Asphalt Paving too soon leaves deep tire ruts that are nearly impossible to fix without cutting the section out. Walking on Asphalt Paving is fine after a day, but heavy trailers require a solid week for the material to reach maximum density.
Do I really need a permit for paving a lot on my property?
Permits are usually required for Asphalt Paving, depending on the size of the footprint and whether natural runoff patterns are altered into county or city storm drains. Flathead County and local municipalities have specific rules about impervious surfaces. Property owners must check local zoning before starting excavation work, and Coastal Asphalt Solutions helps guide property owners through what is required for Asphalt Paving in Kalispell, MT.
What kind of maintenance does a paved lot require after year one?
Asphalt Paving requires ongoing maintenance. Property owners must inspect Asphalt Paving for small cracks and seal them before winter water gets inside. Coastal Asphalt Solutions recommends applying a quality sealcoat about a year after the initial Asphalt Paving installation to lock out UV rays and moisture, and then every three to five years after that. With proper care, Asphalt Paving in Kalispell, MT will easily last 15 to 20 years or more.