Asphalt is a petroleum based flexible pavement. For the best result, a professional paving contractor like Tuff Kote Asphalt, Inc., should complete the installation utilizing specialized equipment.

Asphalt is a flexible pavement that flexes during the harsh weather conditions experienced in our area. An asphalt driveway or parking lot is aesthetically pleasing and maintained easily and inexpensively. To maintain your asphalt, you must sealcoat it every 3 years on average.

The cost of asphalt varies for every job. Asphalt is a product whose cost is based on the amount of labor and material required to complete the job. The majority of the variation in cost lies in the preparation of the existing surface and the size of the project.

Your asphalt driveway or parking lot should last approximately 20 years if properly installed over a well compacted stone base.

Keep gasoline and oil from accumulating on your driveway. Preventative maintenance including crack filling should be completed on an as-needed basis.

You do not have to be home the day of scheduled work as long as the driveway is clear of all vehicles and any vehicles required over the next 48 hours should be removed from your garage.

Yes, we will need access to your garage and an adequate water supply (a garden hose is fine).

Most driveways or parking lots are blocked off for 2 to 3 days. Extreme care should be taken for at least one week (for example no sharp wheel turns). However, on warm days it is common during the first few years after installation for the tires from vehicle turns to leave minor tire marks, which is normal.

This is a common result of the compaction from the asphalt roller. This will completely disappear after the first application of asphalt sealer. Again, this is normal practice.

Yes, we will block off your driveway/parking lot when the job is completed. We will inform you when to open it.

7 Warning Signs of Asphalt Paving Scams

As the Buffalo weather gets warmer and the asphalt paving season begins, consumers are warned to be extremely cautious when selecting a contractor to pave a driveway or parking lot.

Each spring, bands of con-artists, often referred to as traveling criminals or gypsy pavers, enter our state in order to scam unsuspecting homeowners and business people.

Although little is known about the Traveler’s history, they all speak in a “cant”, a secret language among each other. They have been labeled Gypsies or Travelers primarily because they travel as families and groups and because of their nomadic ways. Their favorite targets are senior citizens.

Here are 7 asphalt paving warning signs:

Selling door-to-door:

Reputable asphalt contractors will sometimes offer there services if they are doing a legitimate job in the immediate area. Always ask for references.

Claiming they have leftover asphalt from another job:

Professional asphalt contractors will know, with great accuracy, how much paving material is needed to complete a project. Rarely will they have leftover material. Some of the reasons a contractor might have left over material are due to weather, equipment problems, cancellations and etc.

Push you to make a quick decision:

Reputable contractors will provide a written estimate that will be valid for weeks or months. If the great deal they are offering you today is not available tomorrow or next week it may be a scam.

No contract offered:

Insist upon a written contract specifying in detail, the work to be performed and the agreed upon price.

Cash only sales: Most reputable contractors take checks or credit cards and don’t require cash-only terms. Deals that seem to be good to be true: If the quoted price seems very low, chances are the quality of the work will also be quite low.

Unmarked truck:

Often the trucks they travel in are unmarked or they have an out of town address and phone number. A little research will reveal that they have no permanent address and the phone number is often an answering machine.

A professionally designed and properly constructed asphalt pavement will last for many years and most reputable contractors will stand behind their work. Know who you are doing business with. Consumers are safer dealing with a contractor who has roots in the community.

If you fertilize your lawn or plantings, please don’t fertilize for a week prior to our visit. Fertilizer products will discolor the sealer products. The pavement must be dry. Please don’t hose off the parking lot or driveway in the 24 hours prior to sealcoating. Otherwise, just be sure that the work area is clear from all vehicles, toys, bikes, grills, etc. Also, be sure that your pets are either inside or secured away from the work area.

Our professionals will cut down the grass areas. However, without a regular spray of some type of weed killer, the grass will come back. Grass has the power to grow through the asphalt. It easily has the power to grow through sealer.

Consistently use a weed killer such as Round-Up.

Tuff Kote Asphalt, Inc. generally does sealing work from May 1st through the end of October (depending upon weather conditions). The outside temperature must be above 50 degrees in order for the sealing process to cure correctly.

Yes. If it has rained the previous evening or if rain is in the forecast for the day scheduled for work, Tuff Kote Asphalt, Inc. may call to reschedule your appointment. We generally call the night before if the forecast calls for rain. We recognize this is an inconveience, but dry pavement is important to proper curing of the sealant.

Generally 6-8 hours, but your Tuff Kote representative will advise you on the drying time for your particular job.

Generally 24 hours, but your Tuff Kote representative will advise you on the drying time for your particular job.

If leaves fall onto the driveway when it is wet, they may stick slightly. The wind or a broom, however, will take them off.

It is recommended that new asphalt pavement surface should be sealed within its first year.

On average, every 2-3 years. Some poorly laid or older asphalt driveways need sealing every 1-2 years to prevent early cracking and pot holes. Cracks should be filled and repaired every year.

Yearly. The asphalt will continue to expand and contract with the warm and cold weather. Our professionals use top commerical products; however the filler cannot stop the asphalt from expanding and contracting. The crack filler will prolong the life of the asphalt by preventing water getting into the asphalt foundation.

Cracks are a sign that the driveway is in need of mainteance and repair.

Sealcoating is a preventive measure, but will not “fix” cracks. Sealcoating will help keep driveway glued together and will prolong the life of the driveway.

No. If sealer is put on too thick it will never completely harden to produce the highest level of protection for asphalt. Our application provides a consistent level of thickness over the asphalt surface.

Driveways can be sealed using a brush application upon request or for small areas. All commerical parking lots and most driveways can be either broomed, squeegeed or sprayed depending upon job, for best result.

No. Our service professionals will make sure not to splatter any sealer on your concrete, brick or garage doors.

Whether you need to install a new driveway, or if you can get away with resurfacing or repairs, depends largely on the condition of the base layers, or foundation. However, if cracking covers 3/4 of the driveway, the surface is too far gone to repair. The root of the problems may come from lower down, and a complete overhaul should be considered.
A good rule of thumb is if 25% or more of your driveway has cracks then resurfacing with asphalt will be recommended. Each driveway is different and a Tuff Kote, Inc. representative can assist you in making the right decision for your specific needs.

Yes. The crack filler is expected to settle in cracks. More settling will occur in larger cracks. It is common for the product to shrink and contract, regardless of the application. It will not visually make cracks disappear.

Yes. This is a temporary situation due new sealer being applied. We add sand to our sealer to help fill in cracks and to produce an anti-skid surface. This is normal because our sealer is a rubberized, pliable material and on warm days it is typical for this to occur.

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