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TAKING A BEATING
There is no question that a parking lot takes a beating day-in and day-out. And, in many climates, just the temperature swings alone are enough to cause accelerated deterioration. Constant freeze / thaw cycles, of course, cause constant expansion and contraction (cracks) – increasing the risk of water infiltration. Then the water freezes, expands the cracks further, and compounds the problem even more.
Also adding stress to the parking lot is the brutal effect of daily traffic; not to mention, it receives its share of small (and large) fuel and chemical spills and leaks from automobiles, equipment, etc. Even our warm and friendly sun adds to the negative effects by constantly spreading its ultraviolet rays helping to cause further deterioration by increasing the rate of oxidation, causing the asphalt to become dry and brittle.
The result? Obviously, a greater risk of cracking and more water infiltration.
All of those factors combined make for an uphill battle to properly maintain parking lots. You definitely have to stay in front of the eight ball.
KEEP IT ON THE SURFACE
One way to do that is to keep those deteriorating effects on the actual parking lot surface. After all, the surface was designed to take the beating and, acting as a shield, not allow the deteriorating effects to negatively impact the base material. In order to ensure the surface, or “shield,” continues to meet the demands for many years to come, sealcoating is a key component to any parking lot maintenance program. Sealcoating does just what the name implies of course, sealing the top coat of asphalt pavement further improving its “shielding ability.”
Although each project will vary depending on area, condition, location, etc., the general process is described in more detail below.
The Pre-application Process
ASSESS THE ASPHALT QUALITY
Assessing the quality of your asphalt is important as it helps determine what preparation steps need to be completed before applying the sealcoating.
Three key factors are important in that determination and they are:
I) Well Drained and Stable
II) Frequency and Size of Cracks
III) Oil Free Surface
The level of those three factors can dramatically increase or decrease the quality of the sealcoating application and performance.
NEW ASPHALT
For new asphalt sealcoating, it is usually just a matter of the surface having had adequate time to cure and surface oils to dissolve. The Asphalt Sealcoat Manufacturers Association (ASMA) recommends a 6 – 12 month cure time. An easy way to tell if the oils are gone is to broadcast a gallon of water on the surface and watch it move. The water moving in a uniform sheet is a good indication the oils are gone. On the other hand, if you see ‘rings’ or ‘breaks’ in the sheeting action, its probably an indication its not properly cured, or that there is an isolated trouble spot that will need a spot primer.
OLD ASPHALT
During the inspection, note any problem areas including those areas that may need patching and/or crack sealing. It is likely too, depending on the age and actual surface condition, the asphalt may need to be primed prior to the application of the protective surface treatment.
Step 1: Cleaning the Surface
Whether the surface can go straight to sealcoating, or if priming is required, the surface must be cleaned thoroughly in order to remove all loose aggregate, powder, dirt, gravel, silt, etc. In most cases, use blowers, pressure washers, steel bristle brooms, or a combination in order to get the best cleaning results.
Step 2: Prepping the Surface
After the surface is well cleaned then repairs, crack sealing, oil spot priming, and any other special treatments will be performed. Use only those products compatible with the sealcoat product to be used.
Step 3: Preparing the Material
Different sealcoat mix designs may provide different benefits so determine what product is right for your application.Follow the specific manufacturer’s recommendations for material preparation including additives, mixing, etc.
Step 4: Applying the Material
As with other material handling, the sealcoat material will be applied by manufacturer’s specifications. In most cases, sealcoat products can be applied either by hand, with squeegees and brushes, or by machine. Determine the most beneficial method depending on coverage area, obstacles, or any other considerations impacting maneuverability.
Because of the amount of traffic parking lots receive, always apply two coats for added protection and durability.
What’s Next?
CONSIDER A LONG-TERM PARKING LOT MANAGEMENT PLAN (PLMP)
Now that you have a newly sealed and protected parking lot, it is time to consider a long-term Parking Lot Management Plan (PLMP). After all, just by completing the sealcoating process, the life of the parking lot has been substantially lengthened. And that life can be extended even longer.
As with any piece of equipment, structure, roof, etc. a well-thought and properly executed maintenance plan for a parking lot will continue to add life and at the same time minimize the chances of inconvenient and costly repairs.
The team at Parking Lot Maintenance has the expertise and experience to develop a cost-effective and convenient PLMP specifically tailored to fit your needs. Parking Lot Maintenance is a specialized company that focuses on the maintenance of asphalt parking lots. Our core services are parking lot seal coating, hot rubber crack sealing, asphalt repair and line striping for professionally managed properties.
We are unique and one of the only companies to focus exclusively on the needs of the professional property manager. Through our Parking Lot Management Service we are a critical resource for the property manager in making sure that one of their biggest investments (their parking lots) are properly constructed, cared for and continue to provide easy access to the properties they manage. Parking Lot Maintenance has the expertise to deliver a quality project, within budget and on time with minimal disruption for your tenants. We guarantee it!
The author of this article has expertise in Sealcoating. The articles on Seal Coating reveals the author’s knowledge on the same. The author has written many articles on Asphalt Sealcoating as well.
Playing online games has become one of the most popular pastimes in this modern age. The games are diversified and can be accessed without charge. These games are most appropriate in affording enjoyable activity as a form of a casual break either at the home or in the office.
The parking game gives you educational and informative value aside from the explicit enjoyment and satisfaction in spending your free time. It is a highly preferred game by many people because of the pleasing features. It has experienced awesome popularity even if it is a relatively new game available over the Internet. The game has many different scenarios and situations which are very interesting and attractive for the players. The game has its unique features which entice people to play it without hesitation.
The fact is that you are kept attentive in completing the parking scenarios and develop your driving plus parking skills, free parking games will make it very exciting and entertaining. The objective is to be able to park your car amidst different obstacles along the course and you need to do all these within a given period of time.
These games offer opportunities to sharpen your driving and parking skills while giving you relaxation and entertainment from your busy schedules. It also gives you practice opportunities to hone your skill in parking a car given many trying situations and scenarios.
These games are ready to play and easy to access over the Internet. These games can be played practically at any time of the day with its easy accessibility. The parking game has many different game configurations that are available depending on your preferences and all are very convenient to be accessed online.
When playing the different levels of the game, you are led to more difficult parking situation as the game progresses. There are a lot of different parking game choices to play, including heavy truck parking, midnight parking, time allocation parking, challenge parking, parking for road warriors, precision parking, valet parking and a lot more. With the variety of parking games available, there is simply no end to the excitement and enjoyment it could provide players.
The free parking games also come in configurations of either time competition or abilities testing. The different configurations of the game provide new discoveries and thrills to the players. Because of the extreme enjoyment and entertainment provided by these games, there is a chance that you may neglect your work already and get addicted into these games. When playing the timed games it is important to be conscious about the time and you should be able to combine speed with accuracy when playing. Remember when the time expires, the game ends.
While being rather difficult and challenging, the parking game can also be fun and thrilling. Because of the convenience in playing this game, you can actually play it even during breaks from work or home chores. People are gratified by the game because of the many similarities with real life situation it offers.
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Skiing, boating, picnicking, hiking, horseback riding (inhale, deep breath here), scenic byways, rock climbing…okay, have you caught up yet? There are tons of things to do in Colorado! The really cool thing is you don’t have to traverse the whole state to partake of these wonderful activities. The Colorado National Parks have many of them ready at your beckon call! That’s right , one location and you can experience one of the more joyous family vacations you’ve ever had.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Fourteen miles of the Gunnison’s deep gorges are within this 31,000-acre National Park. Since it can be a bit hazardous to enter the backcountry, permits are required and be very wary of where and how you drive the road. Eight miles east of Montrose you can access the South Rim observation points. The North Rim is accessible from Crawford and the last few miles are gravel, not asphalt.
At the Gunnison Visitor Center, you can gain information on all types of activities. These include interpretive programs such as the Park’s history, houses, geology and plants and animals. Camping and food are located with Black Canyon of the Gunnison State Park to keep the kids well fed and well rested.
Rocky Mountain National Park
This Park spans much of the area from Estes Park northward to Grand Lake, the beginning of the Colorado River system. Rocky Mountain National Park is open twenty-four hours a day year round. This allows for enjoyment of summer and winter activities.
Come on over and have a walk through nature on the paths through the Park and cool off in the water as you come on by. Cast your nets and catch some fish. Grab a horse and take a ride.
Leave the horse and grab a car for a scenic byway tour. Ski on water or on snow. Sleep under the stars as you camp out. Lodging can be found on site if you don’t feel like roughing it. The acreage of Rocky Mountain national park extends to 265,769 acres on the Rocky’s Front Range, lending us over seventy-five peaks to wander through. Your sanctuary awaits!
Mesa Verde National Park
Ten miles east of Cortez in southwestern Colorado you will find Mesa Verde National Park. Over 4000 archaeological sites that include over 600 cliff dwellings within the Park making it one of the nation’s largest archaeological preserves. Eighty square miles rise to 2,000 feet from the valley floor. Descendants of the area are the Hopi and Navajo peoples, with the cliff dwellers reputably having disappeared to places unknown. It is thought that crop failures due to droughts forced the inhabitants away.
You can have quite the history tour with your family viewing the major dwellings from overlooks, and able to get up close and personal to others. Guided tours are given by Park Rangers, and you may also travel along the scenic routes by car. The Balcony House, Far View Sites, and Fewkes Canyon are just a few of the sites to see. Don’t miss the Mesa Top Loop Road or the Petroglyph Point Trail for sights you won’t see just anywhere!
As you can see, there’s a lot to do in Colorado National Parks and the fun doesn’t stop with what’s listed. We’d have a ten page story to tell for each location if we did that! Hop in a plane or on a train, on a bike or in a car and come on over to view the Parks of Colorado!
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By the banks of the lovely Xili Lake the visitor to China will find the fascinating Shenzhen Safari Park. Featuring diverse animal and plant life as well as sensational animal performances, the park is a recognized attraction for both locals and visitors. The park has the distinction of being the first wildlife reserve in China to present wildlife without the confines of cages. Over 300 species of animals, many of them endangered or protected varieties are to be found here. Such diverse creatures as Asian elephants, giraffes, pandas, Siberian tigers, flamingos and red-crowned cranes may all be observed here along with many other species.
The safari park is a contrast to the nearby metropolis, an oasis of greenery with lush mountains to its north. With an area of 120 hectares this splendid zoo is divided into three sections according to the habitat and lifestyle of the various animals.
Visitors may take advantage of a bus service to visit the various parts of the park.
The adventurous beasts’ zone boasts rare white tigers (a variety of the Bengal tiger), South China tigers, North China tigers (Siberian tigers), wolves, bears, cheetahs and lions, all provided with their own sanctuaries. Guests will also be fascinated by ligers and a tigon, the result of mating between lions and tigers.
The vegetarian zone is well populated by zebras, giraffes, kangaroos, hippopotamuses, camels, pandas and various avian inhabitants like swans and flamingos. Notably the lake for swans is the largest of its kind in China. Guests may take a boat on the lake to admire the beautiful white and black swans at close range. A national treasure of China, the pandas are also very popular amongst visitors.
One of the park’s most appealing features is its multitude of animal performances, held at four performance arenas.
A unique feature is the park’s animal parade which features no less than 1,000 animals and 300 actors. The elephants lead the parade, followed by lions, tigers and a selection of other animals.
Another notable feature is the multimedia presentations that enable visitors to learn more about the inhabitants of the park.
For visitors seeking a Shenzhen serviced apartment the obvious choice is the Ascott Shenzhen Maillen, a superior accommodation that ideally suits the requirements of today’s traveller.
Outdoor parks are soothing places. These are places where you will feel relaxed and rejuvenated just by seeing children playing, families having fun, animals running around and just about everything that speaks peace and calming. Truth be told, people find refuge in parks.
One of the reasons why people go to parks is to contemplate. Just the act of going to a serene place, being alone with one’s thoughts and being surrounded by beautiful things gives the person some positive attitude. Since time flies by so fast and almost everyone is surrounded with busy schedules, family, deadlines and problems, one cannot even hear his own thoughts. Besides, going to a park to unwind and think to oneself is very vital so we can once again deal with the things that we are burdened with.
Aside from being alone with your thoughts, visiting parks also allows you to be one with nature. Simple things like the trees and the chirping of the birds are some of the things that will help you in unwinding. Likewise, recreational activities like exercising, running, walking with your pet and just reading a book are enough to stimulate your physical and mental view.
The good thing about Denver is that there are lots of Glendale parks and recreation that one can engage into. You can do recreational activities by yourself, with friends or with families. Kite flying, running or hiking are some of the things that you can do alone. Also, if you are the leading an active lifestyle, then you can do other activities which would require you to release energy.
If you are with your family or friends, Glendale parks and recreations have amusement parks that you can go to. Feel the adrenaline rush with the rides and activities that you will engage into. You will not just unwind on your own; you have also spent quality time with your family and friends.
Aside from these, Glendale parks and recreations have basketball and tennis courts that you can join in with the other people. It is not uncommon to meet new people and make new friends in these places too. So stand up, get out and have some real fun outside your house. Staying in parks and doing recreational activities are just some of the ways that will definitely make you healthier both in mind and body. ]
Asphalt Parking Lot Marking and Maintenance in Tucson
As a property proprietor, how would you make a great very first impression to prospects and visitors?
You’re car parking lot is the initial thing your clients see at your facility. Absolutely nothing can make as great a very first impression as a fresh striped parking lot. Bright, thoroughly clean newly painted markings on a very well maintained asphalt pavement make your lot look organized and eye-catching. A very good looking parking lot sends the message that your property management business and your organization is efficient and effectively maintained. Tucson Asphalt and Striping Company are experts at making our customers give off a fantastic 1st impression.
Pavement markings not only designate parking locations, but are also safely directing individuals and visitors management in and around your parking lot area. At Tucson Asphalt and Striping we are really experienced at using stencils to mark out loading areas, crosswalks, no parking/fire lanes and Tow a way zones to show folks where it’s safe to walk and to tell drivers what places are off limits.
Tucson Asphalt and Striping Company assist property managers maximize their space by giving drivers guidelines on how not to take up too much area. By implementing state-of-the-art paint and striping machines which are quick and effortless to use, straight parking good deal markings let you get the most parking spaces out of your entire asphalt parking lot.
An expert parking lot striping business will lay out your parking lot using either angled parking spot markings or straight entrance way parking lot markings, the angled parking slots are a little more tough to stripe and do not permit for as many spaces, even so, they are less difficult for drivers to pull into and back out of, plus they help create a one-way traffic flow in your lot.
When striping and marking your asphalt parking lot, it’s a great opportunity to produce designated handicapped parking spaces for the impaired clients, workers or visitors. Here at Tucson Asphalt and Striping Business we’re specialists at stenciling handicapped stalls by designing designated places for residents, customers and visitors. We help keep our clients in a ADA, which stands for Americans with disabilities act, compliance.
Striping a worn-out parking lot is 1 of the simplest, most reasonably priced techniques for a property owner or property management business to give a face lift to their property. A fresh coat of DOT traffic approved paint and pavement markings appear well-defined and make your parking lot look very well maintained. The parking lot goes a long way in improving your curb appeal on your property.
For more details on parking lot striping ideas and techniques call Tucson Asphalt and Striping at 480-553-9779 or visit our web site at HTTP://WWW.PhoenixAsphaltandStriping.com ]