The Parking Lot Industry is Changing | Innovating for Savings

Read this before you budget for parking lot repairs

It’s hard to believe, but fall is almost here—and that means budgeting season. If you’re like many property managers, you’ve got at least one site in your portfolio due for resurfacing and perhaps others yet to be constructed. So how much money should you allocate for an overlay, parking lot extension, or new construction? The answer may surprise you…

While large-scale paving is typically expensive, Let’s Pave has a solution to help you save. In our continual pursuit to revolutionize the paving industry, we have identified and tested an innovative, reinforced asphalt additive that strengthens pavement and extends its longevity. Through our partnership with Surface Tech, manufacturer of ACE XP™ polymer fiber asphalt additive, we are offering this solution and its savings to our customers nationwide.

What it Does:

Reinforced asphalt additive is made from para-aramid fibers (polymer fiber). Aramid fibers are used in military applications for body armor fabric. Not only does the fiber strengthen asphalt by reducing cracking and rutting, but it also helps extend intervals between routine maintenance.

How it Works:

During the mixing process, the wax covering becomes fully soluble in the liquid asphalt binder and releases millions of aramid fibers to be dispersed throughout the heated aggregate—providing three-dimensional reinforcement. What’s more, there is no additional equipment needed to install it on your parking lot. Just like typical HMA, a fiber reinforced mix goes through the paver the exact same way, it can be raked and shoveled the same way, and it can be compacted using the same equipment.

How the Savings Add Up:

Using a fiber reinforced mix has significant cost benefits over conventional hot mix asphalt. Based on unique factors to the site, the use of para-aramid fibers may enable a sizable or slight reduction in the amount of asphalt needed. Consider the following scenarios:

Cost Savings – In this scenario, there is a sizable reduction in asphalt material (between 10-25%), e.g., installing 6 inches of reinforced asphalt to gain the same traffic load performance as 8 inches of non-reinforced pavement. The reduction of asphalt saves money on material and uses fewer truckloads which lowers emissions. Less material also means quicker installation and reduced downtime.

Cost Neutral – In this scenario, there is a slight reduction in asphalt material (between 5-10%). This reduction will cover the cost of the fiber additive, which yields a higher-performing and longer-lasting pavement for the same price as non-reinforced pavement.

Don’t wait! Contact Let’s Pave now to further discuss this innovative, money-saving additive. We are confident it is the perfect addition to your proactive pavement plan for 2023.

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ABOUT AUTHOR C.B. Kuzlik

C.B. Kuzlik, CEO, Founder, & Partner, has over 25 years of experience in the paving industry building relationships and improving parking lot management practices. Prior to starting Let’s Pave, C.B. served as partner for a large national parking lot contractor and led their national business unit. He then spent two years developing national programs in the pavement maintenance division for the largest building and material supplier in the world. C.B.’s passion, energy, and enthusiasm for the paving industry are infused into Let’s Pave; through this business, he and his team are able to fill in the holes wherever they occur.