Straight Edge Contractors

3 Methods To Stop Weed Growth In Your Concrete Pavement

Weeds are a nuisance that can ruin a beautiful paver floor. Weeds growing between paving stones or within joints cause unsightly patches that are not only unattractive, but they also attract pests such as roaches and ants. Homeowners need to take action before weeds take over their new paver installation! Here are three ways you can stop weed growth.

1. Use a Pre-Emergent Herbicide on Your Lawn Every Year

Pre-emergent herbicides prevent weed seeds from sprouting in the first place by blocking them before they can get a foothold. It’s essential to apply these herbicides at the right time since they work best when applied at least three months before weeds emerge and then again two weeks after application if rain is expected within that time frame. You should also make sure you only use pre-emergent on lawns as it can harm other plants!

Using pre-emergent herbicides on your lawn each year prevents weed growth between paving stones or joints, giving your paver installation an even cleaner appearance. It also helps in cleaning paving stones and ensuring no dirt collects around them.

An experienced contractor like Straight Edge Contractors LLC in Midland, TX, can advise you on correct paver maintenance.

2. Don’t Keep the Grass Too Short

Regularly mowing the lawn is an excellent way to keep weeds away, but not if you cut the grass too short! If your blade cuts off more than two inches of healthy green turf, then it will leave an unprotected edge where weed seeds can germinate and take hold in the soil. Mow at least three times a month for best results: this means approximately one inch every time! When cutting your grass, make sure that you don’t have any tall bushes or trees nearby, as these may block the sunlight from reaching those areas right under them. The less sun on certain sections of your yard, the greater chance they’ll become overgrown with weeds.

3. Install a Pre-Formed Weed Barrier Under Concrete Pavers

A weed barrier will prevent weeds from coming up through the concrete pavers and reaching the surface. There are two types of pre-formed weed barriers: plastic sheets installed quickly or a felt mat system that takes more time to install, but is much stronger than plastic. We recommend using both methods for complete prevention against weeds growing through the pavers for new paver installations. If you’re dealing with an existing installation, then use just one method to cover exposed areas so that no new weeds grow there as well.

If you’re looking for advice on preventing weed growth from a reliable concrete contractor, then Straight Edge Contractors LLC is the right choice. We offer first-rate asphalt and concrete paving solutions that are affordable for commercial and residential clients in Midland, TX.

Get a free estimate from our team now!

Why Is My Asphalt Surface Not Smooth Enough?

As pavement experts, Straight Edge Contractors LLC has been building stellar asphalt driveways and parking lots for many years for its customers in Las Cruces and other parts of Texas. Our experience and knowledge help us differentiate between a rushed pavement installation and one that follows all best practices with precision. The asphalt’s texture is an obvious giveaway; an irregular surface is often the result of a substandard pavement installation job.

Whether due to a botched DIY effort or a professional project gone wrong, a bumpy pavement tells the story.

Why Is Having a Smooth Asphalt Surface Important?

Uneven and rough asphalt surfaces are vulnerable to water seeping down through gaps, whether due to rain or other reason. Although this may not be of enormous concern during the summer season, the water will freeze and expand during the winters. The expanding water will exert pressure on the asphalt and put a strain on it. The continuous pressure will cause the pavement to crumble eventually. The constant freezing and thawing cycle cause your asphalt to break down, and you’ll see cracks and potholes emerging on the pavement, signaling further deterioration.

3 Reasons Why the Asphalt Surface is Not Smooth Enough

1. No Compaction

If you can kick loose bits of aggregate or asphalt and feel them under your feet when walking, it is a sign that your surface was not compacted properly. This means that the last layer of the pavement was not left to dry for a sufficient amount of time.

Asphalt compaction is necessary to remove the excess air from the asphalt. This helps in eliminating all bubbles and gaps on the surface. Since there is a small window of time to nail the proper compaction density, inexperienced contractors often mess it up at this stage of the construction process.

2. Lack of Asphalt to Bind Aggregates

If the finished asphalt paving has bits chipping off or feels lumpy, there was not enough asphalt to bind it together. This is because the contractor may have miscalculated the asphalt requirements and did not have enough asphalt to combine the aggregate.

In the future, you need to ensure that the contractor uses asphalt wisely and has enough asphalt to complete the project.

3. The Wrong Aggregate Mix

Having the right aggregate mix plays a crucial role in your asphalt’s performance. An incorrect mix can compromise your pavement’s integrity in the future, leaving you with a rough and uneven asphalt surface. The aggregator, a contractor, should be a mixture of smaller particles and crushed rock, so it compacts together easily.

Crushed aggregate provides the strength to hold paving together; without it, your asphalt pavement will not be smooth enough.

If you’re looking for smooth asphalt paving results in Las Cruces, TX, then Straight Edge Contractors LLC is a reliable name which you can trust. We provide asphalt paving services at affordable rates and use the latest technology and procedures to ensure your asphalt surface looks smooth and does not crumble soon after installation. Try our services for yourself, get a free estimate from our team!

How To Determine If It’s Time To Schedule A Sealcoating Service

Sealcoating is a cost-effective and a proven method for preventing premature distress and maintaining the natural shine of your driveway or parking lot. Not only does sealcoating renew the look of the pavement, but it also extends its lifespan by eliminating all cracks and openings.

Damages from harmful external elements like water, sunlight, chemical spills, and UV rays weaken asphalt surfaces, making them vulnerable to cracks and potholes. Sealcoating acts as a very effective defense from the dangers posed by both internal and external threats. It adds value to your property while delivering strong and durable results that make your pavement stand out.

Experts recommend sealcoating asphalt pavement every two to five years, depending on the extent of use and wear and tear it goes through. Generally, the color of your asphalt pavement is a good indicator of whether it is time to seal again. A competent contractor like Straight Edge Contractors LLC in Midland, TX can offer valuable advice and deliver top-quality sealcoating services.

Although the period between April and June is the best time to sealcoat your pavement, you still need to consider various factors before making the final call.

The Pavement is Clearly Wearing Out

As a property owner, you need to make efforts to revitalize and energize your pavement once every few years. Excessive use and an adverse external environment can take the natural shine off your driveway, giving it a gray and dull look. Inability to carry out frequent maintenance measures can also result in cracks that can develop into something more threatening if left untreated.

The growing cracks, the dull outlook, and years of continuous use suggest that your parking lot needs immediate help. Avoiding or delaying maintenance activities at this stage may result in a hefty repair cost where you may be required to resurface or repave the entire pavement. Sealcoating restores your pavement’s original look and helps save you a considerable sum by avoiding future repair costs.

Why Spring Is the Best Time to Sealcoat

The pleasant weather conditions during the spring season make it one of the most appropriate times of the year to sealcoat your parking lot. The low humidity levels and the rising temperatures help quickly drying and evaporating liquids from the sealcoat sealer.

While the spring season is the perfect time to sealcoat a driveway, you must choose a suitable date for the maintenance procedure. Check the weather forecast and avoid sealcoating when rain is expected because the excessive moisture can wreak havoc on all your efforts, damaging the pavement sealcoat.

Budget

Although sealcoating is not a huge expense, it is still a sizable expense that you must fully commit to once you decide to go for it. This is why you must have the resources to hire reliable, professional contractors for the job.

Straight Edge Contractors LLC is the premier asphalt service provider in Midland, TX, offering quality sealcoating services at an affordable price. Our professionals are equipped with the latest machinery and quality materials that help them deliver long-lasting results.

Get a free estimate for the services we offer.

Can Paving Projects Be Completed Year-Round In West Texas?

When you think of West Texas, or Texas alone, you think of dry, parched deserts, blistering heat, and scorching temperatures – enough to fry an egg without needing a stove!

However, it’s not all true – West Texas, although mostly arid, dry, and heavily dependent on rainfall for the healthy cultivation of crops, does encounter occasional snowfalls. But this is only true for the northern parts of West Texas, like the Texas Panhandle, and not El Paso, which is situated in the far western region of Texas.

So, bearing this information in mind, the question that many property owners may ask is; can paving projects be completed year-round in Texas? Let’s find out!

Sealcoating

Your pavement is going to suffer major wear and tear over the passage of time, in which case, regular asphalt maintenance such as sealcoating is imperative to extend your surface’s lifespan.

But when sealcoating, paving contractors always take heed to get the job done while the temperature outside is higher than 50 degrees Fahrenheit. This is because the hotter the climate, the faster your seal coat will dry and have time to cure, meaning the quicker you’ll be able to resume your business’ activity.

However, this doesn’t mean sealcoating during winter is impossible. It just means it’ll take longer for your seal coat to dry off before applying the second seal coat layer (sealcoating is always a two-layer coating process). And for this reason, your paving contractor will always urge you to get sealcoating done during the summer or late spring.

Asphalt Paving

Work never stops in the asphalt paving industry, regardless of the climate you are in. However, it is true that paving asphalt surfaces can become a tad bit challenging during colder temperatures. In this case, your paving contractor may have already devised a plan on how to pave your asphalt surface despite the obstacles!

However, paving asphalt surfaces during winters shouldn’t be a hindrance for property owners in El Paso, TX, as the weather rarely reaches freezing temperatures. So yes, paving asphalt surfaces year round in a place like West Texas shouldn’t be a problem!

Crack Sealing

The best part about crack sealing is that it can be done any time of the year, preferably during spring and fall season. The reason for this is because all crack sealing requires is a dry crack and a temperature of at least 40 degrees Fahrenheit and voila! Your crack sealing job is done!

But while we are at it, let’s talk about how crack sealing is the favored option as opposed to crack filling. To start off, crack sealing is comprised and strategically engineered to bond the walls of the crack together, thereby preventing water intrusion in the cracks.

And thanks to its use of specialized materials, a crack sealant remains flexible at the lowest temperatures without cracking or splitting open, and remains stable at the highest temperatures so it doesn’t bleed on the pavement. Crack sealing is a long-term solution to your pavement’s preservation while crack filling acts as a temporary band-aid.

So in short, crack sealing can be performed year round in West Texas and lasts a lot longer than any crack filling job!

Looking to work with a paving company who will be at your service all-year-round? Straight Edge Contractors LLC is the perfect choice for property owners in El Paso, TX, in the search for asphalt and concrete pavement solutions! Click here to get started now!

How To Find The Right Contractor For Large Paving Projects

There is no denying that a slick-looking asphalt or concrete pavement leaves an unforgettable impression on your customers. The challenge, however, is choosing the right asphalt contractor who can take on large paving projects, get the job done beautifully, and, of course, complete the project on time!

Sounds like it’s asking for a lot, isn’t it? Not necessarily!

At Straight Edge Contractors LLC, we take pride in ensuring commercial property owners in El Paso, TX, receive top-notch asphalt paving and concrete paving services at economical rates! We never hesitate to undertake large paving projects. This is because we have onboard an expansive team of meticulous paving specialists who have vowed to deliver excellence each time!

For more information on our broad range of paving services, head on over to Straight Edge Contractors LLC to get your free paving estimate today!

So to end your formidable pursuit of finding an agreeable paving professional who can wrap up your large paving project with utmost finesse, consider these factors mentioned below!

1. Number of Years Working in the Commercial Sector

A paving contractor who is agreeing to take on your large paving project without clearly stating their years of experience serving the commercial paving industry is a big fat red flag waving at you, telling you to abort the mission!

Why? Because no experienced and accomplished paving company ever hesitates to mention the numbers of years they have been actively and successfully executing sizeable commercial paving projects – unless they have something to hide.

In fact, if anything, a well-reputed paving company is always more than happy to share with you the details of the projects and clients they have served in the local area.

Tip: Don’t feel guilty about asking your paving contractor about the nitty-gritty details of their prior work. Ask them for how long they have been active tending to large commercial paving projects, who have been their clients, and how they have served them (i.e., which paving service did they provide).

2. Local Presence – Are They Well-Known Enough?

This brings us to our next point; are they well-known enough in your local area?

The primary reason why asking this is so crucial is simple. Many paving contractors may fool you into believing they are experienced, trusted, and economical. However, in reality, the safest bet is to go with word-of-mouth.

Ask people in your local area if they know of reputable paving contractors who fit the bill when it comes to undertaking large paving projects. Ask them who those contractors are, how was there experience with them, which service did they provide best, etc.

And if all else fails, well, you always have Google searches to give you a helping hand with your search!

Google tactically mentions the most top-ranked paving contractors within your radius. This is your chance to carefully read through the google reviews, take down notes, make phone calls, and perform all background checks necessary before settling with a paving contractor.

3. Licensed & Insured

To avoid paying an arm and a leg in the unfortunate event of someone getting injured while working on your commercial property, make sure to choose a licensed and insured paving company.

In fact, don’t even bother wasting time with companies that aren’t licensed. You absolutely need to work with licensed and insured paving contractors to avoid any settlement disputes that can cost you a fortune and pave your way to bankruptcy.

To conclude, it may seem stressful landing a reliable paving company that will take on the heavy-duty load of performing large commercial projects – but it isn’t impossible!

At Straight Edge Contractors LLC, we are your most trusted source of completing both large-scale commercial and residential paving projects in El Paso, TX. To avail of our services, click here and get a free estimate today!

Why Cracks Should Be Filled In Your Asphalt In The Spring

Crack filling is a more durable asphalt repair method that is used to treat cracks that are too big for crack sealing. In other words, cracks that are deep, wider than ¾ of an inch, are left untreated for a long time and are non-working cracks (have horizontal and/or vertical movements in them less than 0.1 inches).

When planning a crack filling project or even creating your annual pavement maintenance budget/calendar, you need to be extra careful about the season you are scheduling the project for. It may sound like an odd thing to say to first-time pavement owners, but this is actually a consideration that can significantly impact the results of your crack filling project. And when we say season, we literally mean seasons like spring, summer, autumn, and winter, not that off/busy season kind of thing.

Spring is the ideal time to carry out a crack filling project, followed by autumn. There are three reasons why spring is the #1 choice for crack filling:

Emergence of Cracks

Winter is the time when your pavement sustains the most damage. Moisture infiltration coupled with the freeze and thaw cycle and our own harmful snow removal practices (frequent salting, use of harsh deicing chemicals and metal-head shovels, and infrequent snow removal) cause extensive damage to asphalt surfaces. Thus, come spring, you will find that your pavement is covered with all sorts of pavement distresses, including cracks and potholes. Therefore, the best time to carry out crack filling is in spring because you need to repair the cracks immediately, or the damage will worsen to the point where you will be left with no other option but to resurface.

Curing Time for Filler

In crack filling, an asphalt emulsion is used to fill the crack and bind its edges together, after which this emulsion is left to cure/dry. In spring, as we all know, the weather is mild, making it ideal for the asphalt emulsion to cure, as opposed to winter (takes to too long) and summer (dries too quickly). Curing time can affect the durability of your repair, so check the forecast. Also, in order for the edges to properly bind together, there should be no moisture in the crack, which rules out winter because of the snowfall and ice.

Size of the Cracks

An asphalt surface expands and contracts with changes in temperature, which is also one of the reasons for the formation of the cracks, but apart from that, it also affects the size of the cracks. The size of the cracks directly affects the amount of filler used to repair the cracks. If you crack fill in winter when the cracks are bigger/wider, you will be pouring in more of the asphalt emulsion. When summer arrives, your pavement will expand, causing some of the material inside the crack to come out or pressure causing the crack to reappear. On the other hand, if you fill a crack in the summer, there will only be space for a bit of filler. Come winter, when the pavement contracts, the crack will open up as the asphalt emulsion inside would be insufficient as per the cracks size. Thus, spring is the ideal time to fill cracks as the pavement will not be putting too much or too little asphalt emulsion into the cracks, allowing them to be secured/filled year-round.

Straight Edge Contractors LLC is an expert asphalt contractor offering a wide range of solutions to meet the needs of your pavement in Midland, TXGet a free estimate now!

What Property Managers Should Know About Sealcoating

As a commercial or residential property owner, your responsibility doesn’t end with asphalt pavement installation. You need to take specific preventive measures to retain the look and performance of asphalt over the years.

Routine sealcoating helps extend your pavement’s life and restore that shiny, brand new black look that faded some time ago. It also allows you to avoid hefty asphalt repair costs and liabilities. However, you must know the right time to sealcoat your pavement.

For a recently installed asphalt pavement, initial sealcoating should be performed at least after six to twelve months. Experts suggest sealcoating asphalt after every three to five years if the pavement is old and looks worn out. Moreover, the most suitable time for sealcoating is between May and October, when the temperature is around 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure to keep vehicular and foot traffic away from the freshly sealcoated pavement for a minimum of 12 hours.

If you are looking for a professional sealcoating contractor to protect your pavement’s optimal condition in Las Cruces, NMStraight Edge Contractors LLC is the right choice for you. Our experts know all the particulars of asphalt sealcoating and apply the latest techniques to deliver high-quality results. For more information, don’t hesitate to connect with us today!

In today’s blog post, we’ll cover the top three benefits of asphalt sealcoating that every property manager should know.

1. Sealcoating Prevents Oxidation

Asphalt pavement is made up of various aggregates, including rock and asphalt binder. These materials are prone to oxidation and developing cracks with the temperature changes over time. To prevent this, you must frequently sealcoat your pavement to protect it from the UV rays and other harmful elements that affect the durability and longevity of the asphalt.

2. Ensures Oil and Gas Resistance

Your asphalt pavement is likely to get stained with oil spills or other chemical spills that later seep under the cracked or damaged surface. Sealcoating prevents such penetration and offers a protective layer over the asphalt for maximum protection. Moreover, it significantly improves the surface’s traction as compared with non-sealcoated pavement. This also prevents slips and falls on the surface.

3. Extends the Surface’s Service Life

Sealcoating every three to five years is a cost-effective way to keep your asphalt in the best possible condition. However, you still need to regularly sweep the surface and follow a routine maintenance plan to protect your investment. After sealcoating, you will enjoy maximum savings and protect yourself from unnecessary repairs.

Whether you manage a commercial or residential property, you need to sealcoat your pavement to enhance your asphalt’s look and performance. Connect with Straight Edge Contractors LLC to provide you with exceptional sealcoating services anywhere in Las Cruces, NM. We use premium quality sealant and modern tools and machinery to protect your investment. Get a free quote today!

5 Ways Asphalt Improves Your Property’s Value

As a proud homeowner, you always want your property to be aesthetically appealing and well-maintained. For this, you decorate your place’s interior and beautify it with various ornaments to give it a unique yet comfortable feel. But did you know that the exterior of your property is just as important as the interior? 

Having a well-structured and well-designed asphalt pavement is a plus when you put your property up for sale. The smooth and shiny look of the pavement makes an excellent first impression on visitors. It also increases the curb appeal and value of your property. 

At Straight Edge Contractors LLC, we offer premium asphalt paving services to commercial and residential clients in Midland, TX. Our team is well-equipped with advanced paving tools and machinery and provides tailored solutions within budget and time constraints. Get a free quote for our services today!

The following are the top five ways asphalt improves your property’s value.

1. Repairs Cracks and Potholes

An unpaved surface does not only look bad, but it also increases the chances for cracks and other surface distresses to occur. Therefore, hiring paving contractors to install asphalt pavement is the best way to eliminate the likelihood of developing cracks and potholes on the surface. However, you need to maintain your asphalt surfaces to prevent them from degrading over time. A well-maintained asphalt pavement will instantly make your property stand out from the rest.

2. Gives A Well-Maintained Look to Your Property

While other materials are also used for paving surfaces, asphalt is the leading choice of most property owners and experienced contractors. You can get robust, durable, and long-lasting pavement by installing asphalt using the right mixture and advanced paving techniques.

Your property is deemed to look well-constructed and well-maintained after you pave your surfaces with asphalt. This, in turn, increases your property’s value and boosts the aesthetic appeal.

3. Solves Drainage Problems

Choosing asphalt as your paving material allows you to design your drainage system efficiently. You can create an appropriate slope and grade to direct the water flow straight into the drains. This prevents water accumulation on the surface and hence keeps your pavement in optimal condition.

When there is no drainage problem, your property’s value increases by double. Moreover, visitors will have no trouble accessing your place as they will easily be able to park their cars without worrying about damaging their tires.

4. Slows Down Pavement Damages

Asphalt is a robust and durable material. You can enjoy years of smooth driving and worry-free maintenance schedules without having to pay for costly repairs. However, this is only possible if you take good care of your asphalt.

Timely sealcoating and opting for asphalt repair can prevent premature surface degradation and save you hundreds of dollars on repaving/resurfacing.

Suppose you are putting up your property on sale. You won’t have to worry about your pavement showing signs of deterioration if you have recently paved your surface. As a result, you help to increase your property’s worth.

5. Offers Safety and a Smooth Drive 

Who doesn’t enjoy a smooth drive without bumps and hurdles? Installing asphalt pavement means you are free to drive around the property, park your vehicle or walk over the surface without damaging your vehicle or worrying about slipping or falling.

Asphalt is most viable in areas like Midland, TX, where the temperature is usually warm, and the ground is less likely to expand, split or crack due to the weather.

Whether you are planning to sell your property soon or not, your goal should be to keep it in the best possible condition at all times. If you agree, connect with Straight Edge Contractors LLC today. We are professional asphalt contractors providing premium asphalt paving and asphalt repair services to all property owners in Midland, TXGet a free quote, and let us pave the way for you!

Pavement Markings & Striping And What They Mean

Ensuring that the standardized pavement markings are used on roads to guide traffic is among the most critical facets of a safe and effective roadway. No other traffic management system can transmit messages to drivers and pedestrians as effectively as pavement markers. They provide drivers with proper guidance on road orientation, vehicle location, and additional critical driving information.

Whereas pavements lines are relatively straightforward, understandable signs of where you can and where you cannot park, pavement markers encountered somewhere else on the road can be a little more perplexing.

Below we will discuss some of the most common pavement markings and their meanings.

Strong Yellow Markings

Among all the pavement signs, bright yellow lines are probably the easiest to recognize. Yellow markings indicate two-way traffic and they separate traffic moving in opposite directions. A continuous yellow line signifies a “no-move” zone, which means you cannot overtake other vehicles in your lane.

Broken Yellow Lines

Broken yellow lines mean that if the road is clear, you may overtake a vehicle in your lane. This sign also designates a two-way traffic. Overtaking other cars in any direction should be done with caution and only when the road ahead is clear.

One Solid and One Broken Yellow Line

In this case there is straight yellow line with a parallel broken yellow line right next to it. Vehicles next to the broken yellow line may overtake drivers in their lane with caution, but traffic next to the solid yellow line is MUST NOT overtake.

White Markings

White lane markings are the most familiar lines seen on the road. White lines are used to separate lanes on roads where all traffic is heading in the same direction. A white line on the middle of the road indicates that you cannot overtake and cannot change your lane. The white lines on the road side are the boundary lines.

Lines that Cannot be Crossed/ Stop Lines

Stop lines are indicated by a single white line, perpendicular to your vehicle that indicates where you must always come to a complete stop.

Crosswalks

Parallel white lines are drawn around the sides of all roads and highways to indicate crosswalks. Before the crosswalks, large solid white stopping lines are also clearly marked. The above are some of the most common pavement markings and their meanings; make sure to learn them and always follow them, as this will help you become a safer driver.Straight Edge Contractors provide Las Cruces, NM, residents with quality line striping servicesGet a free quote for our services or schedule an appointment with our professionals today!

Hot Or Warm Asphalt – What Should Be Your Choice?

Asphalt pavement has brought significant value to many properties across the country. Their shiny fresh appearance and enhanced durability make them the number one choice of numerous contractors.

Like other construction materials, asphalt too has various mixes suitable for specific processes and temperatures. Hot and warm mixed asphalt are predominantly the choice of many contractors in the U.S.

In this blog post, we list down the differences between the two asphalt mix types and the applications each is best suitable for.

Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA)

Asphalt mixtures heated and pored at temperatures in the range of 300-350 degrees Fahrenheit are called Hot Mix Asphalt. This is easily the most common asphalt type used in the U.S. Highways, interstates, and roads vouch for its flexibility and weather-resistant nature. Hot mix asphalt is generally used when the temperature is more than 40 degrees, thanks to its rapid cooling appetite.

HMA is classified into three main categories: open grade mix, stone matrix, and dense-graded matrix are all categories of HMA. The open-graded mix is further classified into two main categories:

  • A friction course used in constructing a pavement’s topmost layer.
  • The permeable base used for draining water away from a pavement’s top layer.

On the other hand, the stone matrix was initially manufactured and used in Europe to improve a road surface’s grip. The stone matrix asphalt has a higher percentage of asphalt, making it considerably expensive. It is used in large commercial projects only.

Dense-grade matrix is categorized according to the aggregate size whereby it falls in two subcategories which includes fine and coarse graded. Fine graded mixtures consist of a high sand percentage compared to their coarse counterparts and are generally used to pave roadways with high traffic, highways, and interstates.

Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA)

Warm Mix Asphalt or WMA is less popular than HMA. It is used in approximately 30 percent of paving projects. WMA is manufactured at slightly lower temperatures of 200 – 250 degrees Fahrenheit. WMA is the result of including additional binding materials such as wax, zeolites, and emulsions. Their addition makes WMA ideal for pouring and spreading at low temperatures.

Since WMA requires low temperature for mixing and shipment, it takes considerably longer to cool than HMA. This means that manufacturers can ship it for long distances and use it for other applications outside the normal paving activities.

If you’re looking for a reliable asphalt contractor that uses the right asphalt mix for your pavement needs, Straight Edge Contractors LLC is the right choice! Our experienced professionals know what asphalt type is suitable for pavement jobs in Midland, TX. Connect with our team to get a free estimate for your paving project today!