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A Green Sweep
Going green with commercial sweeping machines By Jeff Winke When it comes to green environmental practices and processes, commercial sweepers, as a market segment lead the way in innovation. A sustainable business, or a green business, is an enterprise that has...
Successful Line Striping
Thorough prep and consistent execution are key By Jeff Winke A carpentry axiom that encourages careful first steps in order to avoid extra work later on is measure twice, cut once. Actually, with the high cost of lumber these days and the cost in terms of gas and...
Winterizing with Asphalt Maintenance – 5 Items to make “Cold Weather” Safe
How late in autumn and early in spring can one go? By Marvin Joles III We spent a lot of winters in Wisconsin having to keep our equipment outdoors at Wis-Coat. Thankfully we don’t have to do that anymore and hopefully you do not have to either. Whether it’s in the...
Pushing the Sealcoat Season Envelope
How late in autumn and early in spring can one go? By Jeff Winke Pushing it… pushing the envelope. The phrase is commonly understood, but the origins have nothing to do with a paper container for letters. It comes from science geeks referring to the mathematical...
The Daily Challenge
Mitigating asphalt paver ownership costs By Jeff Winke When it comes to asphalt pavers, every contractor faces O and O cost of their equipment. There is Owning costs which is the purchase price of the machine plus financing plus taxes minus the disposal price (what...
Winterizing: A Tip Guide for Paving Equipment
Some do’s and don’ts to prepare for old man winter By Jeff Winke An old-fashioned tradition – originally intended as a status symbol for new members of the upper and middle classes in the late 19th and early 20th century – was to never be caught wearing white after...
Matching the Commercial Sweeper to the Need
Which works best for the job By Jeff Winke Commercial sweepers are valuable to asphalt paving contractors. They perform necessary clean-up to ensure a project jobsite is safe and attractive. They perform a variety of tasks, but which type of commercial sweeper is best...
Selling Decorative Paving
The benefits are more than a pretty face By Jeff Winke One has to wonder if the Munchkins from the Wizard of Oz may be the best “spokeskins” for decorative paving? They definitely make a compelling case for a yellow roadway that promises to lead to a better life....
Is Bigger Always Better?
For infrared asphalt repair units, the answer varies By Jeff Winke Bigger, Better, Best! is the title of a children’s math learning book which helps in understanding the importance of calculating stuff, such as the area of a play room for instance. The title does not...
The Road to Safety Starts with Stability
How offset compaction roller attachments ensure a safer jobsite By Lynn Marsh, Road Widener LLC President Safety is the highest priority on any construction jobsite, but not every equipment solution aids in attaining that safety goal. In fact, in 2020, more than...
Intelligent Compaction Is the Key
Long-lasting, durable paved surfaces result from quality compaction By Jeff Winke Compaction is the exertion of force on something so that it becomes more dense. With asphalt paved road construction, compaction is considered one of the most important processes. It is...
Will Adding Striping Add Up to More Business?
Expansion of services may be a good thing By Jeff Winke Growing an asphalt paving business can be a challenge. There are numerous concerns with obtaining and keeping good employees, how best to cope with supply-chain issues, and how best to diversify the services...
Managing the Milling Sub
By Jeff Winke Subcontractors are a bit like cats. They’re independent and, yes, they do like you but you get the sense that it’s all on their terms. Managing subcontractors requires finesse -- a subtle and delicate manner that combines firm control with gentle...
Sealcoat Equipment Question
Continue maintenance or upgrade By Jeff Winke When it comes to asphalt pavement sealcoating equipment there is a balancing act between continued maintenance or replacement. The contractor must decide if their trusted existing equipment can continue to produce at its...
Best Buying Considerations
Infrared asphalt repair equipment By Jeff Winke Nothing is simple anymore. Gone are the days of binary choices... off/on, yes/no, and in/out. Try ordering a cup of coffee. Used to be you could sit down at the counter and ask the counter man Joe for a cup of java and...
Safety is Key
There is never too much safety awareness and practice By Jeff Winke For asphalt paving contractors, safety is a key concern...some might say it should be a major obsession. At a paving jobsite the ingredients for potential accidents, harm, or disaster are there --...
Proper Preparation
The key to success is in the prep By Jeff Winke Effective asphalt sealcoating starts with the preparation. As one contractor said... with sealcoating it is 95% preparation and 5% actual sealing. It is as Benjamin Franklin astutely said: “By failing to prepare, you are...
Family-Owned Piedmont Paving Thrives for 30+ Years
Paver credits LeeBoy and its dealer Ascendum By Jeff Winke Piedmont Paving Inc. based in Kernersville, North Carolina, was established in 1992 by David McGee to provide paving services to the Piedmont Triad region in the north-central part of North Carolina. The...
Crack Sealing
Tips for Success A step-by-step guide By Jeff Winke Cracks are generally not seen as good. Novelists have a way of describing cracks as personal flaws or, at best, a means to allow the positive in -- “the cracks in your heart are there so the light can shine through,”...
Sealcoat Additives, Some Best Practices
Additives add benefits By Jeff Winke Asphalt pavement sealcoats are commonly used for the protection and preservation of off-street asphalt surfaces such as home driveways, parking lots, airports, gas stations, and the like. Additives are specialty chemicals that are...
Key Considerations When Choosing New Products
Compare/contrast before investing By Jeff Winke It is a given that the use of asphalt pavement provides a fast, efficient and economical construction process with unsurpassed versatility. If rehabilitation is required, it can be accomplished quickly with minimal user...
Infrared Pavement Repair
The steps to a durable solution By Jeff Winke Given the options, it is becoming clear that infrared repair may be the best choice for performing critical asphalt pavement repairs that do not need more extensive resurfacing or replacement. It is the process through...
Qualifying Prospective Hires
Selecting employees who can do the job right By Jeff Winke Finding good employees is a challenge, but it is not impossible. Yes, some paving contractors claim that in desperation, they’ll hire anyone, as the idiom says...anyone who can fog a mirror to show they are...
Cracks, Crack Sealing Explained
Causes, culprits, and treatment By Jeff Winke Folklore and myths survive. Walk down a sidewalk or cross the street with a bunch of friends and observe how many avoid stepping on cracks. When asked, they’ll respond that they don’t want to break their momma’s back or...
