Most people familiar with using hot mix asphalt for paving or repair of pavement are familiar with the use of tack coat.  A tack coat is a very light application of asphaltic emulsion or asphalt binder to an existing pavement surface or between layers of hot mix asphalt. Asphalt tack coat is used to ensure a good bond:

• Between the existing pavement surface and the new hot mix asphalt overlay, including planed surfaces.
• Between the layers of each lift of hot mix asphalt.
• At any vertical surfaces that the new hot mix asphalt will be placed against (curbs, gutters, and construction joints).

DOT workers in Charlotte, NC apply tack coat to a pothole before repair

QPR ShopWorx's Tack20 emulsified tack coat

 

QPR ShopWorx's RC Tack, an oil based tack coat

Spring is just around the corner, and that means the season for sealing cracks is about to heat back up.  Here in Texas, you can find the curvy black lines where people have sealed cracks on roads of all different kinds throughout the state.  And the work is certainly not limited to public roads.  Many more private property owners are realizing the benefits of sealing over cracks as a part of keeping their asphalt long lasting and well maintained.  Contractors already doing this type of work know about the growing demand for it on private property, and crack sealing can be a great addition to any paving business.

It’s easy to see how cracks are the gateway to future pavement failures.  Rainwater and other moisture seeps into cracks, causing the base material to fail and allowing potholes to form.  Depending on pavement temperatures, cracks also expand and contract, causing further erosion of the asphalt.  Repairing the area can keep that moisture from reaching the base and sub-base material, keeping the problem from growing.  Sealing cracks properly can extend the life of pavement up to 15 years, and sometimes even longer!

I think the benefits of this type of maintenance are obvious, but how is it done properly?  Better yet, how is it done professionally?  Hot-applied crack filler is a much more permanent repair, but requires special equipment to be used.  For any crack repair, proper preparation of the area to be repaired is key.  Removing loose vegetation, dirt, and debris is important for the material to make the proper bond with the pavement.  This can be done as simply as taking a crack hoe and scraping out the loose pavement and debris, and blowing off the area with a commercial blower.  Many professionals use a hot air lance and air compressor to generate the pressure and temperatures necessary to remove all loose material and moisture from the crack.  Heat lances provide high velocity, high temperature hot air that maximizes the adhesion of any sealant.

Stinger Heat Lance

QPR has a variety of options for your crack filling needs.  On our ShopWorx website you can find the Stinger Heat Lance, which is a self-contained heat lance on wheels and ideal for one-man operation.  Preparation is quick and efficient with the Stinger, and can help crews keep working even after recent rainfall.  Here are some other features and benefits of the Stinger Heat Lance:

• Eliminates other costly and time-consuming preparation tools
• Easy to operate and maneuver, lightweight yet durable
• Constructed with high strength steel and stainless steel tubing
• Adjustable temperature and air volume controls
• Cracks are cleaned at the operator’s walking pace
• Built with pride in the U.S.A.

For melting and applying hot crack sealant, a machine is required.  The QPR All-in-One Melter Applicator is available at Lowe’s Home Improvement stores from coast to coast, as well as the QPR 6690 Hot-Applied Crack Filler for use in the machine.  For more information on QPR’s hot crack filling options available through Lowe’s, please visit your local store or the QPR RoadShop website.  You can also see a quick demonstration of the melter applicator on YouTube.

QPR Melter Applicator available at Lowe's Home Improvement

Hear what some of our customers are saying about the winning combination of the Stinger Heat Lance, QPR 6690 and the All-in-One Melter/Applicator for sealing cracks professionally:

 

I love how the QPR material just binds and binds together. Also, the fact that it is oily and stays flexible makes for one hell of a job! I have used nearly every product in the market, and neither of them come even close to being in the same league as QPR. Another reason why I love the QPR 6690 Hot Applied Crack Sealant is because it does not tack, therefore you do not have to worry about things such as the material sticking to your tires, etc.

- Huey, Huey’s Maintenance (Texas)

 

I love QPR and each of their products that I have used. One of the greatest things about QPR is the convenience factor of being able to drive down the street to my local Lowe’s store and pick up the material that I need. I have been using QPR 6690 Hot Applied Crack Sealant for a while now, and I am completely satisfied. Also, the customer service with QPR is outstanding. It is a great feeling to know that if I ever need information, have questions about a product, or am interested in trying a particular product out, they are always there for me!

- Jim Covington, Lonestar Paving (Texas)

 

The Stinger Heat Lance cleans out cracks quicker and better than we were ever able to on our own.  I can’t believe it took me so long to get one.  Now one man can do the work that two were doing – what a time saver!

- Jacob Nichols, Peach Asphalt Maintenance (Georgia)

Wearing the proper Personal Protective Equipment, or PPE, is one of the most important aspects of having a safe and proper work environment.  However, it may be one of the most overlooked parts of preparation for getting the job done.  Depending on when and where you are working you will need and often are required to be wearing specific articles of safety clothing.  QPR is committed to making sure you are properly equipped for the job and that starts with safety.  Today, we’ll give you some tips on how to select the right PPE for the job you’re doing.  We’re going to show you three examples to give you an idea of what to select for the work you do.

Example 1: Sealing a Parking Lot

George A. Contractor owns his own sealing and striping business, and has been contracted to fill cracks and then seal and re-stripe the parking lot of a local hardware store.  Although he’ll be able to close off the area he is working in, there will still be vehicular traffic coming in and out of the lot, and he needs to make sure drivers are aware of him and the two man crew working with him.  In addition to their traffic control measures, each man is wearing a Class 2 high visibility safety vest over long sleeved shirts.  ANSI (American National Standards Institute) has different standards for high visability clothing, and the breakdown of classes is as follows:

• Class 1 vests are generally designed for workers where traffic does not exceed 25 mph and there is adequate separation between traffic and worker (examples are parking attendants, event volunteers, warehouse personnel)
• Class 2 vests are for individuals near roadways where traffic exceeds 25 mph and need enhanced visibility in poor weather conditions (examples are airport traffic and ground personnel, paving contractors in low speed road conditions)
• Class 3 vests provide the highest level of visibility to workers.  These garments are for workers in high risk environments interacting with all types of weather and where traffic speeds exceed 50 mph (examples would be major paving contractors)

Example 2: Repaving a Road

Franklin Paving has the contract to resurface State Road 65 for the next few months.  They’ll have a crew of anywhere from 10-15 employees on the jobsite until completion of the work.  Each employee will need to be outfitted with the proper PPE to insure a safe work environment along the highway.  To start, all employees know about Franklin Paving’s company policy of always wearing long sleeves and pants on the jobsite to minimize skin exposure.  As well, each member of the crew has been distributed a pair of safety boots they wear each day on the job.  In addition, they will need high visibility gear to distinguish themselves to motorists in addition to equipment operators on the site.  Because SR-65 has a 55mph speed limit, crew members are required to wear a Class 3 vest while working, but each will also need an OSHA-approved hardhat to protect their head as well.  The OSHA standard states in 29 CFR 1910.135(a)(1) that, “Each affected employee shall wear protective helmets when working in areas where there is a potential for injury to the head from falling objects.”

Example 3: Patching Potholes in inclement weather

Every municipal, county, or state authority has the same headache every year: too many potholes!  There are a variety of ways to repair potholes on roadways (I’d be remiss if I didn’t suggest the QPR way of doing it) but the only proper way to patch roads is safely.  Many street departments and repair crews are doing this work in dangerous high-traffic areas.  Let’s take the example of the City of Jedburg.  Jedburg Street Department employees always use responsible traffic control techniques while working in active roadways, but the proper PPE is also vital…especially when weather and conditions are not ideal.  Today in Jedburg there are several storms coming through, and the street department has been dispatched to repair potholes along the main bypass running around the city.  Of course, each member is wearing their ANSI-approved safety vest.  Because of excessive rain, wind, and low visibility conditions, each member of the crew is also wearing a high visibility rain suit while they patch to keep them protected from the elements while visible to motorists.

Of course, there are an endless number of options in deciding on which type of PPE you would like to use.  QPR ShopWorx offers a variety of different vests, hardhats, gloves, and eye protection, in addition to high visibility gear designed to combat the elements.  We can also put your company’s logo on any of our high visibility gear.  If you are unsure of what is the right product for you, please contact us or your local QPR representative.  We are here to make sure you work as safely as  possible.

Warmer weather is keeping many of you out there busier than previous winters, and while that’s good for business it may leave less time for the usual offseason tasks of maintenance and restocking supplies.  QPR ShopWorx is dedicated to helping you stay ahead of the supply game with a line of affordable, high-quality supplies for infrastructure work.  This winter, we’ll be writing a series of blog entries to help you make the best decisions for your business when it comes to purchasing supplies to help you get the job done.  Today, we are focusing on traffic cones, and how to choose the right ones for your next job.

Whether you are a one man operation sealing a small parking lot, or a crew of dozens repaving the latest stretch of I-95, your ability to control traffic in your work zone is going to be severely reduced without the right traffic control devices.  There are several options available when it comes to cones, and there are a few things to know before purchasing.   QPR ShopWorx offers a complete line of contractor grade DOT-approved traffic control devices that are made in the USA and can be used in any of the 50 states.

First, where are you performing the work and what are the conditions?  If you’re working in a parking lot, driveway, or small private road, you may consider a smaller cone or even a disposable cone.

Secondly, are you working at night?  If not, you aren’t required to have reflective collars on your cones.  The best options for those performing work in parking lots would be plain cones, usually 12” or 18” each.  Those working on highways and major roads are required to use a minimum of 28” cones, and some states even require 36” cones on roadways.  Each state also has its own specifications when it comes to reflective collars on cones as well, dictating the size and type of collars that can be used.

Finally, and most important to your wallet, how many traffic cones do I need?  That question can be answered many ways, depending on what kind of work you’re doing.  Large contractors that are bidding on state work will need a specified number of cones for a job, and those types of quantities can often qualify for better pricing.  Money can also be saved on the reflective collars on each cone – depending on what is specified on the job, if anything, different reflective sheeting varies in price.  If you do driveway & parking lot sealing or hot crack filling, consider disposable cones.  This way, you can get packed up and move onto the next job without having to come back for your cones.  Simply have the homeowner or property manager throw the cones away once your work is dry.

Municipal, county, and state governments need to have plenty of cones on hand, especially in case of emergencies.  Another important need you may have as a governmental agency or a large paving contractor is having your cones marked as your property.  With so many cones out on the jobsite or scattered throughout your city or county, keeping track of them all is important to the bottom line.  The latest trend is to use an inner stenciling on the inner layer of PVC rather than simply using a stencil and paint on the outside.  This new “inner stencil” is impossible to erase because it is present within the cone, and we can even put your company logo.

QPR ShopWorx is happy to help you figure out which cones are right for your job.  We’ll be happy to fill you in on your state’s specifications, or answer any questions you have about our extensive line of cones in varying sizes, weights, and reflectability.