When a driveway in Los Angeles, CA shows severe wear and tear, a simple patch job will not fix the underlying structural problems. That is the point when property owners ask Peak Asphalt Co about Asphalt Milling. Asphalt Milling is a term used by contractors, but many homeowners do not know what Asphalt Milling involves until a large machine arrives on their property. Peak Asphalt Co has completed many Asphalt Milling projects across the Los Angeles area over the years. We answer many questions about how Asphalt Milling works, what the process involves, and how Asphalt Milling benefits residential and commercial properties in Los Angeles, CA.
What exactly is asphalt milling?
Asphalt Milling is a process also known as cold planing. Peak Asphalt Co brings a specialized machine equipped with a heavy rotating drum covered in tungsten carbide teeth to the job site. That drum grinds down the top layer of damaged Asphalt, usually removing 1 to 2 inches depending on the depth of the cracking. The machine grinds the material and loads it directly onto a conveyor belt into a dump truck. Property owners are left with a heavily textured, structurally sound base layer that is ready for a fresh Asphalt overlay. Asphalt Milling beats tearing out the whole foundation from scratch.
Is milling better than just paving over my old driveway?
In the majority of cases, Asphalt Milling is better than paving directly over an existing surface. If new Asphalt is laid right on top of a failing and uneven surface, the property owner inherits all of those old problems. The cracks will reflect right back through the new layer within 1 to 2 years. Asphalt Milling removes the damaged top couple of inches, fixes the grade, and allows Peak Asphalt Co to lay down a fresh mat of hot mix that bonds properly. In tight Los Angeles neighborhoods with strict property line and garage transition constraints, paving over old Asphalt can raise a driveway too high and block a garage door or flood an entryway.
How long does an average residential milling job take?
Speed is a factor that often surprises property owners. For a standard residential driveway or a small multi-family lot in Los Angeles, the actual Asphalt Milling machine is usually finished in a single day or sometimes a half-day. The whole Asphalt Milling project takes a bit longer because Peak Asphalt Co must haul away the millings, clean the surface, apply a tack coat, and lay the new Asphalt. The noisy grinding portion of Asphalt Milling goes by fast, and our team works efficiently to complete every job.
What happens to all that torn-up old asphalt?
Peak Asphalt Co recycles all torn-up material from Asphalt Milling. Every last ton is hauled back to an Asphalt plant where it is crushed down and reused in future batches of new pavement. Sustainability is one of the best parts of Asphalt Milling. We do not just fill up local landfills with an old driveway; that material goes right back into the local supply chain for the next road or parking lot in the Los Angeles area.
Will milling make a huge mess on my property?
Asphalt Milling is an industrial process, so it is loud and generates debris, but Peak Asphalt Co keeps it under control. The Asphalt Milling machines use water sprays to keep dust down while the drum grinds the surface. We sweep up thoroughly before we leave, and Peak Asphalt Co makes sure landscaping and neighboring properties are not buried in grit. Property owners will want to keep windows shut and cars parked on the street for the day during Asphalt Milling, but the site is cleaned promptly.
How do I know if my driveway needs milling instead of a simple overlay?
If Asphalt is just faded and has minor surface hairline cracks, property owners can look at sealcoating instead of Asphalt Milling. If a property is dealing with alligator cracking, deep ruts from heavy delivery trucks, birdbaths where water pools up after a rainstorm, or structural sinking, Asphalt Milling is the right call. Asphalt Milling strips away the damaged material and gives a property a clean slate without the massive expense of a complete full-depth excavation.