Site work is the work done on a construction site before the actual structure is built on top of it. It is a crucial part of any project because it establishes the first step that everything else is based off of. In this article, we explore the role that paving plays in site work and the different forms that paving site work can take. The type of site determines the capacity of the paving site work.

How Paving Works

Asphalt is universal when it comes to two things: preparation and installation.

The soil where the asphalt will be laid down is evened out and compacted. In Florida, that often means bringing in extra soil because the soil has a high level of plasticity. The compaction ensures that nothing will shift under the asphalt and therefore under the building.

Once the contractors prepare the soil, crushed rock or gravel is laid down. This gives the asphalt something to adhere to other than straight earth.

Oftentimes asphalt cools fairly quickly, and can potentially be used only a few hours after installation. Typically, contractors warn homeowners to give an asphalt a day or two to cool and solidify completely. The recommended wait period guarantees that homeowners’ asphalt will not be damaged by something as innocuous as a sharp turn.

Residential

For a residential project, the paving site work typically takes form as a driveway, and sometimes a patio. Oftentimes, the responsibilities of asphalt in a residential site extend from functional material to an aesthetic one as well.

Driveways are a major part of the curb appeal of any house, so it is important that they are nice to look at as well as durable. Homeowners’ desire for a higher-end aesthetic has increased the popularity of asphalt stamping. Stamping the asphalt can make it look like more expensive materials, such as stone pavers or bricks. Stamping the asphalt shapes the material, but can also stain it whatever color the homeowner likes.

Commercial

When it comes to commercial paving site work, the emphasis is almost entirely on function. Parking lots are a particularly common part of the process. Additionally, there may be miscellaneous structures, such as slabs, for equipment to sit on.

Commercial asphalt takes much longer to install than residential asphalt because the area it covers is much larger. Contractors do not typically stamp commercial asphalt, but they do paint parking lots.

Public Works

Public works sites are construction projects that focus on government projects, like roads, sidewalks, and bike trails. Local governments often use asphalt for these projects because they work with such a tight budget.

For many local projects, contractors usually use asphalt for repaving, rather than laying down a brand new road.