The Foundation
The pavement system is made up of three distinct components - subgrade, two layers of subbase and Hot-Mix Asphalt. In order to understand each component of the system, you may want to think of it like this - the subgrade is equivalent to the footer of a house, the subbase is equivalent to the foundation of a house, and the Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) pavement is equivalent to the house itself. If the footer or foundation of your house is improperly installed, the entire system will fail. The same is true for your pavement system.

Subgrade
The first component is the subgrade. The subgrade is the underlying soil prepared to support a pavement structure of pavement system. When our estimator meets with you, he will determine the suitability of your existing subgrade.

(Stone) Subbase
The second component is the (stone) subbase. The (stone) subbase are the two layers immediately below the Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA), typically consisting of a course aggregate such as compacted 1A or 2A stone underneath covered by another layer of compacted 53A stone. This course is critical to the overall strength of the structure. When our project manager meets with you, he will determine the suitability of your existing (stone) subbase. Or, if one does not exist, he will make a recommendation for the type of stone to use and the thickness best suited for your specific application.

Hot-Mix Asphalt (HMA) Pavement
The third component is the Hot-Mix Asphalt (HMA) pavement. Hot-Mix Asphalt (HMA) pavement refers to the many different types of mixtures of aggregate and liquid asphalt that are produced at an elevated temperature in an asphalt plant. Pavement designers specify different mixture types to satisfy different pavement performance demands and to accommodate variability in the nature and cost of available aggregates and liquid asphalt supplies. When our estimator meets with you, he will make a recommendation for the material type and the thickness best suited for your specific application.

Special Notes:

1. Due to rising asphalt pavement material costs, some paving contractors are attempting to save their customers money by proposing to install just a 1" coarse on top of an existing lot. Beware of any contractor that proposes this as just one course on top will fix the looks of your lot, but will guarantee the premature failure of the pavement system. Although this option appears cheaper, it will cost you considerably more as you are forced to replace your pavement much sooner than anticipated.
2. Please also beware of any paving contractor attempting to sell you more than what you need. Due to the current condition of the economy, some paving contractors are attempting to sell you more than what you need in order to create more work for themselves.

Serving East Central Indiana for the past 50 years including Shelby, Rush, Hancock, Marion, Johnson,
Bartholomew, Decatur, Franklin, Union, Fayette, Wayne, Henry, and Madison County.