repair to yard asphalt

[Warehousewomble]

Evening all,

The warehouse at which I work has two roller doors, one of which is regularly used with fork trucks and pallet trucks. The result of which is that the asphalt that butts up to the concrete of the warehouse floor has subsided resulting in a drop of about half an inch. I know it doesn't sound like a lot, but when you are trying to pull a 2 tonne pallet of chains over it, it's a lot.

What I was wanting to ask is, what is the procedure for repairing such a job and can it be undertaken by unskilled workers (ie. me).

I was thinking that by chipping the asphalt back to the hardcore, we could re-fill the hole back up to the proper level. is that feasable or can you put hot asphalt on top of old asphalt and still maintan a decent joint.

any help would be appreciated, I have no clue about asphalt

 

[masona]

The problem with asphalt is that they have a sofening point and act as a cushion specially on a hot day. Your best bet is to cut back as much as possible and dig down approximately 100mm and put in a metal square rod sheet (can't remember the name) and use a strong mix of 3/4" ballast & cement. You are in a no win situation as the asphalt will have to join the concrete somewhere. The only other thing is to relay with 95/25 pen bitumen asphalt which they use on flat roof. 95 is the the temperature before melting which is known as softening point and the 25 pen is the harder grade but can brittle in very very cold weather. We use 100 pen grade which is softer at Gatwick airport runway and we supply 28 tons everyday, so they have problem too!
If money no object then a complete concrete drive way is better.

 

[Warehousewomble]

Great, thanks.

I think this job might be a little too involved for just me to complete to a satisfactory level, so i'm going to try and get some quotes from some contractors and present the recommendation to the MD. What sort of contractor would I need to look for though? Are there people who specialise in this particular type of work, and what are they called?

thanks for the information on asphalt by the way. This way, when i talk to the contractor I will at least SOUND like I know what I'm talking about

 

[masona]

What sort of contractor would I need to look for though? Are there people who specialise in this particular type of work, and what are they called?

Groundworker or some landscape gardener can do it but not cowboys like traveller