Asphalt Pavement Milling & Grinding Services by Geddis Paving
As a trusted leader in asphalt pavement maintenance, Geddis Paving and Excavating has been serving the Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan region for over 78 years. Our team of skilled professionals understands the unique challenges of maintaining pavement in the Midwest’s diverse climate conditions. We specialize in asphalt milling and grinding services that effectively address pavement wear and tear, ensuring safer, smoother, and more durable surfaces for our valued customers.
Partnering with Geddis Paving and Excavating for your milling and grinding needs offers numerous benefits. Our state-of-the-art equipment and extensive experience allow us to tackle projects of any size, from commercial parking lots to large commercial, industrial, and public projects. By choosing Geddis, you can expect:
Customized Solutions
Our team works closely with you to understand your specific pavement requirements and develops a tailored milling and grinding plan that maximizes results and minimizes disruption.
Unmatched Expertise
With our deep knowledge of the region’s climate and pavement characteristics, we provide expert recommendations to optimize your pavement’s performance and longevity.
Superior Quality
Our investment in the latest milling and grinding technology, combined with our skilled operators, ensures precise and consistent results that meet the highest industry standards.
Enhanced Safety
By promptly addressing pavement imperfections, our services significantly improve the safety of your surfaces for drivers, pedestrians, and customers.
Cost-Effective Maintenance
Milling and grinding offer a more affordable alternative to full repaving, helping you extend your pavement’s lifespan and maintain its quality without breaking the bank.
At Geddis Paving and Excavating, we offer a range of milling and grinding techniques to cater to your specific needs. Our key methods include full-depth milling, profile milling, micro-milling, and surface grinding. Each method brings its own set of benefits, equipment requirements, and suitability for different project types. Our experienced team will assess your pavement and recommend the best technique to achieve the best results.
What is pavement milling and grinding?
Pavement milling and grinding are essential processes in the maintenance and restoration of asphalt surfaces. Milling involves the removal of the top layer of asphalt using a specialized milling machine, which precisely grinds down the surface to a predetermined depth. This method is particularly useful for removing worn or damaged asphalt, making it ready for a fresh pavement layer.
On the flip side, grinding focuses on smoothing the asphalt surface, effectively correcting imperfections and boosting the surface’s overall smoothness. Both techniques play a pivotal role in prolonging the lifespan of pavement, enhancing safety, and ensuring a superior finish for various surfaces such as roads, parking lots, sidewalks, and driveways. By tackling issues at an early stage and adequately preparing surfaces for new overlays, milling and grinding emerge as cost-effective strategies for sustaining and improving the quality of asphalt infrastructure.
Applications of Asphalt Milling
Asphalt milling showcases its versatility and efficacy through its broad range of applications, each addressing specific needs within the pavement maintenance and repair landscape.
Roads
Milling rejuvenates roads by removing damaged layers, preparing them for a fresh asphalt overlay. This ensures smoother, safer driving surfaces.
Parking Lots
In parking lots, milling targets wear from vehicles, enhancing durability and aesthetics. It’s a key step before resurfacing to maintain functionality and appearance
Sidewalks
Milling corrects sidewalks’ imperfections, improving pedestrian safety and comfort. It’s essential for eliminating hazards and enhancing walkability.
Commercial & Business Driveways
For driveways, milling addresses surface damage, boosting curb appeal and safety. It prepares the area for resurfacing, ensuring a smooth, durable finish.
Why are asphalt milling and grinding necessary?
Asphalt milling and grinding are pivotal in pavement maintenance, ensuring surfaces remain safe, functional, and aesthetically pleasing. These processes are necessary for several key reasons:
- Removes worn, damaged asphalt for resurfacing: Milling and grinding strip away the deteriorated top layer, preparing the ground for a fresh overlay. This step is crucial for restoring the pavement’s structural integrity and appearance.
- Corrects imperfections, enhancing surface smoothness: By smoothing out bumps and uneven areas, these services significantly improve the safety and drivability of pavement surfaces, reducing the risk of accidents.
- Prepares surfaces for new pavement overlays: Proper preparation through milling and grinding ensures better adhesion of the new asphalt layer, contributing to a longer-lasting and more durable pavement.
By addressing pavement issues early through milling and grinding, the need for more extensive and costly repairs can be avoided, underscoring the essential nature of these services in comprehensive pavement maintenance strategies. Below is a detailed table outlining the quantifiable benefits of asphalt milling and grinding:
| Benefit | Quantitative Data/Research Findings |
| Cost Savings | Milling and grinding can reduce the overall cost of pavement restoration by up to 50% compared to traditional repaving methods. |
| Lifespan Extension | Properly executed milling and grinding can extend the pavement’s lifespan by an additional 5 to 10 years, depending on the existing condition and subsequent maintenance. |
| Environmental Impact | Up to 90% of the milled asphalt material can be recycled and reused in new asphalt mixtures, significantly reducing the carbon footprint associated with pavement maintenance. |
Removes worn, damaged asphalt for resurfacing
Milling and grinding effectively remove the top layer of damaged asphalt, setting the stage for a new, smooth overlay. This crucial step maintains the pavement’s functionality and aesthetic appeal.
Corrects imperfections, enhancing surface smoothness
By smoothing out bumps and uneven areas, these processes significantly improve the pavement’s safety and drivability, essential for preventing accidents and ensuring a comfortable ride.
Prepares surfaces for new pavement overlays
Creating a clean, even surface, milling and grinding ensure optimal adhesion of new asphalt layers, key to extending the pavement’s lifespan and enhancing its durability.
How does pavement milling and grinding work?
Pavement milling and grinding utilize advanced machinery to restore and repair asphalt surfaces effectively.
Milling machines carefully remove the asphalt layer
Milling machines are meticulously engineered to precisely remove the top layer of asphalt, specifically targeting areas that are damaged or worn. This crucial step prepares the pavement for a seamless resurfacing process. Modern milling machines are categorized into several types based on their application, including cold planers, micro-milling units, and rotomills. Each type is designed for specific milling depths and surface finishes, with cold planers capable of removing asphalt layers as deep as 12 inches in a single pass. Technological advancements have introduced features such as GPS-guided milling and automatic depth control, enhancing precision and efficiency.
Grinding machines then smooth the milled surface
After milling, grinding machines come into play, smoothing out the surface to eliminate any imperfections. This action ensures the pavement is perfectly even and ready to apply a new asphalt layer. Grinding machines, often referred to as surface grinders or rotary grinders, utilize rotating discs embedded with abrasive materials to achieve a smooth finish. The precision of grinding can be adjusted based on the coarseness of the abrasive disc, allowing for customization of the surface texture. Recent advancements in grinding technology include the integration of dust suppression systems and noise reduction features, making the process more environmentally friendly and less disruptive.
Benefits of asphalt pavement milling and grinding
Asphalt pavement milling and grinding bring forth a multitude of benefits, positioning these processes as indispensable in the realm of pavement maintenance and repair:
- More cost-effective than full repaving: These methods offer a financially savvy alternative, significantly reducing the costs associated with extending the life of existing pavement, as opposed to the expenses of complete overhaul.
- Recycles asphalt, reducing environmental impact: The ability to reuse material from the milling process stands out as a key advantage, aligning with sustainable construction practices by minimizing waste.
- Increases pavement lifespan by addressing issues early: By tackling surface and structural concerns promptly, milling and grinding preempt further deterioration, ensuring the pavement remains durable and functional for a longer period.
| Benefit | Description | Quantitative Data/Case Studies |
| Cost-effectiveness | Milling and grinding are more affordable than complete repaving. | Cost Savings: On average, milling and grinding can reduce pavement restoration costs by up to 40% compared to traditional repaving methods. |
| Recycling and Environmental Impact | The milling process allows for the asphalt to be reused, minimizing waste. | Recycling Rate: Up to 100% of the milled asphalt can be recycled and used in new pavement, significantly reducing the need for new materials. |
| Increased Pavement Lifespan | Addressing pavement issues early through milling and grinding can extend its functional lifespan. | Lifespan Extension: Projects have shown that properly maintained and milled roads can extend their lifespan by 5 to 10 years, depending on the environment and usage. |
More cost-effective than full repaving
Milling and grinding offer a financially savvy solution, significantly lowering the costs associated with maintaining pavement quality and longevity compared to the expenses of a complete overhaul.
Recycles asphalt, reducing environmental impact
These methods promote sustainability by reusing the asphalt removed during milling, minimizing waste and lessening the demand for new materials, thereby reducing the overall environmental footprint.
Increases pavement lifespan by addressing issues early
By detecting and correcting surface and structural issues early, milling and grinding prevent further deterioration, ensuring the pavement remains durable and functional for a longer period, thus enhancing safety and usability.
When to consider these services?
| Condition | Criteria for Assessment | Recommended Action |
| Visible cracks, potholes, and surface damage | – Cracks wider than ¼ inch
– Potholes that pose safety risks – Surface damage that affects more than 30% of the pavement area |
Repair foundation base and repave: For severe damage like large potholes and wide cracks, the foundation base should be repaired before repaving the affected area to ensure a stable and durable surface.
Milling and Grinding: For less severe surface damage, milling and grinding processes can be used to remove damaged sections, restoring the pavement’s surface integrity without the need for full-depth repairs. |
| Uneven surfaces causing water pooling | – Water pooling that does not drain within 30 minutes after rain
– Uneven surfaces with deviations greater than ½ inch |
Milling and Grinding for Surface Leveling: Ensures proper drainage and minimizes the risk of further pavement damage. |
| Prior to new pavement overlay | – Existing surface shows signs of wear but is structurally sound
– Surface irregularities that could affect the new overlay’s adhesion |
Milling and Grinding for Surface Preparation: Guarantees better adhesion and a smoother, more durable finish for the new pavement layer. |
Visible cracks, potholes, and surface damage
Visible signs of wear, such as cracks and potholes, indicate it’s time for milling and grinding. These processes remove damaged sections, restoring the pavement’s surface integrity.
Uneven surfaces causing water pooling
Uneven surfaces that result in water pooling necessitate milling and grinding for surface leveling. This ensures proper drainage and minimizes the risk of further pavement damage.
Prior to new pavement overlay for better adhesion
Preparing the existing surface through milling and grinding is crucial before applying a new overlay. This step guarantees better adhesion and a smoother, more durable finish for the new pavement layer.
Selecting the ideal asphalt milling contractor is crucial for the success of your pavement maintenance project. When making your choice, consider the following essential factors:
- Experience: Look for a contractor with a solid track record in milling and grinding projects. Their expertise ensures they can effectively address your specific needs.
- Modern, well-maintained equipment: The quality and efficiency of milling and grinding work heavily depend on the machinery used. Ensure the contractor has up-to-date and properly maintained equipment.
- Competitive pricing and positive customer feedback: These factors are indicative of the contractor’s ability to deliver value and satisfaction. Competitive pricing, coupled with positive reviews from previous clients, can guide you to a reliable choice.
Choosing an asphalt milling contractor
| Criteria | Questions to Ask | Why It’s Important |
| Experience and Expertise | – How long have you been in the milling and grinding business? – Can you provide examples of similar projects you’ve completed? |
Experience ensures the contractor has dealt with a variety of scenarios and can handle your project’s specific challenges. |
| Equipment Quality | – What type of milling and grinding equipment do you use? – How often is your equipment maintained? |
Modern, well-maintained equipment is crucial for efficient and high-quality work. |
| Certifications and Standards | – Are you certified by any industry associations? – Do you comply with any specific safety and quality standards? |
Certifications and adherence to standards indicate a commitment to quality and safety. |
| Pricing and Estimates | – Can you provide a detailed estimate? – How do you handle unexpected costs? |
Understanding the pricing structure and potential for additional costs helps in budget planning and avoiding surprises. |
| Customer Feedback | – Can you provide references from past clients? – Are there any online reviews I can check? |
Positive feedback from previous clients is a strong indicator of reliability and quality of work. |
Experience in milling and grinding projects
Prioritize contractors with a proven track record in milling and grinding. Their experience ensures they possess the expertise required to address your project’s unique challenges effectively.
Availability of modern, well-maintained equipment
The success of asphalt milling and grinding heavily relies on the quality and maintenance of the equipment used. Choose contractors who invest in modern, well-maintained machinery to ensure efficiency and superior results.
Competitive pricing and positive customer feedback
A balance of competitive pricing and positive customer feedback is essential for gauging a contractor’s ability to deliver both value and satisfaction. Research and compare to find a contractor that meets your budget while boasting a strong reputation for quality work.
Preparing for milling and grinding services
Proper preparation is essential for the seamless execution of asphalt milling and grinding projects. Key steps include:
- Clearing the area of vehicles and obstructions: Ensuring the work area is free from any obstacles is crucial for the safety and efficiency of the operation.
- Notifying affected residents or businesses in advance: Communication is key to minimizing disruptions. Informing nearby parties ahead of time helps maintain positive community relations.
- Securing any loose items that vibrations could affect: The milling and grinding process can generate vibrations. Securing loose items in the vicinity prevents damage and ensures the safety of property.
By following these preparatory measures, both property owners and contractors can facilitate a smooth milling and grinding process, ensuring the project’s success with minimal inconvenience to all involved.
Clearing the area of vehicles and obstructions
Ensure safety and efficiency by removing vehicles and clearing any obstacles in the work area, facilitating unimpeded access for milling and grinding machinery.
Notifying affected residents or businesses in advance
Advance communication with nearby residents or businesses is key to minimizing inconvenience. It prepares them for the work ahead, helping to maintain positive community relations.
Securing any loose items that vibrations could affect
To prevent damage from the operation’s vibrations, it’s important to secure loose items in the vicinity. This precaution safeguards property and enhances the safety of both the work crew and the surrounding area.