A safety edge technique is used to angle the edges of freshly poured pavement. Learn how this technique can improve the safety and appearance of each asphalt-paved surface that will be installed on your property. 

Safety Edge Benefits

A new pavement section that will meet with an existing roadway or another paved surface may require the use of a safety edge. A safety technique will allow a paving contractor to prepare an angled edge line. This type of edge will allow a motorist to retain control when driving from one paved surface to another.

If a safety technique is not used, the vertical edge of the pavement may cause a vehicle to bottom out as it crosses the edge. An exposed edge that is not adequately compacted can deteriorate prematurely. The use of a safety edge ensures that asphalt is applied in an angled formation.

A safety edge extension is an attachment that a contractor will secure directly to the equipment that they will be using to spread fresh asphalt. A safety edge attachment will firmly press against fresh asphalt. The compaction process will increase the density of asphalt. The increased density will prevent the asphalt from cracking or wearing down prematurely.

Safety Edge Essentials

A safety edge is only needed when a pavement edge is going to be exposed. For instance, if the pavement will be aligned next to a garage, the edge of the pavement that meets with the garage will not need to be angled.

The edge of the pavement that meets the roadway, however, may need to be angled. A contractor will determine if angling is needed, based on the height difference between the newly paved surface and the roadway.

The Project Plans

A paving contractor will determine how thick a new residential pavement slab will be. The design plans for a newly paved surface may influence whether a substrate material is added under the fresh asphalt. Some paving contractors prefer to pour gravel or a similar aggregate material across the land where the pavement will be installed.

The sublayer will improve drainage and the stability of fresh pavement. During the planning of the project, the contractor will determine if safety edges will be added to the fresh pavement. If so, they will calculate the angling degree that each edge will feature. The contractor will pour all of the asphalt. Then, they will secure the safety edge attachment and use it to add angled edges to the pavement.

Contact a local residential asphalt paving service to learn more.