Seeing is Believing, GSB Works!

If you visit Gee’s headquarters in Cedar Rapids, Ia, we'll invite you on the Asphalt Preservation Tour. Because, we haven’t just recently expanded into Asphalt Preservation methods and can only speculate about their performance. No, we have been conducting independent research since the 1970s! 

Not only have our research results remained consistent, but similar studies and findings conducted by expert entities including NAVFAC, FHWA, FAA, MDOT, and AZDOT have also proven the quantifiable benefits of Asphalt Preservation in sustaining the performance of asphalt pavements.

Case in point, Lakeside Drive:
* Installed in 2001
* 100 yard test pavement area
* Left lane treated with
   GSB every 5 years,
   while Right lane   
   remained untreated.

13 years later--the outcome is astounding!

Aggregates in the GSB lane remain tightly glued down while the lane itself appears to be from a much newer installation.

However, the untreated right lane is a real mess--severe cracking and raveling has allowed moisture and other elements to seep down and dry out the binder and completely weaken the pavement structure!

Both lanes are the same age, but it is clear the Right untreated lane, in Poor Condition, is nearing the end of it’s usefulness while the Left lane treated with GSB remains in Good Condition.



Here at Gee Asphalt, we have pavements that have been on a continuous asphalt preservation program for 40+ years and counting!

See for yourself how GSB can sustain pavement life! Give us a call for a free quote and start sustaining your pavements today!
Watch full video at :    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SecDJJNqt8E

Why should you preserve a perfectly Good Runway?

Garfield County Regional Airport (RIL):
How a Pro-active Pavement Maintenance Strategy is saving this airport millions!

The Need for a Pro-active Strategy:
"In mountainous areas subject to extreme weather conditions, asphalt will fail after only 12 years, even if a runway was initially designed to structurally hold for 20 years."
–William VanHercke, Manager, Aviation Services, CH2M HILL's Northwest Mountain Region

“Research shows that if airports maintain asphalt pavement every three to five years, they can get more than 20 years out of a runway – if not 30.” –Joel Harry, Airfield Civil Engineer, Project Manager, CH2M HILL

"We (had) an absolutely perfect runway So, one month after it was finished, we completed a 20-year maintenance plan to make sure it stayed in that same condition."
–RIL Airport Director, Brian Condie

The Plan (Get Ahead of Deterioration Cycles):
Historically, RIL was forced to shut down each year for several days while the pavement surface was closely inspected and every crack sealed. This was a terrible inconvenience and loss of revenue for the airport and the whole community. Plus, Some RIL's runway pavement and joints were showing signs of premature raveling–only 3 short years after the runway was refurbished.
 
But, instead of waiting five years before taking steps to maintain their Good Condition runway, RIL developed a pro-active maintenance strategy to postpone a full resurfacing.

GSB Is the Solution:
RIL sought the advice of Asphalt Systems to determine the best long-term maintenance strategy while keeping the runway looking and performing like brand new. Together, it was decided GSB was the best solution.

GSB-88, made from a natural black bitumen, contains a rejuvenating agent that penetrates into the matrix providing long-term protection, while keeping the pavement pliable and flexible. And, because GSB is made from a long-chain hydrocarbon, it is extremely resistant to moisture and ultraviolet rays–preventing UV rays from breaking down vital oils.

GSB Is a Budget-saver!
Because the project came in around $300,000 (vs. the originally anticipated $470,000), RIL was able to carry over the airport's entitlement funds for use on a bigger project the following year.

But the money saving doesn’t stop there.
“By performing prompt preventative maintenance every few years, the airport expects to spend $1.5 million over 25 years vs. an estimated $6 million to resurface the runway twice."–William VanHercke, Manager, Aviation Services, CH2M HILL's Northwest Mountain Region

That’s over 3x in savings!!!

3 years after application, the GSB-treated surface remains in “like new” condition and performance! Now that’s a Win-Win result!

Plus, the New FAA P-608 Specification calls for Gilsonite Modified Asphalt Emulsion (GSB) to be used on all airfield pavements, including runways and high-speed taxiways! Start saving money and sustain the look and performance of your runway!
Contact us today!
--------------------------

Full quotes and related article:
Airport Improvement Magazine http://www.airportimprovement.com/content/story.php?article=00516

Diverse Research Proves the Benefits of Preservation

As a family business, here at Gee, we have been conducting research on preservation products for close to 50 yrs and counting. But, as we all have observed firsthand, the asphalt industry has changed while costs have risen--and roads just don’t last as long as they used to. And, in response and under the mandate of reducing costs and sustaining vital infrastructure, many other entities (only some are listed above) have done independent research with all the same results:

The use of Preservation products can extend 2x the life of pavements and reduce overall maintenance costs.

But this research isn’t just filed away, it’s put into practice!

 While most of California’s highways are more than half a century old, they carry nearly half of the nation’s container freight. Recently the California Transportation Commission (Caltrans) initiated a “Fix It First” campaign, which includes preserving pavements that are in good condition from deteriorating. 

Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty reasons, “To get the most bang for the buck for taxpayers, Caltrans targets dollars where they are most effective--pavement preservation. Every $1 spent on preventive pavement maintenance saves Californians $11 that would have been spent on expensive pavement repairs.”
(Source: Central Valley Business Times / Sacramento, CA June 26th, 2014

)

Time and time again, test after test, pavements in Good Condition when treated with GSB, result in a  binder with unmatched strength–durability and bonding properties with high density–capable of preserving vital oils and flexibility in the pavement for decades of trouble free pavements and prolonged traffic load carrying capabilities! Contact us today and let us show you how we are preserving today’s infrastructure for future generations.

GSB® Extends Pavement Life, and Our Customers are Saving REAL Money!

Proven by FHWA, FAA, NAVFAC, MDOT, and AZDOT research:
GSB® Asphalt Preservation Treatments can Save 10x over the Cost of 1 Asphalt Overlay!

The reality of the overwhelming costs of relying on a Worst-First Maintenance Strategy has left 60% of Jones County roads close to the end of their life-cycle. As in many counties, facing steep reconstruction costs and budget shortfalls, many engineers and decision-makers are looking for a better, more cost-effective strategy. See how GSB® was the strategy of choice for extending the roads of Jones County.

Derek Snead, P.E., Jones County Engineer.
"I’ve been working with the county for about 2 1/2 years now. We’re trying our best to keep up with the roads as best we can with the money we’ve got. Well, we have an extensive pavement system here in the county, about 150 miles of paved roads. Of those 150 miles, a chunk of them, over 60% are getting closes to the end of their life.

We obviously don’t have the funds to repair all the roads we want to. GSB® (Gilsonite Sealer Binder® Preservation Treatment) was one solution we looked at to try to offset some of the replacement (cost) with extending the life of some of our paved roads here in the county.

It (GSB®) was a very easy process. We did the project under traffic. It didn’t take very much time. (We found) GSB® penetrates deep into the existing pavement. That creates a flexible pavement which is what it was initially intended to be. It (GSB®) gets down deep into the pavement as opposed to just on the surface--it gets down into it and makes the whole thing flexible and kind of work together. Typically when we do sealants they’re more for cracks and the surrounding areas. This GSB® is more of a broader (application). It goes over the entire area. It protects from future cracks that aren’t maybe existing quite yet or are very small.

It (GSB®) seemed to to do the job it said it was going to do so far. So far, we are very happy with the product."

Our NEW Gee Overview Video!

Asphalt Preservation with Gee Asphalt Systems, Inc






Introducing a quick video all about Gee's proud history, mission, and the cost-saving benefits of using GSB to extend the life of your pavements.

Check our YouTube Channel to see examples of our processes and workmanship.

Are You Wasting Money on Crack Sealant?

“Nearly every surface defect started as a crack that got out of control. Each phase the remedy gets more expensive than the last. We’re here to break that cycle and to take care of your good pavements before it’s too late!” – Gee Asphalt Systems, Inc.

Did your crack sealant make it through the winter?

Last fall, many pavement owners spent good money fixing pavement cracks, but as the snow melted many failed fixes were revealed. 


But why did your crack sealant fail so quickly in the first place?

In most cases, the technique used to fill the cracks was substandard.


(Common) Blow & Go – (Not recommended):
Quick and cheap but least effective. Debris / dirt is blown and cracks filled leaving most of the sealant on top 
– vulnerable to being pulled out and scraped off – leaving your pavement further exposed to the elements, traffic and plows, and pedestrians during everyday use. And, once moisture follows down through the cracks and enters a pavement’s base and support structure, the rate of deterioration and damage and cost to repair will accelerate significantly unless you act quickly.



In addition, the sealant that does make it down into the crack has gritty, rough, unprepared surfaces which do not promote optimum bonding surfaces. Either way, sealant will need fixed a lot sooner than you think!

VS

Rout & Flush Pour – (We recommend):
Quality sealant (Hot applied ASTM 3405 rubberized sealant; proven superior bonding properties, high resiliency – up to 300%, and great cold weather performance) is carefully placed into the routed, dried and prepared crack, filling up from the bottom, until flush with the surface. Voids and bubbles that can shorten the life of the crack seal are eliminated while also preventing most surface damage. This technique also yields and longest “like new” look and attractive appearance.

OR

Rout & Overband – (We recommend for failed repairs):

Effective for crack sealing previously sealed cracks that cannot be routed. Sealant is carefully placed into the dried and prepared crack, filling up from the bottom, and squeegeeing the sealant flush with the surface. This minimizes most damage from traffic, plows, and pedestrians but is less attractive than the Rout & Flush Pour technique.

For best, longer lasting results choose a trusted / knowledgeable expert installer!
It may look like a budget-saver, but as the old adage goes, “You get what you pay for.” You can risk hiring cheaper contractors but if they are not specifically trained in crack sealing, you will have to repeat the process again sooner, wasting your valuable time and money. Choosing a trusted/knowledgeable installer who will use quality products and the right equipment is key to to the long-term performance of any crack seal. We utilize state-of-the-art double jacketed melters designed to safely melt sealant, gently agitate, and then pump it through insulated hoses and specially designed applicators into cracks. We also equip our machines with self contained compressors to blow out oil free compressed air to better prepare cracks for sealant. When properly installed, hot applied crack sealants will last for years to come, protecting your pavement investment. Crack sealing is just one of several integral components in an overall preservation strategy.

The Pothole Epidemic

Freeze-thaw-moisture, freeze-thaw-moisture, freeze-thaw-moisture.
 

All across the nation, communities are dealing with an epidemic of potholes, possibly anticipated in aging streets, but also showing up in poorer quality repairs that just didn’t hold up under extreme winter conditions.

“Still, that (potholes) wouldn't be as big a problem had the nation invested more up front,” says Larry Galehouse, Engineer and Director of the National Center for Pavement Preservation.

"What people have to understand is you can't have a pothole without first having a crack in the pavement surface. Agencies have been cash-strapped for a number of years, and now it's all coming home to roost."

"If you've got a pavement in poor condition that's got a lot of alligator cracking ... where water is getting into the pavement and freezing and thawing, it's going to break up the structure," says Kevin J. Haas, Traffic Investigations Engineer, Oregon Department of Transportation, Salem. 



And to add weight to their statements, it’s no coincidence the American Society of Civil Engineers gave America's infrastructure (roads) a D last year.

And, now communities following Worst First Maintenance Strategies are just trying to keep up with the repairs and pay for it any way they can.

In New York City, 136,476 potholes have been patched since Jan. 1. — compared to the just under 57,000 by Jan 1 in 2013.

Closer to home, Cedar Rapids, Ia estimates the need to fix 100,000 potholes. So far the city has used over 120 tons of fill material. Paid for by local option sales tax, the city has purchased three new pothole mix spreaders for around $65,000 each and upgraded to a longer lasting premium mix—20% more expensive.


Still other communities are calling on volunteers to fill holes quickly with cold mix until permanent road patches can be made in April.

Better Quality vs Throw-and-Roll Methods:

“If a few simple and cost-effective measures are applied with each repair then there may be less need for as many repeat repairs and savings could be in the millions annually.”
— Mujib Rahman, co-author, Nottingham Trent University study, England.


The study found that applying a coat of bitumen emulsion between two layers of asphalt significantly improved its resistance to further cracks and confirmed a hot mix repair — in which the asphalt was heated to 284 degrees or higher — was the best option for fixing holes 1 inch and deeper.

Potholes Cause Property Damage:

TRIP, a nonprofit organization that researches surface transportation issues, estimated an average urban driver pays out $377 a year in repairs — or a total of $80 billion nationwide, with many flat tires caused by potholes. (based on 2013 data)

Keeping the Good Pavements Good:

Trying to put this all into perspective Larry Galehouse gives this statement, “Americans pay about $21 a month on average in state and federal road taxes — a fraction of what they pay for cable television or a cell phone. And yet what is one of our most (personal) expensive investments out there? It's our automobile. And we're wrecking our automobiles because we're hitting potholes ... The key is not fixing them. The key is preventing them."

Wouldn’t it make more sense to spend a dollar to preserve newer pavements, keeping them like new longer, rather than spending $10.80 to patch, repair and replace?

New Branch Office Opens Near Chicago

Thanks to all our clients who are enjoying the benefits and overall cost-savings by preserving their asphalt pavements with us!

Now, just in time for the 2014 working season, we proudly announce the opening of our Chicagoland branch office in Somonauk, IL.

At our new branch office, you can expect the same great Gee quality, pride, and service you have come to expect from us...just now a little closer to you!

Top New Years Resolutions for Pavement Maintenance

“GSB-88® Sealer Binder cost about 8x less than the cost of applying new asphalt.”
--Matt Hawks, General Manager, White Cloud Casino

“Thank-you for introducing us to a cost-effective and efficient product (GSB-88®)! All airfield users agree it is a great improvement rejuvenating a deteriorated taxiway into an almost new system.”

--Shaun Germolus, Director of Operations, Duluth International Airport

"Analysis shows GSB-88® yields a Savings-To-Investment Ratio (SIR) Of 5.0 and a Return On Investment (ROI) of 400%."

--GSB-88 NAVFAC Performance Report

“$1 spent today on pavement preservation reduces future replacement costs up to $10.80”


– Jim Sorensen, Director Pavement Preservation, FHWA

“Our parking lot was showing signs of deterioration. We needed to improve the appearance and safety. Replacement with new asphalt was going to be costly. We could replace it OR, preserve it by sealing the cracks and applying GSB®. We agreed to have Gee Asphalt Systems provide the pavement preservation services...and are very pleased.

--Matt Hawks, General Manager, White Cloud Casino



“GSB-88® is engineered to significantly retard surface oxidation by rebinding the surface aggregate and protect the pavement binder from the natural surface oxidation process. Surface oxidation is far and away the greatest deteriorating factor on the majority of DOD airfields.”

--DOD Comprehensive Evaluation of GSB-88® Sealer Binder


“Thank you for your assistance in providing a solution to our problem...The untreated test section showed extreme raveling with excessive loose aggregate and a very porous surface. The subsequent test application of GSB® has corrected this problem and has no doubt prolonged the life of this surface. It is evident the surface would have to have been replaced if not for the GSB® application.”
--Tom McCarthy, Operations Manager, Northpark Mall



“We are very satisfied with GSB® and over the years of wear and tear it has held up tremendously well. We have used other products over the years but they do not compare to the quality of the GSB® application.”

--Eugene Oakey, Director of Facilities, May Centers, Inc.



“Gee Asphalt showed me pavements where GSB® had been used from as little as 1 year ago, up to pavements maintained as long as 32 years, and they all looked amazing!”

--Brent Stansbury, Facility Engineer, Gateway, Inc.



“We wanted to try something besides the ss1h asphalt emulsions to keep aggregates bound in place on the shoulders, prevent raveling, and keep newly placed asphalt in a "like new" condition. We tried GSB-88®. Years later aggregates were still bound tightly in place...GSB-88® was applied to asphalt overlay projects having ADT (average daily traffic) ranging from 300-2600 vehicles. We will continue using GSB-88® for our asphalt preservation applications.”

--Allen Horak, District Maintenance Superintendent, Nebraska Department of Roads

 “I can’t say enough about Gee Asphalt, their professionalism, polite and courteous staff and customer satisfaction. They talk the talk and walk the walk! You continue to be a true pleasure to work with. Gee Asphalt has become an awesome partner in Asphalt Preservation!" 

--Scott Mallicoat, District Maintenance Supervisor, Farmington Schools

“Gee got the job done right!...Working with a company that gets the job done right the first time with little supervision is great! I look forward to working with Gee Asphalt in the future.”

--Les Lawson, Iowa State University, Facilities Planning & Management Campus Services

“From the salesperson to receptionist, owner to crew, these top-notch professionals exceeded our expectations with their fast and efficient, high quality work. Knowledgeable and courteous describes their staff and crew. I would highly recommend them.”

--Ms. Angie Ellison, Engineering Technician, City of Eagan Minnesota

“Everyone at Gee Asphalt Systems, from the owner to office staff to field crews, are professional and act with integrity.  They understand our shopping center clients and work diligently to minimize customer inconvenience."

--Thomas R. Zimmer, PE, Principal, Zimmer Consultants, Ltd

Make Gee part of your New Year's Resolution and improve the health of your pavements today!
 

Is your runway maintenance strategy costing you money?

Here’s 2 scenarios with cost estimates. Which scenario can you relate to the most?

Scenario 1
8 yrs after runway installation, some raveling is noticeable and identified as a potential safety hazard. Budget for a a full mill down and overlay resurfacing project and make shut down preparations for at least a month. Afterwards, for a time, runway operates well. However, in 5-8 yrs raveling detected again. Again, budget for a resurfacing project and shut down for repairs.



Cost (2 resurfacing projects) = 6 million dollars.

+ Cost of runway shut down for 30+ days, 2x in a 25 yr life-cycle = ???

In 3-5 yrs more, notice structural integrity failure. Budget for complete tear out and reconstruction.



Scenario 2

In 5-8 yrs after runway installation (sooner for best results), seal with GSB-88 (Gilsonite Sealer Binder) before raveling is detected and close runway for 2 days. Runway is preserved in Good Condition. Plan to seal coat with GSB-88 every 5 yrs during a 25 yr life-cycle and keep runway in Good Condition for years longer than typical processes.

Cost (seal with GSB-88 every 5 yrs in a 25+ yr life-cycle) = $1.5 million

+ Cost of closing down runway for 2 days once every 5 yrs.

How can GSB-88 perform better than other processes?

Extensive research has validated: Unlike other processes that stick on the asphalt’s surface, GSB-88 will never crack, peel or delaminate. Because of it’s unique chemical properties, GSB-88 penetrates down into the matrix, becomes part of the surface, and forms a tight seal. In combination, the aging process is halted while pavement flexibility is preserved and load carrying ability is significantly extended.

The choice is yours! Plan to spend some to preserve runway surfaces in Good Condition every 5 years OR spend 3x as much on resurfacing projects with lengthy closures!

Want to reduce maintenance costs up to 60%?

FHWA data states that $1 spent on Preservation reduces future replacement costs up to $10.80!

Known fact: A road is installed with a life-cycle. Often a decade passes and little is done to access its health. But soon, defects become unavoidable. Once the damage is visible, the binder remains unprotected and exposed. If left unchecked, it will continue to deteriorate at an alarming rate. At this stage, to stall further deterioration, temporary fixes often are applied--but they don’t improve the health and strength of the binder crucial to pavement longevity. Damage will continue to progress through the structure--and your road, now in Poor Condition will land at the top of your Reconstruction List.

There is a better way. Combat future reconstruction costs at the source--Plan to spend a little of your budget now and preserve Good Condition pavements in Good condition with GSB.

GSB is not your average coating. It is asphalt cement that not only penetrates down into the matrix but also moves at the same rate as asphalt pavement. Unlike surface coatings, GSB’s unique chemical makeup locks in vital oils and pavement flexibility. The result--pavements are preserved in Good Condition normally 2x as long as other processes!

GSB Works! We have pavements that have been on a strategic preservation program for 40+ years!



Call us today and let us show you how you can significantly reduce your maintenance costs with your own Strategic Preservation Program!

What's Wrong with Worst-First Maintenance?

“We’ve always done it this way.”

It’s a familiar statement that approves the Worst-First maintenance strategy again for the next fiscal year. Yet the same decision-makers would agree the same statement is a business killer even among multi-million dollar companies revealing a lack in vision to meet consumer demands.

And the demands on our roadways are increasing. DOT and FHWA data state since 1960, roughly 3.69 million registered vehicles are added each year, with a 8 million jump in 2000-2001. In 2007, the passenger vehicle count was 254.4 million. Can the same road maintenance strategy used since the 1960’s or earlier really meet the current increasing demand?

U.S. roads are estimated as an 80 trillion dollar asset or 7 billion per day. As the number of vehicles on U.S. roads increase, the need for more roads kept in Good Condition increases, while reconstruction costs are also on the rise. So the way “we’ve always done it” Worst-First strategy–fix it, fix it, fix it, then reconstruct–does not protect your asset and is wasting more of your budget than you think. 



Take a Pro-active approach to pavement maintenance! Get ahead of the breakdown cycle and bypass the expensive temporary fixes and reconstruction costs. Our Solution: Preserve Good Condition pavements with Gilsonite Sealer Binder (GSB). GSB Sealer Binder out performs every other asphalt emulsion (polymer modified too) in wet track abrasion tests, increased permeability, reduced viscosity, and reduction of oxidation processes--and keeps asphalt pavement performing like new for many years–normally 2x as long as other processes. Gee Asphalt has pavements that have been on a continuous preservation program for 39 years and counting!

GSB, as part of a proactive preservation program, has been proven to reduce pavement maintenance costs by up to 60%!

Gee Asphalt offers the following services in Preservation/Preventative Maintenance:


Gilsonite Sealer Binder (GSB)
Crack Sealing
Slurry Mac



Let us show you how your maintenance strategy can become more effective save you money!

Quality Crack Sealing

Once pavement has hardened allowing moisture to enter the base and support structure of your pavement, the rate of deterioration and damage and cost to repair will accelerate significantly unless you act quickly.

Choosing quality sealant materials and installing them correctly is critical to the long-term performance of any crack seal and is best handled by experts with knowledge, skill and the right equipment to do the job right. You can risk hiring cheaper contractors but if they are not specifically trained in crack sealing, you will have to repeat the process again sooner, wasting your valuable time and money.


Here at Gee, our expertly trained technicians only install products we are 100% confident in and meet our high standards; crack sealant must bond well to crack walls, be elastic enough to stretch without tearing apart in cold temperatures, and not track when temps go up to 100 degrees or more. Crafco, W.R. Meadows, and Maxwell hot applied crack sealants meet ASTM 3405 standards and our high performance expectations.

Proper Technique is Key! Successful crack sealing requires that all cracks are properly prepared; cleaned (using oil-free compressed air) and completely dry. Only then is sealant poured into the crack, filling from the bottom up until sealant is flush with the surface – to prevent voids or bubbles that can shorten the life-cycle of the crack sealing process while also preventing most damage from traffic, plows and pedestrians.

 Hot applied sealants are recommended for the majority of our clients because they prove most cost-effective and last years longer. Hot pour sealants are melted down on your job site in a specialized double jacketed melter applicator. We also install single and double component cold applied crack sealants during fringe season or southern climates.

Don’t risk further damage to your investment! Using skilled technicians and proper techniques is key to every successful crack sealing project. Call us today for a free consultation and cost estimate!

Change the Way You Think About Pavement Maintenance!

There is a vicious spending cycle that is eating away at our county and city budgets. The “Worst First” maintenance strategy allocates budget dollars for rehabilitation of the very worst pavements, leaving little or no money left to spend on maintaining Good condition pavements. 

Change the Way You Think About Pavement Maintenance!
While preventing oxidation of the asphalt binder is a "first priority" and is critical to pavement longevity, once the binder is exposed, if neglected, Good condition pavements quickly deteriorate and will end up at the top your reconstruction list sooner than you think!

There is a better strategy! Bypass the expensive cycle of temporary fixes and reconstruction costs by preserving Good condition pavements with Gilsonite Sealer Binder (GSB). GSB Sealer Binder out performs every other asphalt emulsion (polymer modified too) in wet track abrasion tests, increased permeability, reduced viscosity, and reduction of oxidation processes--and keeps asphalt pavement performing like new for many years–normally twice as long as other processes.

GSB, as part of a proactive preservation program, has been proven to reduce pavement maintenance costs by up to 60%!

Changing the way you think about maintaining your network of pavements requires planning, perseverance and getting the whole organization up to speed on the benefits of preservation, all the way from the field and operations people, up to the top management and ownership. This can be a challenge, especially when the system has always been run "this way." But, if the experts are in agreement about the benefits and budget-savings, isn’t it about time to reevaluate how your organization thinks about preservation and your pavement maintenance strategy?

Think Pavement Preservation is a waste of money? (Our customers don’t)

Learn from more of our clients at http://www.geeasphalt.com/#!references/cc5g

Estimates from the National Center for Pavement Preservation state that for every $1 spent on Asphalt Preservation, up to $10.80 is realized in reduced replacement costs.

Pavement Preservation is "a program employing a network level, long-term strategy that enhances pavement performance by using an integrated, cost-effective set of practices that extend pavement life, improve safety and meet motorist expectations." 
    -- FHWA Pavement Preservation Expert Task Group

"Times have changed and we cannot afford to follow the old methodology of build it and forget it. Instead, we need to preserve our existing infrastructure investments well into the future. Projects that preserve the existing pavement are good investments from a public policy perspective."
   -- Larry Galehouse, Director, National Center for Pavement Preservation

Let Gee Asphalt Systems, Inc. teach you what our customers already know: how to extend the life of your valuable asset and save you money!

GSB-88 Receives the Nation's First Environmental Product Declaration!

To truly measure a products impact on the environment you must measure all the elements that go into it from cradle to grave.
GSB-88 was recently submitted to a rigorous and complete Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) conducted in accordance with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) guidelines and qualifications which examines products to determine if they are truly green. With high scores in every category, GSB-88 received the ultimate reward, an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). No other asphalt product or seal coat of any kind has ever been subjected to this intense and comprehensive process!

Instead of casually calling a product "Green", this academically rigorous, internationally accepted evaluation process includes all three phases of a product life cycle.

The three phases include the environmental impact measured by eight evaluation criteria being applied to: 
1) each component of the product,
2) the actual use of the product, and
3) the eventual recycling of the product.
If GSB-88 was utilized on a global scale it could save 1.2 million metric tons of CO2 emissions per year and billions of dollars in savings.

What's so great about GSB-88?

All seal coats are not the same!

During thermal expansion and contraction cycles GSB-88 expands and moves at the same rate as asphalt pavement because Gilsonite IS asphalt cement! GSB-88 retains EVERY vital component; polar compounds, maltenes and asphaltenes. While modern highly refined
"fractioned" binders may meet specifications, because vital components have been removed, they experience more rapid oxidation and degradation!

Preserving pavement flexibility with GSB-88 improves the performance of an asphalt pavement by extending the time of load carrying ability and places GSB-88 in the forefront as a performance treatment for all pavement types including streets, roadways, highways, airport runways, and all types of commercial pavements.

Gilsonite...the Million Year Solution!

Has anybody noticed our pavements aging faster than they used to?
Refineries find new ways every day to extract new chemicals from petroleum such as polymers, anti-oxidants, ultraviolet & infrared inhibitors and powerful epoxies. Economics 101 taught us that supply and demand drives cost, and the demand for these new super-refined components drives cost for asphalt cement up while we simultaneously witness lowered performance in the real world. Ouch! That is double indemnity! That explains in a nutshell what is happening, but where do we go from here in the real world?

UN-REFINED... because nothing else performs like Gilsonite!
What if we could turn the clock back a million years? We did sort of, our asphalt cement is
made by Mother Nature. It has never been cracked in a refinery, and it still has all the good stuff in it. Gilsonite ore is mined then turned back into a liquid preservation treatment that is tough and durable, a super binder that acts like the asphalt cement binders from years ago. When used to create GSB-88, it becomes a superior preservation alternative to sustain streets, roadways and highways, airports, and commercial pavements.

Asphalt is Green

Today more than ever, concern for the environment is on the rise. We can no longer be complacent about how we use or waste our resources. 

Preservation in essence, is caring about the future condition of the world we live in. The decisions we make today have consequences on our environment tomorrow. They are either positive or minimal in nature, or they are large and far reaching and very negative, and we have to live with it. The legacy we leave for our children and grand children will determine if we were good stewards of what we had been given. Preservation is the "long-term" philosophy that shows we recognize these important environmental issues.

Most of us are accustomed to doing certain things to help the cause. Striving to get good gas mileage is a good idea. It preserves our finite resources for future generations while reducing air pollution today. Recycling bottles, paper, metals and such is certainly a noble task. Resources are returned to useful service and the burden on replacement is minimized.

But, lets get real for a minute. There are still significant issues in the "save the earth" discussion that are many times larger than recycling bottles and cans. There is something imminently larger, massively more expensive and critical to our prosperity now and in the future. Our infrastructure!

Asphalt Preservation:

• reduces pollution and the demand for finite resources
• increases the sustainability of a significant national asset.
• is environmentally responsible
• is ultimately cost-effective

Being good stewards of what we have been given by preserving our interstate highways, city and county roads, airport runways, parking lots, and our transportation network is just the right thing to do for the sake of future generations!