New Season, New Tagline

We are the Asphalt Preservation Specialists! 

That has been our tagline for a long time…And although it certainly conveys the expert knowledge and trust our clients have found in Gee over the years, it does not explain WHY choose Asphalt Preservation in the first place? 

We apply GSB-88® (Gilsonite Sealer Binder)--proven by expert research to both save up to $10 for every $1 invested AND outlast typical seal coat products by 2x.

So, as we look ahead to the 2016 season, Gee Asphalt Systems, Inc. is now your source for Making Good Pavements Last Longer Nationwide.
And, we are proud to partner with you! 

Contact us today for a free consultation and let us show you how you can sustain pavements AND save money with GSB-88 ® as part of a sound Asphalt Preservation Maintenance Strategy!

GSB-88 ® Featured in the News

New product promises pavement preservation in Council Bluffs.

Jobeth Devera, 6/27/15 KETV/Omaha

Crews are applying a product called GSB-88 ®, which “penetrates the asphalt and fills in all those voids,” said Jeremy Noel, the department’s streets and sewers manager. If not filled, potholes could lead to bigger problems that Noel is trying to avoid.
“We are proactive in trying to extend the lives of our pavements,”
Noel said.
One application of GSB-88 can last up to 10 years and delay expensive resurfacing projects.

Council Bluffs resident Bill Grove said he is happy about the possible solution.“Makes sense to me to try something new,” he said. “It’s going to be a lot less expensive than putting two more inches of asphalt on it.”

Noel said he knows the department has a lot of work to do. In the meantime, he is asking motorists to be patient while crews finish the job.

“It’s an inconvenience for a little while, but it’s worth it in the end,” he said. Council Bluffs road officials plan to test another product on the roads later this summer to see which will work best in the long run.

Click here for video.

GSB-88® received 4th GreenCircle® Certification!

We’ve all heard in the news the increasing scrutiny and even some lawsuits over health-food claims and misleading ingredients.

You may also be skeptical about new sealcoat products and their claims...but GSB-88® is not just another sealcoat! Gilsonite Sealer Binder comes from Gilsonite, a unique natural hydrocarbon high in asphaltenes and nitrogen compounds–completely unrefined; nothing taken out or added. And, GSB-88® can be tested with quantifiable and predictable results!

Just recently GSB-88® was submitted to the rigorous and Internationally accepted Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) conducted by 3rd party testing & analysis.

We proudly announce, on behalf of our distributor ASI, GSB-88® has received GreenCircle® Certification for the 4th consecutive year! GSB-88® received high scores in all categories, and GSB-88® remains the only product in its category to be recognized.

If utilized globally, GSB-88® could save 1.2 million metric tons of CO2 emissions per year and billions of dollars in savings!

Click here to see the certificate here.

Can Asphalt Preservation REALLY Impact a Pavement's Load-Carrying Capability?

There are
always variables affecting a road, but the impact of preventive maintenance
can be this noticeable!










What Determines the Load-Carrying Capability of Asphalt Pavement?
Asphalt pavement mixes are mostly made of Aggregates (90-95% of the pavement mix, by weight) and Asphalt Binder (4-8% of the pavement mix, by weight).

Aggregates provide most of the load-bearing properties of the mix. I.E., crushed stone, gravel, and sand–all hard, inert mineral materials. In contrast, as defined by the FHWA, the Asphalt Binder, typically produced by refineries during petroleum processing, is the thermoplastic materials and sticky substance that holds everything together.

When your Binder is left unpreserved, it dries out/loses flexibility and vital oils, and is no longer able to hold the Aggregates in place. When Aggregates become loose, the Load-Carrying Capabilities of your pavement are severely compromised–and your pavement will continue to decrease in Grade/Quality/Usability.

There is ABSOLUTELY something you can do to preserve YOUR pavement’s load-carrying ability and halt the deterioration cycle–ASPHALT PRESERVATION.
The FHWA states, "Preservation addresses minor deficiencies early, before the defects become major problems, and extends the life of the asset at a relatively low cost. A strong preservation program is essential to asset management."

We ARE the Asphalt Preservation Specialists!
Gee is a Family company and we have been conducting research on best-practices for more than 60 yrs! Do you want to know how you can maintain the Load-Carrying Capabilities of your pavement?  Give us a call, drop us an email, or connect with us via social media. We'd love to share our expertise with you!

Sustainability and the case for Pavement Preservation

(adapted from ASI research)
All of us in the pavement industry are ultimately responsible for how to best sustain our pavements. 



FACT

• There is an enormous amount of pavement in the world, and the quantity is growing every year;
• Economically & environmentally, it is infinitely cheaper & better for the planet to maintain pavement than to replace it;
• Some methods of pavement preservation are much “greener” and therefore more sustainable than others;
• To move forward sustainably on local and global levels, asphalt pavement simply must be preserved wisely.

World Pavement Numbers

There are nearly 3-million miles of paved roads in the U.S. alone - enough to circle the earth 120x at the equator. Total U.S. farmland is approximately 80,000 square miles, while pavement (including parking lots and airfields) is approximately 61,000 square miles. China and India are close behind and growing quickly; globally, we will soon exceed 12-million miles of paved roads. Each additional car requires an average of .18 paved acres (road & parking), meaning that 5 cars require an additional football field of pavement.



The reality is that pavements pose a sustainability challenge. Their construction and maintenance consumes large quantities of non-renewable materials, while also creating significant energy and environmental impacts. In the U.S. alone, over 350 million tons of raw materials go into the construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of pavements annually.

Maintenance Considerations

“Environmentally friendly” can often mean “more expensive,” but that is not the case with pavement preservation options. Economically, over a pavement’s 20-30 year lifespan, it is 10x cheaper to maintain existing asphalt than to replace it. And environmentally, enormous resources are saved: studies have shown that if all pavements were properly maintained rather than repaved, global CO2 emissions could be reduced by over 1 billion metric tons per year, which equals an annual 3% reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions.

Naturally, some pavement preservation products are “greener” and therefore more sustainable than others. Water-based emulsions are widely recognized as a better environmental choice than fuel-based cutbacks. GSB-88® sealer/binder/rejuvenator emulsion represents a very economical, versatile, and environmentally friendly option – plus it is the only industry product to receive an Environmental Product Declaration as well as Green Circle Certification.

Even larger sustainability differences can be found in various pavement preservation methods, shown in the chart below.

Annualized Energy Consumption & Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions per Type of Treatment:

Sustainability is an economic and environmental priority in today’s world, and proper asphalt preservation represents a significant part of it. Asphalt pavement comprises nearly 2% of the earth’s surface, and preserving it wisely can save billions of dollars every year while also reducing annual global greenhouse emissions up to 3%. Affordable and resource-friendly solutions are readily available; utilizing these products and processes properly will help achieve the decoupling of economic growth and environmental decline, and thereby move the planet forward more sustainably.

(full article and research references can be viewed at http://www.asphaltsystemsinc.com/blog/item/sustainability-and-pavement-preservation)

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

Interview with Derek Snead, P.E., Jones County Engineer

 

We sat down with Derek to hear his professional take on the problems he and his peers face concerning aging asphalt pavements.

What are some of the current trends or changes you've seen in pavement management since you've been on duty here?

Derek – I think typically in the past there wasn't such an emphasis on shortage of funding so it was a practice of use the existing pavement 'til it's completely deteriorated (then) tear it up and put new back down. Recently the amount of existing pavement that is past its useful life is so broad and we have such a short fundage--short amount of funding--that tearing it up and repairing all the existing ones just isn't an option.

How are things different now (you touched on the limited budgets we have) and how have people dealt with roads in the past in maintenance and such? Has it been more reactive or proactive?

Derek – I would say it probably varies, but the majority of it has been reactive. When you do have a shorter budget you have some tough choices to make. A lot of times you try to use the existing pavement as long as you possibly can before replacement, and that's one way of looking at it, or the second way would be to utilize some of the existing strength of that pavement.

(Would you) say keeping a pavement flexible would be a benefit to helping survive some of the stress that's put on it?

Derek – Particularly if you have a flexible pavement like asphalt is, in order to make the life of it last longer, you want to keep it that way (flexible). It's not designed to be a rigid pavement. If it turns into one, then the lifespan of that (pavement) deteriorates.

We are a very rural community here. We have a lot grain carts, a lot of heavy equipment going back and forth on our roads. They (pavements) weren't necessarily designed for types of loads that are going over them currently. So heavy loads and weather are the two main factors in deterioration of our existing pavements.

So, we're trying as many ways to prolong the existing ones (pavements) as we possibly can. So to prolong the life of the existing pavement that we have so far, this GSB® 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. So far we are very happy with the product (GSB®).

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.

Find the best Ice Prevention solutions for Your needs!

Premium Quality De-icers / Official Authorized Distributors

Historically, pavement owner’s have reacted post-storm, allowing snowfall to accumulate and ice bonds to form, and then start the expensive and arduous process of clean up and removal–often taking days to complete, shutting down access for unbearable amounts of time.

But, now there is a better proactive way to combat the unpredictable winter months: Anti-icing 

Applying an anti-icing treatment with liquid de-icer before the storm helps impede the formation of ice bonds during the storm. As temperatures fluctuate, treatments remain on the surface and continue to work. Studies have proven using de-icers can reduce removal effort by up to 10 to 1! 

Sometimes the intensity of storms catch us off-guard. De-icers, also, specifically Meltdown Absolute Zero, can act as a “bond breaker” after ice bonds have formed.

 “Previously we used calcium chloride for our frost runs. This will be our fourth season using Caliber M1000. We like the performance and the residual between applications. I continue to use Caliber because it helps me sleep at night."
    –Kurt Bailey, County Engineer, Polk County Iowa 

“The use of MeltDown Liquid has allowed us to save $25,000.00 per year and eliminated the process of stripping and re-waxing floors every spring. This savings alone was large enough to cover the entire cost of our de-icer purchases for the entire winter season!”
    –Tom Pederson, Director of Operations, The Empire Mall

Here at Gee, because we care about working with you for the long haul, we strive to represent our products and services with accuracy and honesty. If we wouldn’t use it, we don’t sell it!