Trails: Save 10x Over the Cost of 1 Asphalt Overlay!

Are you ready?
Soon cabin fever will give way to park dates and afternoon bike rides. Are your trail systems ready for the traffic?

Many communities have incentives to improve local bicycling infrastructure and expand ways to engage the community for a lasting positive impact. But, do you know how to stretch those dollars even further?

GSB-88® is your solution!
Because, seal with GSB-88® and get proven superior binding/adhesion, and water stripping resistance. Plus, pavements weather slowly, are proven more durable, have an increased load carrying ability and service life – and have a “like new” look!

E.P.A. Tested and Approved/Non-carcinogenic, non-mutagenic, and non-toxic/Won’t leach harmful levels of PAHs into the surrounding park environment.

And, GSB-88® is GREEN:
All attributes combined…seal with proven environmentally friendly GSB-88® and Sustain Park Pavements 10x longer than other processes!

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

Why preserve a parking lot 1 yr after installation?

The bottom line:  IT SAVES MONEY!
Proven: FHWA, FAA, NAVFAC, MDOT, and AZDOT data all conclude, for $1 spent on Asphalt Preservation, up to $11 is saved by reducing replacement costs and extending pavement life.

Why does it work?
Preventing asphalt binder oxidation is a "first priority" and is critical to pavement longevity. According to FHWA research data, up to 80% of pavement flexibility is lost during the first 5 years. In other words, your pavements’ vital oils, essential for high performance, escape at a rapid pace and contribute to the Condition of your pavement.

While pavements in Good Condition, may perform well, you can sustain your lots in New Condition well before pavements begin to show signs of age and oxidation. GSB-88 ® (Gilsonite Sealer Binder), seals and traps all the New Oils present during manufacture deep inside that maintain, pliability, ductility, and flexibility—and keep the damaging weather and elements locked OUT of your binder.

Like the way butter seeps down into bread, GSB®’s unique molecular properties create a durable seal that not only keep aggregates tightly glued together, but penetrate down to become part of the matrix itself. The outcome is a binder with unmatched strength–durability and bonding properties with high density.

Original pavement performance, in this case, NEW CONDITION, is preserved for decades of trouble free pavements and load carrying capabilities!...and YOU SAVE MONEY!

A Healthy Outside Starts From the Inside!

Preserve the binder and maintain high pavement performance while doubling the life of your parking lots!

This is a different way of thinking about the health of your pavements. Rather than being REACTIVE to what happens to your asphalt and throwing a lot of money at repairs, this is a process of being PROACTIVE and protecting one of your most expensive assets!

Let us show you how to sustain your parking lots with GSB-88® as part of a sound Asphalt Preservation Maintenance Strategy! Contact Us Today!

Night Repairs Giving You Budget Nightmares?

FALL is HERE.
The days are getting shorter and if worsening pavement deterioration throughout your lot is giving you nightmares, there are now less daylight hours for necessary repairs that you hope will keep your binder protected throughout the harsh unpredictable winter months. 

But, night repairs often
come with a much
LARGER PRICE-TAG.
And, if your business is open 24 hours, less parking might mean customers may drive on down the road and spend their money at your competitor’s store!

What if you could make those closures less often, for less time, and ultimately save you money? GSB-88® lasts 2x as long as other processes AND cures quickly AND saves you money. Contact us today for a free consultation and let us show you how you can sustain your parking lots with GSB-88 ® as part of a sound Asphalt Preservation Maintenance Strategy!

Webinar: Airport Consultants Council's Lunch + Learn

“Responsible asset management practices combined with an ever-increasing pressure on budgets, is reshaping the overall approach towards airport pavement management. The industry is pro-actively accessing processes and systems to safely treat airfield asphalt pavements and pivoting towards more preservation and life-extension goals.”

–Airport Consultants Council

Recently ASI presented the Life Extension of Airport Asphalt Pavement, Preventive Maintenance & P-608 as part of the Airport Consultants Council's Lunch + Learn webinars.

If you still have questions about the new FAA Specifications, such as when are the best cost-effective times to treat airfield pavements, what research findings are most meaningful to my maintenance plan, and want to see the break down of real Airport Pavement Management Programs, this webinar is for you!


click here to view

At Gee, our mission is to provide quality products and services. Customer satisfaction and pride in workmanship are our goals and are reflected by the growth of our company across the nation. Contact us today for a free consultation and let us show you how you can sustain your airfield 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® Saves Money / Improves Safety in Parking Lots!

While thousands of people slip and fall in parking lots each year, statistics have shown that most parking lot accidents are the result of slippery conditions in poorly maintained parking lots during the winter. And any other time during the year, very rarely does the average patron talking on their mobile device or carrying oversized packages–otherwise distracted–consider the safety of the pavement they are walking on. No matter the size, every inch of your parking lot needs to be carefully maintained because patrons walk over every part of it!

This is of the utmost importance, because, you, the parking lot owner could be held liable in court if an injury was caused by damaged/aging pavement, potholes, or crumbling curbs. In other words, if you are found to be negligent because your lot wasn’t kept properly safe you could be shelling out thousands of dollars in claims!

You have a few options when it comes to effective parking lot maintenance. You can wait until you see some raveling or cracks in the pavement and apply a fix that may only last a season–or you can get ahead of the damage with a pro-active Asphalt Preservation Strategy with GSB-88®. 



Because GSB-88® is not a typical coating, it’s unique regenerative properties allow the product to penetrate through and become part of the surface of asphalt pavement while preserving and strengthening the binder. Any deterioration your pavement may have been experiencing will be halted and the lot will actually retain the black “like-new” appearance.

Plus, applications of GSB-88® are quick-curing and require little downtime and last 2x as long as other processes–getting patrons back into your business a lot faster with fewer headaches.

GSB-88® saves you money and improves safety. Give us call and we’ll show you the difference!

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!

Road Maintenance: We need to change our thinking–NOW.

Not just up to Congress to fix:
In the news, the ASCE graded our 4+ million miles of public roadways a “D” and ranked us 16th in the world! They concluded:

Plus, our economy is impacted as freight is slowed down, diverted, impeded on the way to ports, railways, and city centers—and the cost is passed down to the consumer.

This is making news alongside our almost bankrupt Federal Highway Trust Fund.
But, ear-marking more money and resources to reconstruct a lot of failing roads now just means the cycle will repeat itself in 20 years–and be even more expensive and dire.

This isn’t a problem that has crept up on us overnight.
The snowball has been forming as regular maintenance initiatives have been put on the back-burner. Especially repairing minor surface defects, that don’t seem to impact the average traveler and are expected even as roads age, are often perceived as unnecessary and even wasteful spending by states, counties, and municipalities.

We’ve been building roads the same way for 50 years:
The traditional way we think about the life of a road is adding to the problem. Even today, we build a road based on a 20 yr life-cycle, leave it alone for a number of years “because it looks and performs Good”, and then act when the damage is clearly visible with varying degrees of fixes; patches, crack-sealing, overlays—often determined by what’s available in the budget and not what’s best for the health of the road.

One significant problem:
By the time the damage IS seen, over time, the binder strength has already been compromised.

The “fix” does not work:

• It does NOT improve binder health
• It uses a lot of resources for little gain

In other-words, It does NOT significantly extend the life of the road.
Also, since the lion’s share of the road maintenance budget went towards trying to fix Poor Condition roads, little if any is left to maintain Good Condition roads.

A better way—We MUST Maintain Good Condition Roads:
Asphalt Preservation with GSB-88:

• Penetrates into the pavement matrix; becomes part of the surface of asphalt, sealing and binding aggregates tightly together.
• Halts surface oxidation/weathering
• Lasts 2x as long as other products/extends pavement life
• Saves 10x over the Cost of 1 Asphalt Overlay!

The Future Impact:

We need take responsibility NOW-road by road-at the local, county, state, and federal level, and do our part to ensure a sustainable infrastructure for our children.

If all Good Condition roads were maintained and preserved on a regular schedule not only would there be significant cost-savings, but road life would be extended 20-30, even 40+ yrs!

Sound too good to be true? We have pavements that have been in service for 42+ yrs! Let us show you how you can create sustainable roads. Contact us today!

FAA revised "P" Specifications Listing

The recently published Federal Aviation Administration’s revised Advisory Circular contains new and revised “P” Specs.

They are as follows:

P-608
Emulsified Asphalt Seal Coat
Recommended Use:
For ALL airfield pavements – including runways, low speed taxiways, shoulders, overruns, roads, parking areas. For maximum benefit, apply to new asphalt pavement and pavements in fair or better condition.

P-609
Bituminous Surface Treatments
Recommended Use:
For airports serving small airplanes 12,500lbs (5670 kg) or less.
Not recommended for routine turbo-prop and jet engine aircraft.
Warning: May leave excessive amounts of loose aggregate on pavement surface. Only recommended for pavements other than airfield pavements.
* Use on overruns, roads, and other general applications.

P-626
Emulsified Asphalt Slurry Seal Surface Treatment
Recommended Use:
For airports serving small airplanes 12,500lbs (5670 kg) or less, some 60,000lbs (27216 kg) or less exceptions.

P-629
Thermoplastic Coal Tar Emulsion Surface Treatments
&
P-630
Refined Coal Tar Emulsion w/out Additives, Slurry Seal Surface Treatment
&
P-631
Refined Coal Tar Emulsion With Additives, Slurry Seal Surface Treatment
Recommended Use:
For airports serving small airplanes 12,500lbs (5670 kg) or less, some 60,000lbs (27216 kg) or less exceptions.
Warning: Many states and local authorities prohibit the use of coal tar products with environmental/safety regulations. 

P-632
Bituminous Pavement Rejuvenation (Reclamite)
Recommended Use:
For airports serving small airplanes 12,500lbs (5670 kg) or less.
*Use on pavements other than airfield pavements.
Note: the term “rejuvenation product” carries the same connotation as the term “rejuvenator” or “rejuvenator/sealer.”

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

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.

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!