Plain-English pavement reference
Translate the language inside the proposal
115 practical definitions for the asphalt, concrete, drainage, striping, and accessibility terms that appear in bids and site walks.
Cross-references connect technical terms to related services, cost guides, and calculators so you can move from definition to decision.
- Defined terms
- 115
- A-Z sections
- 19
- Writing standard
- Plain English
A
- Access aisle
- The striped, level area beside an accessible parking stall that gives a wheelchair user room to enter and exit a vehicle. It is a required part of an ADA-compliant accessible stall, not an optional add-on, and it must connect to an accessible route.
- Accessible route
- A continuous, unobstructed path a person with a disability can use to travel between parking, entrances, and site features. Slope, width, surface, and changes in level along the route are all governed by accessibility requirements.
- ADA
- The Americans with Disabilities Act, a federal civil-rights law with accessibility requirements that affect parking, routes, ramps, and signage. Specific technical rules also vary by state and local code, so ADA work often involves qualified professionals. Start with the ADA parking requirements guide or browse ADA parking contractors.
- ADA Standards for Accessible Design
- The federal design standards (most recently updated in 2010) that spell out the technical requirements behind the ADA — accessible stall counts, dimensions, slopes, signage, and route rules. Many states and cities layer their own accessibility codes on top, so the controlling requirements vary by location.
- Aggregate
- The crushed stone, gravel, and sand that make up most of asphalt and concrete by volume. Aggregate gradation (the mix of particle sizes) affects strength, durability, and surface texture.
- Air entrainment
- Microscopic air bubbles intentionally mixed into concrete so that water expanding as it freezes has somewhere to go. Air-entrained concrete resists freeze-thaw damage and surface scaling far better, which is why it is standard for exterior flatwork in cold climates.
- Alligator cracking
- Interconnected cracks that resemble alligator skin, caused by fatigue and usually a failing base underneath. It signals structural failure, so it typically needs repair rather than a surface treatment like sealcoating. See what causes alligator cracking.
- Apron
- A reinforced pavement pad at a transition or concentrated-load area — a driveway apron where private pavement meets the street, or a dumpster pad where trucks put heavy loads in one spot. Aprons are often concrete even in asphalt lots because of the point loads they take.
- Asphalt (Hot Mix Asphalt)
- A pavement material made of aggregate bound together with asphalt binder (an oil-based product), usually placed and compacted hot. It is flexible, relatively fast to install, and maintainable with sealcoating and crack sealing. Browse asphalt paving contractors or estimate quantities with the asphalt calculator.
- Asphalt emulsion
- Asphalt binder suspended in water so it can be sprayed or applied without heating; the water evaporates (the emulsion 'breaks') and leaves the asphalt behind. It is the basis of most sealcoat products, tack coats, and fog seals.Sealcoating ContractorsSee also: Sealcoat, Tack coat, Fog seal, Coal-tar sealer
- Asphalt paver
- The tracked or wheeled machine that places asphalt in a uniform layer at a set width and depth, ahead of the rollers that compact it. Machine-laid asphalt is generally smoother and more consistent than hand work, which matters on driveways and lots alike.
- Asphalt rejuvenator
- A treatment sprayed onto aging asphalt to restore some flexibility to the oxidized binder near the surface. It is a niche alternative or complement to sealcoating, used mostly on larger pavements; results depend heavily on the product and the pavement's condition.
B
- Base course
- The compacted layer of aggregate beneath the asphalt or concrete that carries the load and spreads it to the subgrade. A weak or failing base is the most common reason pavement fails early, and paving over a bad base rarely lasts.See also: Subgrade, Aggregate, Alligator cracking, Geotextile fabric
- Binder (asphalt binder)
- The petroleum-based cement that holds asphalt aggregate together. As binder ages and oxidizes, pavement becomes brittle and gray — the point at which sealcoating is meant to help protect the surface.
- Bleeding (flushing)
- A shiny film of excess asphalt binder that rises to the pavement surface, usually in hot weather or in wheel paths. Bled areas can be slick when wet and often point to a mix or application problem worth diagnosing before any surface treatment.
- Block cracking
- Large connected rectangles of cracking across a pavement surface, caused by binder aging and thermal shrinkage rather than traffic loads. Unlike alligator cracking, the base is often still sound, so crack sealing and surface treatments can buy meaningful time.
- Bollard
- A short, sturdy post — usually steel, often concrete-filled — that protects storefronts, utilities, and pedestrians from vehicles. Bollard installation and repainting are common add-on line items in parking lot repair and striping projects.
- Broom finish
- The slightly rough texture dragged into fresh concrete with a broom to add slip resistance. It is the standard finish for exterior flatwork like sidewalks, ramps, and pads.
C
- Catch basin
- A drainage inlet that collects surface water from pavement and directs it into the storm system. Damaged or clogged catch basins cause ponding and accelerate pavement failure around them.
- Certificate of insurance (COI)
- The document a contractor's insurer issues proving active general-liability (and usually workers' compensation) coverage. Requesting a current COI directly from the insurer — not a photocopy from the contractor — is a standard vetting step; the contractor vetting scorecard walks through the rest.See also: Performance bond, Scope of work, Warranty
- Change order
- A written amendment to the contract when scope, quantities, or site conditions change after work begins — most commonly for soft subgrade discovered once old pavement comes off. Good bids define unit prices for likely change orders up front so surprises are priced fairly.See also: Undercut, Unit price, Scope of work
- Chip seal
- A surface treatment that sprays hot asphalt and immediately embeds a layer of stone chips, common on rural roads and long driveways. It is inexpensive per square foot but rougher-looking and noisier than hot-mix asphalt. See the chip seal guide.
- Coal-tar sealer
- A sealcoat made from refined coal tar rather than asphalt emulsion. It resists fuel and oil spills well, but it is restricted or banned in a growing list of states and cities over environmental and health concerns — check what local rules allow before specifying it.
- Cold patch
- Bagged or stockpiled asphalt mix that can be placed without heat, used for temporary pothole repairs — especially in winter when hot mix isn't available. It buys time, but it rarely lasts like hot-mix, full-depth patching. Infrared repair is the other cold-season option, and unlike cold patch it is a repair rather than a stopgap.
- Compaction
- Rolling or tamping asphalt, aggregate, or soil to remove air voids and reach its designed density and strength. Loose asphalt compacts roughly 20–25%, which is why bids should state compacted, not loose, thickness.See also: Lift, Asphalt (Hot Mix Asphalt), Base course, Proof roll, Asphalt paver
- Compressive strength (PSI)
- How much load concrete can carry, measured in pounds per square inch, usually specified at 28 days of curing. Exterior flatwork is commonly specified in the 3,000–4,500 PSI range, but the right number depends on climate, loads, and local practice — bids should state it.
- Concrete (Portland Cement Concrete)
- A rigid pavement material of aggregate bound by portland cement. It costs more than asphalt up front but is durable and long-lasting, and is common for sidewalks, curbs, aprons, and heavy-load areas. See why concrete cracks or browse concrete repair contractors.
- Concrete grinding
- Removing a thin layer of concrete with a grinding or scarifying machine — most often to level a lifted joint and eliminate a trip hazard. It is a fast, low-cost fix where the slabs are otherwise sound.
- Control joint
- A planned groove cut or tooled into concrete so that inevitable shrinkage cracking happens along the joint instead of randomly across the slab. Expansion joints, by contrast, allow slabs to move without pushing against each other.
- Crack filling
- Placing material into a crack to block water, generally for narrower or non-working cracks. It is lower cost and shorter lived than crack sealing — the differences are covered in crack sealing vs crack filling and the crack sealing cost guide.
- Crack sealing
- Applying a flexible, usually hot-applied rubberized sealant into cracks (often after routing) so it bonds to the crack walls and flexes as pavement moves. It is the lowest-cost way to keep water out and defer larger repairs — see when to seal asphalt cracks or browse crack sealing contractors.
- Crosswalk
- A marked pedestrian crossing, painted or thermoplastic, often paired with stop bars and signage. High-visibility ladder-style layouts are increasingly the standard; placement and design are governed by local code.
- Culvert
- A pipe or structure that carries water under a driveway, road, or entrance. A crushed or undersized culvert backs water up under the pavement and is a frequent culprit behind edge failures and washouts.
- Curb and gutter
- The concrete edge and channel that contain a pavement area and direct water toward drainage inlets. Damaged curb and gutter is usually replaced in sections and priced by the linear foot.
- Curb ramp
- The sloped transition from a sidewalk to a street or parking surface on an accessible route, with its own slope, width, and detectable-warning requirements. Curb ramps are among the most common ADA retrofit items on commercial properties.
- Curing
- The controlled retention of moisture and temperature while new concrete gains strength. Concrete reaches most of its design strength over roughly a month, and timelines for sealing, striping, and traffic all follow from it — exact schedules vary by mix and weather.
D
- Delamination
- When a thin surface layer of asphalt or a concrete overlay separates from the layer beneath, usually because of a poor bond — a missing or under-applied tack coat is a classic cause. Delaminated patches flake off in sheets rather than wearing gradually.Asphalt Paving ContractorsSee also: Tack coat, Overlay, Scaling
- Depression
- A localized low spot in pavement that holds water, usually from settlement or poor compaction below. Small depressions can sometimes be leveled with a patch; recurring or growing ones usually mean a base or subgrade problem.
- Dowel bars
- Smooth steel bars placed across concrete joints that transfer wheel loads from one slab to the next while still letting the joint open and close. They are common in heavy-duty pavements and full slab replacements.
E
- Edge cracking
- Cracks along the outer edge of pavement, typically where the edge lacks lateral support or water has softened the shoulder. Lasting repairs often include rebuilding the shoulder or improving drainage, not just sealing the crack.
- Efflorescence
- The white, powdery mineral deposit that migrates to the surface of concrete as water moves through it and evaporates. It is mostly cosmetic, but it signals moisture movement that may be worth understanding.See also: Concrete (Portland Cement Concrete), Scaling
- EV charging stall
- A parking stall dedicated to electric-vehicle charging, marked with symbols and signage and positioned near charging equipment. Layouts increasingly must coordinate EV stalls with accessible-parking requirements; local codes vary and are evolving quickly.
- Expansion joint
- A full-depth joint with compressible material that lets concrete slabs move with temperature swings without pushing against each other or against fixed structures like buildings and light pole bases. Compare control joints, which manage shrinkage cracking instead.
F
- Fire lane
- A marked, no-parking zone that keeps emergency-vehicle access clear, defined by local fire code. Fire-lane striping, curb painting, and signage are common line items in a striping project.
- Fog seal
- A light spray of diluted asphalt emulsion over an existing surface to seal it and restore black color, without any aggregate. It is quick and cheap but shorter-lived than sealcoat or slurry treatments.Sealcoating ContractorsSee also: Asphalt emulsion, Sealcoat, Chip seal
- French drain
- A gravel-filled trench with a perforated pipe that collects and redirects subsurface water. It is the go-to fix when groundwater — not just surface runoff — is undermining pavement. See parking lot drainage solutions.
- Frost heave
- Upward movement of pavement when moisture in the soil below freezes and expands. Repeated freeze-thaw cycling opens cracks and lifts slabs; good drainage and a frost-resistant base are the main defenses.See also: Subgrade, Positive drainage, Working crack
- Full-depth reclamation
- A rehabilitation method that pulverizes the existing asphalt and part of the base, blends it, and re-compacts it as a new base for fresh pavement. It reuses materials in place and is an alternative to full removal and replacement.
G
- Geotextile fabric
- A woven or non-woven fabric placed between the subgrade and the stone base to keep soil from migrating into the stone and to add stability over soft ground. It is cheap insurance on questionable subgrade.See also: Subgrade, Base course, Undercut
- Grading
- Shaping the ground or pavement surface to defined elevations and slopes, primarily so water drains away rather than pooling. Proper grading is fundamental to pavement life — see grading and slope basics or browse drainage and sitework contractors.
I
- Infrared asphalt repair
- A repair method that reheats existing asphalt in place with infrared panels, rakes in fresh mix, and recompacts the blended area — creating a seamless thermal bond with no cold joint. It suits surface defects and utility-patch blending, but it cannot fix base failures — see the infrared asphalt repair guide for where the method fits and where it does not.Asphalt Repair ContractorsSee also: Pothole, Cold patch, Compaction
J
- Joint sealant
- Flexible sealant placed in concrete joints to keep water and incompressible debris out. Failed joint seal lets water get under slabs — one of the leading causes of movement, pumping, and spalling at joints.
L
- Lift
- A single layer of asphalt placed and compacted in one pass. Thicker pavements are built in multiple lifts because each layer can only be compacted properly up to a certain thickness. See the asphalt thickness guide.
- Line removal (blackout)
- Removing or obscuring old pavement markings — by grinding, water blasting, or painting over them ('blackout') — before striping a new layout. Ghost lines from cheap blackouts confuse drivers, so the removal method is worth specifying in the bid.
- Longitudinal cracking
- Cracks running parallel to the direction of travel, often along paving-lane joints or in wheel paths. Joint-related cracks are routine sealing candidates; wheel-path cracks can be an early fatigue warning worth watching.
M
- Micro-surfacing
- A polymer-modified slurry seal that cures quickly and can fill minor ruts, used on streets and large pavement areas. It restores surface texture and seals against water, but like all surface treatments it needs a structurally sound pavement underneath.
- Milling
- Grinding off a controlled depth of existing asphalt with a milling machine, often before an overlay so the new surface ties in at the right elevation. A common pairing is 'mill and overlay,' and whether it is included is usually the largest difference between two resurfacing bids.
- Mobilization
- The cost and effort of getting crews and equipment to a job site and set up. Because it is largely fixed, small jobs carry a higher cost per square foot and often a minimum fee.See also: Unit price, Traffic control
- Mudjacking (slab jacking)
- Lifting a settled but intact concrete slab back to grade by pumping a cement slurry beneath it through drilled holes. It can cost far less than removing and replacing the slab; polyurethane foam lifting (polyjacking) is the lighter, smaller-hole alternative.
O
- Overlay
- Placing a new layer of asphalt over existing pavement. It is cheaper than full replacement but only performs when the existing pavement and base are structurally sound; overlaying failing pavement usually reflects the old cracks through quickly. See paving vs overlay and what an overlay costs.
- Oxidation
- The aging of asphalt as its binder reacts with air and sunlight, turning the surface gray and brittle and making it prone to raveling and cracking. Sealcoating is intended to slow this process on sound pavement.See also: Binder (asphalt binder), Sealcoat, Raveling, Asphalt rejuvenator
P
- Parking stall
- A single marked parking space. Striping is frequently priced per stall, and stall dimensions, layout, and count are affected by local code and ADA requirements.
- Pavement condition index (PCI)
- A 0–100 rating of pavement condition based on a standardized survey of visible distress, used to compare areas and prioritize budgets. Pavement-management programs use PCI (or similar scores) to time maintenance before deterioration — and cost — accelerates.
- Pavement management
- A planned, multi-year approach to inspecting pavement and scheduling maintenance and repairs to lowest lifecycle cost, rather than reacting to failures. On-schedule maintenance defers far costlier resurfacing. See parking lot maintenance cost.
- Pavement markings
- The painted or thermoplastic lines, symbols, and legends on pavement — stalls, arrows, crosswalks, accessible symbols, fire lanes, and stop bars. Markings must meet local code, and accessible-stall markings must meet ADA requirements as well.
- Performance bond
- A surety bond guaranteeing the contractor will complete the work per the contract — if they default, the surety steps in to finish or pay. Bonds are most common on public and large commercial jobs, and bonding capacity is also a rough signal of a contractor's financial stability.
- Permits (paving permits)
- Local approvals required for some pavement work — common triggers include work in the public right-of-way, drainage changes, driveway aprons, and larger commercial projects. Requirements vary widely by city and county, so the contract should say who pulls and pays for permits.See also: Apron, Scope of work, Traffic control
- Polymer-modified (asphalt or sealer)
- Asphalt binder or sealcoat with polymers added for flexibility, adhesion, and longer life. Modified products cost more per gallon or ton but often outlast standard materials, especially in hot or freeze-thaw climates.
- Polyurethane concrete lifting (polyjacking)
- Lifting settled concrete with expanding polyurethane foam injected through small drilled holes. Compared with cement-slurry mudjacking, it uses smaller holes and much lighter material, and it typically prices higher per job.
- Ponding (birdbath)
- Standing water that lingers on pavement after rain because the surface does not drain, often called a birdbath when localized. Ponding accelerates deterioration and can indicate grading or drainage problems — see parking lot drainage problems.
- Positive drainage
- A surface graded so water flows continuously toward inlets or off the pavement without pooling. Achieving positive drainage is one of the most important factors in how long pavement lasts.
- Pothole
- A bowl-shaped hole formed when water and traffic break down weakened pavement, often after alligator cracking. Potholes usually need full-depth patching rather than a surface fix — the asphalt patching guide covers the repair options.
- Prevailing wage
- Government-set minimum wage rates for workers on public projects — federally under the Davis-Bacon Act, with many states running their own versions. It significantly affects labor pricing on public work, so public-job bids are not comparable to private-job pricing.See also: Performance bond, Unit price
- Preventive maintenance
- Low-cost treatments — crack sealing, sealcoating, small repairs — applied on a schedule while pavement is still in good shape. Timely maintenance defers much costlier resurfacing, which is the core argument of pavement management. See how to create a maintenance plan.
- Prime coat
- A sprayed asphalt application that penetrates, seals, and binds a new aggregate base before the first asphalt lift goes down. It is more common in road work than in small commercial jobs, where it is sometimes confused with tack coat.See also: Tack coat, Base course, Lift
- Proof roll
- Driving a loaded truck or heavy roller slowly across the prepared subgrade or base while watching for rutting or pumping — a simple field test that finds soft spots before paving locks them in. Failed areas are undercut and rebuilt.See also: Subgrade, Undercut, Compaction
- Punch list
- The closing checklist of small items to finish or fix before final payment — missed striping, cleanup, a low spot to correct. Walking the job with the contractor and agreeing on the punch list is standard practice on commercial work.See also: Scope of work, Warranty, Change order
R
- Raveling
- The progressive loss of aggregate from an asphalt surface, leaving it rough and loose. It is a sign of an aging, oxidized, or poorly compacted surface. See the asphalt raveling guide for causes, severity, and repair options.See also: Oxidation, Sealcoat, Compaction, Stripping (moisture damage)
- Rebar
- Steel reinforcing bar cast into concrete to carry the tension loads concrete itself cannot. Whether flatwork gets rebar, wire mesh, fiber reinforcement, or nothing depends on loads and local practice — a good bid says which.
- Recycled asphalt pavement (RAP)
- Milled or crushed old asphalt reused in new hot mix or laid and compacted on its own as 'millings.' Most hot mix contains some RAP; millings are also a budget surfacing for drives and lots, performing somewhere between gravel and pavement.
- Reflective cracking
- Cracks that telegraph up through a new overlay from joints and cracks in the old pavement beneath. It is the main risk of overlaying cracked pavement; milling, pre-overlay repairs, and fabric interlayers slow it but rarely stop it.Asphalt Paving ContractorsSee also: Overlay, Milling, Crack sealing
- Remaining service life
- An estimate of how many years a pavement has left before it needs major rehabilitation, given its condition and traffic. Paired with a condition score, it drives the repair-or-replace decision — the repair vs replace calculator walks through the same logic.
- Restriping
- Repainting an existing parking lot layout, typically every one to three years depending on traffic, climate, and paint type. It is one of the cheapest ways to refresh a property's appearance — see when to restripe a parking lot.
- Routing
- Cutting a crack into a clean, uniform channel before sealing so the sealant bonds well and lasts longer. Routing adds labor and cost but improves crack-sealing performance on wider or working cracks.
- Running slope and cross slope
- Running slope is the grade along the direction of travel; cross slope is the grade across it. Both are limited on accessible routes and parking, where too much slope can create a compliance problem.
- Rutting
- Channels worn or pressed into wheel paths, caused by mix problems, heavy loads, or weakness deeper in the structure. Shallow rutting can be milled or leveled; deep rutting usually signals a structural fix. See the asphalt rutting guide for how to tell which layer is moving.
S
- Scaling
- Flaking of a thin concrete surface layer, commonly from freeze-thaw cycles, de-icing salts, or finishing problems. It is spalling's shallower cousin — cosmetic at first, but it exposes the interior to faster wear.
- Scope of work
- The section of a bid that defines exactly what will be done — areas, thicknesses, materials, prep steps, and exclusions. Most bid disputes trace back to scope differences, which is why comparing scope beats comparing price.See also: Unit price, Change order, Punch list
- Sealcoat
- A thin protective coating applied over sound asphalt to slow oxidation, resist fuel and water, and refresh appearance. It is maintenance, not repair — it will not fix structural damage or bridge working cracks. See when sealcoating is worth it or browse sealcoating contractors.
- Shoving
- Washboard-like ripples where asphalt has pushed and bunched under braking or turning traffic — common at drive-thru approaches, stop bars, and dumpster routes. It is usually a mix or bonding problem that needs patching, not a surface treatment.Asphalt Paving ContractorsSee also: Rutting, Tack coat, Delamination
- Slab replacement
- Removing a broken concrete panel full-depth and re-pouring it, rather than surface-repairing or lifting it. Badly cracked, settled, or heaved slabs are candidates when grinding or lifting won't hold — see concrete repair vs replacement.
- Slurry seal
- A mixture of asphalt emulsion, fine aggregate, and additives spread as a thick surface film — more substantial than sealcoat, less than an overlay. It is common on streets and large pavement areas where extra surface build is wanted. See the slurry seal guide, or compare it with sealcoating.
- Spalling
- Flaking, chipping, or surface breakdown of concrete, often from freeze-thaw cycles, de-icing salts, or poor finishing. Depending on depth, it may be resurfaced or require slab replacement.
- Striping layout
- The plan for how stalls, drive aisles, accessible spaces, and fire lanes fit within a lot. A good layout balances stall count against code compliance and traffic flow — a re-layout is the time to fix chronic problems. See the striping layout guide.
- Stripping (moisture damage)
- Loss of the bond between asphalt binder and aggregate caused by moisture, weakening the mix from within. It shows up as raveling and premature cracking, and poor drainage makes it worse.See also: Raveling, Binder (asphalt binder), Positive drainage
- Subgrade
- The native soil beneath the base layer that ultimately supports the pavement. Soft or unstable subgrade can cause failures no amount of surface work will fix.See also: Base course, Compaction, Undercut, Proof roll
- Surface course (wearing course)
- The top asphalt lift, designed for smoothness, density, and weather resistance, using finer aggregate than the layers below. On thicker pavements it is placed over a coarser binder or base course.See also: Lift, Asphalt (Hot Mix Asphalt), Overlay
- Swale
- A shallow, graded channel — grassed or paved — that carries surface water along or away from pavement. It is often the cheapest way to move water when a piped system isn't warranted.
T
- Tack coat
- A thin sprayed layer of asphalt emulsion that bonds a new asphalt lift to the surface below it. Skipping or under-applying tack coat can cause layers to slip and fail at the interface.See also: Asphalt (Hot Mix Asphalt), Lift, Overlay, Prime coat
- Thermoplastic
- A durable, heat-applied pavement marking material used for high-traffic lines, crosswalks, and symbols. It costs more than paint but lasts longer, which often lowers the cost per year — compare in paint vs thermoplastic striping.
- Tonnage
- Asphalt is bought and billed by the ton, so quantity comes down to area, compacted thickness, and mix density (roughly 145–150 pounds per cubic foot compacted). Estimate quantities for a project with the asphalt calculator.See also: Lift, Compaction, Unit price
- Traffic control
- The cones, barricades, signage, flaggers, and phasing that keep vehicles and pedestrians safe — and businesses open — while work happens. On occupied properties, a good phasing plan is often the difference between a smooth project and chaos.See also: Mobilization, Permits (paving permits), Scope of work
- Traffic paint (waterborne)
- Standard water-based paint for parking lot lines — inexpensive, fast-drying, and the default for most restripes. It wears faster than thermoplastic, which is why high-traffic lots restripe on a recurring cycle. See striping cost.
- Transverse cracking
- Cracks running across the pavement, perpendicular to the direction of travel, usually from thermal movement and age rather than load. They are classic candidates for routing and crack sealing before they widen.
- Trench drain
- A long, narrow grated drain set into pavement to intercept water flowing as a sheet across it — common at garage entries, loading dock approaches, and slope transitions.
- Trip hazard
- A change in surface level — commonly a lifted or settled concrete joint — that can catch a foot or wheel. Small hazards can often be ground down or lifted rather than replaced, though accessible-route hazards can also raise compliance questions. See the concrete trip hazards guide.
- Truncated domes (detectable warnings)
- The raised bumps on curb ramps and transitions that alert people with visual impairments to a hazard such as a street crossing. They are a required detectable-warning element where accessible routes meet vehicle areas.
U
- Undercut
- Excavating soft, unstable material discovered below a pavement area and replacing it with compacted stone. Undercuts are the most common change order in paving because subgrade condition can't be fully known until the old pavement comes off.See also: Subgrade, Proof roll, Change order, Geotextile fabric
- Underdrain
- Perforated pipe placed at the pavement edge or beneath it to lower the water table and drain the base layer. Persistent wet spots or cracks that pump water under traffic often point to the need for one.
- Unit price
- Pricing expressed per unit of work — per square foot, square yard, ton, linear foot, or stall — rather than a single lump sum. Unit prices make bids comparable and keep change orders honest; ask for them on any sizable job. Rough numbers live in the paving budget estimator.See also: Scope of work, Change order, Tonnage, Mobilization
V
- Van-accessible stall
- An accessible parking stall with a wider access aisle (or wider stall) and 'van accessible' signage so a wheelchair van's ramp or lift can deploy. A share of every lot's accessible stalls must be van accessible; counts and dimensions come from the ADA standards and local code.
W
- Warm-mix asphalt
- Asphalt produced and placed at lower temperatures than hot mix, using additives or foaming technology. It extends the paving season and haul distances and cuts emissions, with performance comparable to hot mix when properly designed.
- Warranty
- The contractor's written promise to fix defects for a stated period — commonly about a year on workmanship for paving, with materials and coverage terms varying. Get what is covered, and what voids it, in writing; vague 'lifetime' claims deserve scrutiny.See also: Punch list, Scope of work, Certificate of insurance (COI)
- Wheel stop
- The precast concrete or rubber block at the head of a parking stall that keeps bumpers off walkways and buildings. Wheel stops become trip hazards when placed in pedestrian paths, so some designs use curbs or bollards instead.
- Working crack
- A crack that opens and closes with temperature swings or moves under load. Working cracks need a flexible, typically hot-applied sealant (often with routing) to survive the movement — rigid fillers simply pop out. See hot-pour vs cold-pour crack sealing.
Reference to action
Put the vocabulary to work
Knowing the terms is step one. The next is applying them to your property and your bids. These resources pick up where the definitions leave off.
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