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                      The Problem With Asphalt Roads In RV Parks


Asphalt roads look great in RV parks when they are jet black and neatly striped. But for most of their life, asphalt roads look like hell. Why do we use asphalt, and what are the other alternatives?

Quick history of asphalt

Asphalt is derived from the Greek word "asphaltos", which means "secure". It was developed in the 1870s, and became the dominant form of road construction in the U.S. in the 1920s - 1930s. Today, around 96% of the roads and streets in the U.S. are of asphalt construction.

Asphalt was developed due to its ability to hold heavy loads and resist water. It is based on petroleum products.

The benefits of asphalt

Asphalt roads are extremely smooth to drive on, and hold up well if built properly and maintained. They are also extremely attractive when freshly laid and stroped. And it leaves no unattractive residue on car tires that drive on it.

One of the biggest benefits of asphalt is that it is the standard unit of measure by most lenders, and many buyers, when looking at the quality of a RV park. For some reason, it has become accepted as the ultimate in road construction.

The problems with asphalt

Asphalt looks terrific when new, but begins to fade and deteriorate almost overnight. The "new" look is gone in a matter of about 90 days, and the gray, faded effect is not nearly as impressive. Asphalt also is costly to maintain. Sure, you can pour some "cold patch" from Home Depot down your potholes, but it won't last for more than a couple weeks. To professionally repair asphalt is very expensive - to cut out and repair and pothole can easily cost $500 to $1,000 - and there are normally many to repair.

Striping is not cheap, either. Although this is something you could do yourself, most owners hire it done, and it can easily cost $1,000 per year to do.

Alternatives to asphalt

There are alternatives to asphalt in RV park roads.

The first is some form of rock aggregate. This type of road looks the same from the day it is laid to the day it is removed. It will require grading periodically, but at far less cost than standard pothole repair. It also does not require striping and, since the road is "bumpy" when you drive on it, it keeps speeds slower and does not require speed bumps.

Another alternative, although more costly than aggregate, is "chip and seal", also known as "tar and chip". This is a standard road method on many rural highways. It is a mixture of aggregate and tar. Although not as smooth as asphalt, it gets harder the longer it is down, and is more resistant to potholes. It does, however, require striping.

Check out the alternatives before you decide

Most RV park owners just assume that asphalt is the only way to go, and never bother examining the alternatives. Instead, before you work on your roads, look into the alternatives and compare not only pricing, but the price of annual maintenance.

There is life beyond asphalt!


 

Would you like to make an extra $100 per week at your RV park, and make your customers happy at the same time? Now you can, with one of our "$20 Old Tyme Photo" systems. 

You can provide your guests high-quality old tyme photos, in historical outfits tied to your local attractions, using green-screen technology, for the incredibly low price of $20, which is about 66% less than normal old tyme photo studios. So they're happy. And you have margins of about 85%, so you pocket $17 after expenses. Only one per day would give you over $100 per week in additional income. 

The cost for the turn-key system, including all equipment, costumes and three-day training at our facility near St. Louis, Missouri, costs under $10,000. 

If you are interested, call me at (573) 535-0206. 

I look forward to hearing from you. 

Sincerely,

Frank Rolfe

RV Parkstore.com

We currently have over 500 RV Parks for sale and the list is growing daily. 

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RV Park For Sale in Missouri

Hickory Hollow Resort offers 86 Full hookup RV sites, 16 well maintained 1, 2 & 3 BR Cabins and a Lodge.

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On-Ur-Wa RV Park - A Pleasant Stay Along Your Way - (hence the name) is a seasonal (April 1 - October 15) 

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Dave Reynolds
RVParkStore.com
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