FAQ

In 1989 when Asphalt Busters started, we were the first company to offer comprehensive pulverizing and soil stabilization services to area contractors. We have worked with material suppliers and engineering firms to develop many of the specifications in use today. We set the standard by using computer controlled spreading and mixing equipment. Asphalt Busters has an extensive repair and rebuild shop with an enormous supply of parts. We have several well-stocked service trucks so we can respond to almost any unforeseen mechanical problems in a timely manner. We have the most qualified and experienced employees who take pride in the quality of the service they provide. We offer competitive pricing and provide more services, expertise and equipment than any other company in the state.

The pulverizing machine is specifically designed to process the entire thickness of the asphalt and a few inches of the base to make reusable material of the asphalt and underlying base. We have met specifications for use as ABC on hundreds of jobs. Typically if the asphalt is stable we produce material that is a 1½’’ minus. Milling machines are designed for asphalt removal and in most cases the material cannot meet the gradation specifications without further processing. Milling machines have the ability to remove and load the asphalt only to whatever is the specified depth.

We typically bid up to 10 inch thick asphalt but have pulverized over 14 inch thick asphalt.

Our Bomags have a 6.5’ wide drum and the larger CMI-Terex’s have 8’ wide drums. The width of the machines is about 10 feet.

Production rates vary depending on the following factors:

• Desired gradation or quality of mixing
• Depth of mixing/pulverizing
• Hardness of material
• If we are injecting water or products during the process
• Openness of the project.

In general, the CMI-Terex machines can pulverize/mix thinner asphalt and soils at about 800 to 1000 square yards per hour. The Bomag machines can do about 400 to 600 square yards an hour.

Soil Stabilization is the long-term physical and chemical alteration of soils/bases to enhance their physical and engineering properties. Stabilization of in-place soils by incorporating additives can increase the shear strength of a soil/base and/or control the shrink-swell properties of a soil/base, thus improving the load bearing capacity to support pavements and foundations.

Soil Modification is primarily intended to reduce moisture content, reduce PI’s or build soil strengths to bridge poor soils where there is not a structural design consideration. This tends to be more an acquired art than a science.

We guarantee that we will follow the specifications, apply the specified amount of material, mix to the specified depth and meet the agreed schedule. When you require modification  to “bridge” unstable soils or reduce moister content we have a wealth of knowledge gained in our many years of business and over 5,000 projects successfully completed.

Stabilizing additive in dry or slurry form is distributed using a computer controlled spreader on prepared grade, It is then mixed to the specified depth using a computer controlled CMI-Terex stabilizer until the soil is homogeneous and meets specifications. If specified, we inject water during mixing using computer control system to achieve moisture specifications.

Cement is primarily used to build strength as part of the design process or to improve the engineering properties of soil. The quantity of cement varies depending on the soil/base and desired results. We have spread and mixed as low as 2% to over 15% cement but most projects are done in the 3% to 6% range.

Lime is primarily used to dry soils, reduce plasticity and reduce expansion characteristics. Lime stabilization is the process of spreading and mixing lime into soil/base to improve physical and engineering properties. This process is commonly used for the top 12’’ of building pads. Lime is also a great product for drying out wet subgrade as well. Adding as little as 1% quicklime can greatly reduce the moisture content.

We handle purchasing the lime, coordinating the delivery, slaking (mixing with water) to produce lime slurry when specified, accurate spreading of the lime or lime slurry using a computer controlled spreader truck and mixing to the specified depth using a computer controlled mixer and if specified, injecting water during the mixing process to achieve that required moisture content.

Lime stabilization reduces the soil plasticity, aids compaction and reduces expansion thus increasing soil strength. Moisture in soil is reduced so it can be worked right away.

We base our bids on the specifications provided for the project and if none are provided we default to the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) specification. The MAG specifications and many others can be found on our Resource Page. We recommend involving an engineering firm for design recommendations and quality verification.