When you think about roofs and roads, they seem like unchanging paradigms. Sure, humanity went from thatch to tin to tile and roads went from dirt to pavement, but is it as simple as that? Here at McNeil Engineering, we offer roofing and paving consultation services. But we also take great pride in following advances in the roofing and paving disciplines. When we offer our services, we do so with these advances in mind.

Because here’s a fact: technological advancements are visible in all aspects of human existence, whether it be in the construction industry or otherwise. And roofing and paving materials have also undergone their fair share of technological advancement. That’s why we wanted to take a moment in our latest blog to discuss those advances and how builders can benefit.

How Roof Technology Has Evolved Over the Years

Gone are the days when the roof was nothing more than something that protects a home or business from the elements. Today, builders are constructing rooftops that play a critical role in efficient energy consumption and cost-effective construction jobs. Engineering and construction firms grow with their local markets and the demand for greater roofing trends and sustainable roofing has never been greater.

Take green roofs as one example. Green roofs absorb heat and light, but they also contribute to less pollution and fresh air. When combined with solar tiles, commercial businesses can do a lot to burnish their sustainable credentials. We went into greater detail discussing rooftop innovation in one of our recent blog posts discussing some of the most common rooftop materials in use today.

We discussed things like:

• Cool roofs
• Roof insulation
• Flat roof membranes
• Fireproof roofing
• Synthetic roofing
• Solar roof panels
• Green roofing

There are specific reasons and implications as to why a company should invest in new roof technologies and materials. Not only are newer materials more durable, but they can save on costs and lost a lot longer. While they may be more expensive at the outset, in the long run they generally prove to pay themselves back. If you’re thinking of a roof retrofit, there are plenty of exciting advances to choose from, and McNeil Engineering would be happy to help you make that choice.

New Demands Create a Need for Paving Innovation

You may look at a road and see just a road. Yet, you would be surprised to learn how new and existing technologies are radically changing the world of asphalt paving. The road of today is not the same road your father or grandfather traveled on. Paving, like many other construction-related activities (like roofing), is undergoing dramatic evolution. And while some are either in development or only exist on paper, the way the world thinks about infrastructure is rapidly shifting.

Engineering firms have also been able to use existing technologies to make paving better, more cost-effective, and more efficient. And with a giant $1 trillion infrastructure bill now making its way through state coffers, the demands for paved roadways have only gone up, and it’s up to engineers and contractors to innovate and meet those demands.

The question is, how has paving technology changed? The innovation is in how you mix it. In years past, asphalt was mined as small rocks out of the ground. These small rocks – called aggregate – make up the majority of the world’s paved surfaces. This aggregate could be a mix of pebbles, rocks and other small particles. A binder — generally a petroleum byproduct — would then glue everything together.

How Paving is Evolving in the Engineering and Construction Sectors

Rather than paving from new materials, which all must be gathered and then glued, firms now use recycled materials. Rather than simply tossing old roads, they can be pulverized where the new road will be laid and the materials can then be recycled. This saves time, money and the environment.

Asphalt mixes used to be very one-note. Asphalt would be laid using a one-size-fits-all solution. Today, asphalt mixes can be specially designed to withstand heavy equipment use and specific environmental changes. One such example is Superpave, which is essentially the short fo for “SUperior PERforming Asphalt PAVEments.” They certainly took liberties with that acronym, but it’s a way to give highway engineers and contractors more control over how pavement will perform under different temperatures and traffic loads.

Our engineers and consultants and McNeil Engineering take all advancements and innovations into account when they begin a roofing or paving job. We take pride in staying on top of the latest developments in paving, roofing, consulting, civil engineering, structural engineering, land surveying and so much more. Don’t leave your next job to a firm that doesn’t keep up with the trends and evolve to meet the needs of changing times. Contact us today for more information on how we can help you with your next big commercial project.