A properly installed parking lot can last for many years if it receives adequate maintenance.
If it is neglected, however, its life will be significantly shorter, and it will also be unattractive.
Parking lot maintenance before winter is essential for saving money and extending the lifespan of your asphalt.
Fortunately, it’s not difficult to ensure proper upkeep.
1. It needs to be seal coated
Asphalt sealants enhance the beauty of asphalt, making it appear darker and more even.
However, the primary function of sealcoating is to protect the pavement.
The sun’s rays, automotive fluids and traffic can be detrimental to asphalt pavement, causing it to fail before it should.
Depending on traffic, most parking lots need to have sealcoating applied every two to three years although the frequency can vary.
2. It needs prompt repairs
If you notice small cracks in your pavement, have them repaired before they grow larger.
Water entering through cracks can erode your pavement’s base, resulting in a costlier repair.
3. It needs to be kept clean
Puddles of automotive fluids and piles of dirt or leaves are not attractive, but they can also harm your pavement.
Automotive fluids will eventually penetrate your sealcoating and accelerate the decay of your asphalt.
Debris on top of your paved surface allows water to collect that could penetrate to the base.
4. It needs to have overweight traffic rerouted
Your parking lot was engineered to support a specific volume of traffic at designated weight limits. The structural design of your parking lot, including its
base, sub-base, and surface layers, is tailored to accommodate regular traffic such as passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks. These specifications ensure
durability, longevity, and safe operation under normal conditions.
However, overweight traffic, such as heavily loaded tractor-trailers, exceeds the design capabilities of a parking lot intended for lighter vehicles. Allowing
access to vehicles that surpass these weight limits can result in serious structural damage, including cracking, rutting, and even subsidence of the pavement.
Over time, the repeated strain of overweight vehicles can compromise the integrity of the parking lot, leading to costly repairs or even complete
reconstruction.
To prevent these issues, it is crucial to reroute overweight traffic to designated areas specifically engineered for heavy loads. These areas typically feature
reinforced materials and a more robust design capable of withstanding the stresses associated with heavy vehicles. Clear signage, proper barriers, and strict
enforcement are essential to ensure that overweight vehicles do not inadvertently or intentionally enter your parking lot.
By proactively managing traffic and redirecting overweight vehicles, you protect your investment in your parking lot, maintain a safer environment for
users, and minimize the risk of unexpected expenses. Ensuring that your parking lot is used as intended will preserve its functionality and appearance for
years to come.
5. It needs to have pavement markings reapplied when they are worn
A freshly painted parking lot is more attractive, but it is also safer for your visitors, whether they are driving or walking.
In addition to parking spaces, make sure that traffic arrows, crosswalks, loading zones and other pavement markings are legible.
At B&E Coating Services, we enjoy helping our customers get the most out of their parking lots. We are a full-service asphalt maintenance service covering the entire state of Michigan.
We offer residential sealcoating, asphalt crack repairs, pavement markings, and many more commercial asphalt paving services.
Our crews have the training and experience to give our customers exceptional results at competitive rates. You can use our online form to request your free online quote, or you can call our Reed City sealcoating contractors at 989-352-7305.
