Harsh winter weather and the passing years can sometimes take a heavy toll on your asphalt parking lot and leave you appalled by its condition. However, if asphalt pavement is installed correctly, it should stay attractive and functional for a very long time — provided you give it the timely maintenance that it needs. Often, property owners who report that their parking lots are in deplorable condition have neglected one or more of the following asphalt maintenance and repair procedures.
What You May See at An Asphalt Parking Lot
Crack Filling
Large cracks in asphalt pavement are unsightly, but they also pose a serious risk to your pavement’s health. They allow water to reach the foundation that is supporting your asphalt. If the foundation becomes eroded, the pavement loses its ability to support traffic. Potholes often form as a result, and the pavement may alligator, cracking into an extensive network of interconnected lines. More water gains entry, and before you know it, your pavement is too far gone to save.
Sealcoating
Some people assume that sealcoating only needs to be applied when the pavement is first installed. This is not true; residential and commercial sealcoating is not permanent and must be reapplied from time to time. The interval between applications depends primarily on your traffic, but it can be as little as 12 or 18 months or as long as four or five years. Sealcoating guards against color fading caused by the sun, but as the sun can also remove moisture from the pavement, it helps prolong the pavement’s life.
Removal of Automotive Fluids
You would be hard-pressed to find an asphalt parking lot more than a few weeks old that has not encountered a vehicle that leaks fluids. Petroleum-based automotive fluids can leave ugly stains, but they can also break down the binding agents in asphalt pavement. Automotive fluids need to be thoroughly cleaned when they occur, perhaps through a regularly scheduled program. Although some people assume that sealcoating will stop the fluids from reaching the asphalt, this is not the case; the fluids are corrosive enough to penetrate the sealant.
B&E Coating Services Can Help
B&E Coating Services provides a complete range of asphalt maintenance services to customers throughout Michigan. We work with homeowners, small businesses, schools, and major corporations to help them get the most out of their investments in asphalt pavement. We offer asphalt paving, asphalt crack repairs, and residential sealcoating as well as parking lot markings and sports court installation and resurfacing. We are committed to giving our customers the best results at the best rates. If you would like to request a free quote, you can submit your information on our online form or call our Mt. Pleasant asphalt contractors at 989-352-7305.
