How To Maintain an Asphalt Pavement Parking Lot

It may not seem like it, but your asphalt parking lot can actually say a lot about your business. This is the first thing people will see when arriving at your location. If it’s in poor condition, with large puddles and potholes all over, it creates the impression of a business that doesn’t value upkeep. This is just one reason why it’s important to maintain your asphalt pavement parking lot and to keep it in great condition for as long as you can.

Here are some tips you can use to best maintain your parking lot and help it look great for customers and employees alike.

Wait To Use It

If you have a new asphalt surface, one important thing to do is to wait to use it. You’ll want to wait at least 24 hours after the completion of the parking lot before you allow vehicles on it — longer if the temperature is high. Waiting at least 24 hours allows the materials to be properly set, ensuring that the surface is hard enough to withstand the weight of the vehicles.

Add a Sealant

Another thing you can do to maintain your asphalt pavement parking area is to add a sealant to the surface. A sealant is a layer that you add to the top of your asphalt that makes it more resistant to weather’s effects. It can help prevent water from penetrating underneath the surface of the asphalt, which in turn can help prevent the formation of potholes. It’s recommended that you add a sealant every two to three years for the best protection. Doing so can help your asphalt pavement stay in great shape for a longer time.

Address Issues Quickly

No matter how well you take care of your asphalt parking lot, you may experience some issues along the way. Due to weather and the ground shifting underneath, you may start to notice potholes or cracks in the pavement. When you do, it’s important that you address the issues as quickly as you can. As is often the case, small problems become larger ones if you leave them unattended. Once you notice a pothole forming in your parking lot, hire a paving contractor to fill it in before it spreads and becomes a bigger issue.

Keep It Clean

Keeping your asphalt parking lot clean can help it stay in great condition. Cleaning your parking lot helps to remove harmful materials or fluids that can damage asphalt if left alone for too long. For example, some vehicles can leak fluids like gasoline or engine oil. These fluids can corrode asphalt and leave scars on the surface. If you want your asphalt parking lot to last a long time and continue to look great, you should make it a regular habit to wash off the surface and give it a good sweep from time to time.

Monitor Vehicle Weight

Most asphalt parking lots can easily handle the average vehicle’s weight on a daily basis. However, if you have heavier vehicles stored on an asphalt surface, it’s a good idea to monitor their weights. For instance, campers, trucks, or boats are typically heavier than cars. If they’re left in the same spot for too long, they may start to leave some indentations in the surface. To solve this, you can either restrict which vehicles can park on your asphalt or set up a system to rotate these vehicles around to redistribute their weight.

Rotate Parking Spots

Along similar lines, if you have a parking lot where people tend to park in the same spots every day, you may want to set up a system to rotate these parking spaces. For example, you might have your asphalt parking lot outside your business, where you have reserved spots for each employee. All vehicles weigh different amounts and some employees may drive heavier vehicles than others. While not absolutely necessary, it’s not a bad idea to occasionally rotate these spots around so that the same spots don’t continue to receive the heaviest weights.

Remove Standing Water

After it rains, it’s common for puddles to form on asphalt surfaces, especially if you have a sealant. In many situations, this water will quickly evaporate or drain away off the surface of the asphalt. However, if you start to notice puddles hanging around for an extended period of time, you should work to remove them as soon as you can.

Addressing this problem may involve getting a broom to brush away the standing water or installing a new drainage system. Water pools can extend the size of potholes and damage the structure underneath your parking lot, so you’ll want to remove these pools to protect your asphalt.

Use Rock Salt in the Winter

Finally, when snow and ice arrive on your asphalt parking lot, you’ll want to safely remove it. Just like water, ice and snow can ruin a parking lot if you leave it there for too long.

Adding rock salt to the surface of your asphalt lowers the melting point of the ice and snow, which helps it turn into water faster. Once you get the amount of snow and ice down to a more manageable amount, you can then use a shovel to help remove the bulk of it from your parking lot. This will help to protect your parking lot as well as the vehicles and people who use it.

Call for Asphalt Maintenance and Repair Service

If you need help taking care of your asphalt pavement parking lot, U.S Pave is here to help. We can repair any issues you’re having with your parking lot and recommend the best strategies for taking care of it going forward. With our help, your asphalt will continue to look great for a long time to come. To get started, you can contact us at any time and set up a free consultation at your location. We know how important the appearance and integrity of your asphalt parking lot are, and we’ll do whatever we can to assist you.

Image by Claudio Schwarz is licensed with Unsplash License