What HOAs Need to Know About Asphalt Paving in South Florida

As a board member of a homeowner association (HOA) in Southern Florida, you are responsible for making decisions regarding the properties, public spaces, and members of your community. An effective HOA board member understands everything from how to run a successful community to how to create spaces that are safe and enjoyable for your residents. A good working knowledge of building practices, including asphalt paving in Southern Florida, can greatly contribute to your HOA. Here are the essentials you need to know about asphalt paving in Southern Florida:

You Shouldn’t Skip Sealcoating

Sealcoating is an essential step in maintaining the quality of your asphalt surfaces, so make sure you don’t skip it. Sealcoating creates a protective barrier between your asphalt and the elements. This barrier keeps out potentially destructive forces, such as water, oil, and gasoline. It also minimizes damage from ultraviolet (UV) rays, which are much stronger in Southern Florida than in other parts of the country due to its proximity to the equator. Sealcoating also slows down normal wear and tear from traffic and oxidation and boosts the asphalt’s flexibility, reducing the risk of cracks.

You can hire a contractor to apply sealant as soon as your new asphalt cures. The curing process usually takes six to 12 months. Sealant wears away over time, so it’s important to schedule follow-up sealcoating every three to four years, depending on how much traffic the asphalt receives. Following a sealcoating schedule is a smart long-term strategy that saves your HOA money in the long run.

Pavement Striping Is Important

Pavement striping can make asphalt paving projects more functional. Pavement striping is the painting of stripes and other elements onto the asphalt. For example, after a parking lot is paved in asphalt, you might use pavement striping to create clear parking spots and direct traffic flow through the lot. Adding these elements can help people navigate the parking lot and reduce the risk of accidents.

Many quality paving companies offer pavement striping services. Experienced contractors perform this work to exacting standards, making your space more practical and aesthetically pleasing. If you’re happy with their work, you can contact them periodically for restriping when the original job fades or needs repairing after lot work. Maintaining pavement striping is especially important in Southern Florida, where harsh UV rays fade surfaces at a fast rate.

Asphalt Is Tough, but It Doesn’t Last Forever

While sealcoating can increase the longevity of your asphalt project, it’s not going to last forever. This is especially true in Southern Florida, where strong UV rays and tropical storms make asphalt more prone to damage. Cracks and potholes can detract from your asphalt surfaces and make them unsafe. Addressing these issues early on can prevent them from becoming larger and more expensive to repair. Speak to your trusted paving professionals when these issues arise to develop a repair plan.

Asphalt repairs will impact your community, so make sure you’re transparent about your plans. Alerting your community to the need for repairs can help prepare for noise, disruptions to traffic flow, and any change in parking arrangements.

Good Habits Can Extend the Life of Your Asphalt

Keeping your asphalt clean can help it last longer. Sand and gravel can reduce the life of asphalt and sealcoating, so make sure to regularly sweep your surfaces. Vegetation and trash can also stain asphalt as it breaks down, so cleaning these items up quickly is another important maintenance strategy. You may wish to empty trash cans more regularly or add more cans if residents regularly litter.

It’s also important to use asphalt surfaces for their intended purpose. For example, walking paths can support the weight of pedestrians but not golf carts. Your parking lot may be able to handle standard passenger vehicles but not an 18-wheeler. Signage that explains proper usage can ensure your residents and their guests don’t put the asphalt under excess pressure that can shorten its lifespan.

You May Need to Comply With the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)

If your community hosts public events, has facilities the general public can access, has 15 or more employees, or is a mixed-use community, then you need to comply with the ADA . You must consider these rules when developing and maintaining common-use areas, including areas featuring asphalt. They determine how high your curbs can be, the specifications of your parking lot, how you design your sidewalk, and much more. Under the ADA, you’re also required to repair large holes and make asphalt surfaces even for the safety of people using walkers and wheelchairs.

Ignorance of the rules is no excuse for noncompliance, so make sure these rules are always at the top of your mind if they apply to your community. Make sure any paving contractor you use understands the applicable ADA guidelines. Otherwise, your HOA may face large fines that can impact your community budget.

Paving Companies Aren’t Created Equally

Finding the right paving company to complete your work takes some research. Careful consideration can help you secure the services of experienced contractors who care about producing quality work and giving their customers a fair deal.

Look for examples of the company’s work and testimonials from past customers on their websites and social media pages. We also recommend interviewing the paver in person or over the phone and asking questions about their experience with similar projects. Your conversation can help you assess their expertise, knowledge, and professionalism. Be sure to ask the contractor when they could start and finish your project to see whether their availability suits your needs.

U.S. Pave is a family-owned and operated paving business with offices in Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Tampa, Florida. We proudly offer a full range of professional paving services to residential and commercial customers, including HOAs, across Southern Florida. We can take away the guesswork and help you feel confident that you’re making the right choices for your asphalt paving projects. Call us at 888-681-9355 or complete our online contact form to discover how we can best serve you.

NAVFAC Hawaii Personnel Train with New Pavement Sealing Machine by NAVFAC is licensed with CC BY 2.0