Asphalt Parking Lots
Asphalt is a pliable material commonly used for paving parking lots. It is generally cheaper than concrete and is also more forgiving in terms of the freeze-thaw cycle which is known to accelerate the deterioration of most pavements and is more prevalent in the colder regions of the United States. Aside from this, the black color of the asphalt also allows it to have greater heat absorption thereby melting ice and snow more quickly than on a concrete surface. For these reasons, you might notice that asphalt is more frequently used in the northern parts of the U.S. where the climate is much colder. For installations, you can ask a paving company in Richmond for a free quote.
In essence, parking lots are supposed to offer convenience and safety to your customers visiting your business or establishment. A well-maintained parking lot will add curb appeal to the overall appearance and presentation of a commercial property, increase safety and create happier and more satisfied customers.
Why is Parking Lot Maintenance Important?
When running a commercial property, business owners get caught up in managing their finances, innovating their products or services, and planning their marketing strategies but what they tend to forget is that their facilities also have a significant impact on how customers, partners, and valued clients will perceive their business.
For example, parking lot maintenance is almost always overlooked by management. A lot of commercial establishments have parking lots that have fallen into disrepair because they don’t think that these things matter to a customer but they’re wrong. Parking lots are most especially important for commercial property as your parking lot will be the first thing that your visitors and potential customers will see. The look of your parking facility sets their expectations and their impression of your business, especially for new customers. Hence, a parking lot that shows visible signs of neglect and disrepair is a major turn off.
Moreover, a neglected parking lot riddled with alligator cracks and potholes could even pose safety hazards to your customers’ vehicles and pedestrians crossing by. Potholes can damage tires whereas cracks can cause people to trip and possibly injure themselves. For these reasons, your parking lot’s proper upkeep should also be set as a priority.
4 Best Practices to Maintain Your Asphalt Parking Lot in Great Condition
1. Keep your parking facility clean.
If you can’t regularly clean your parking lot, then hire someone to do it for you. Sometimes people think of all the complex preventive maintenance care that they should do, but what they don’t know is that just by consistently keeping your pavement clean and free from dirt and debris can really make wonders and help you extend its lifespan.
2. Repair fractures and potholes right away before they get worse.
Expect that your parking lot will be constantly bombarded with UV rays, water and sometimes even oil leaks. Over time, these external factors can weaken and dry out the asphalt making it brittle and could eventually lead to cracks or holes in the surface. This is very common to happen, but the damaging effects could be minimized by immediately repairing any fractures or potholes in your parking space before they even get worse. Parking lot repairs Richmond VA offers durable and resilient paving solutions for your parking lot needs.
3. Protect your asphalt with seal coating.
Never underestimate the power of the seal coating. A fresh layer of sealant will protect your asphalt from the damaging effects of UV rays, water, and oil leaks. Don’t skip seal coating because your parking lot is constantly exposed to heavy traffic and without proper protection, it could lead to early deterioration.
4. Schedule annual inspections.
We advise scheduling monthly inspections so that no minor issue goes unchecked, but annual inspections would be efficient too in making sure that your parking lot is still in top shape. Treat annual inspections like a general house cleaning. This way, you can get a better picture of the current state of your parking space.
If you want to seek professional help, just reach out to commercial paving contractor Richmond VA and they’ll be happy to assist you with any issue that you may have with your parking lot. Similarly, they can also help with driveway repairs Richmond VA.
As for paving contractors, grow your paving business now and book a call with a paving marketing consultant to help you double your sales.
