Asphalt parking lots can be valuable assets for businesses of all types and sizes. Compared to concrete, asphalt is more economical, and the pavement can be placed in use in less time. If given adequate care, asphalt parking lots can have surprisingly long, attractive lives. The key is proactive asphalt maintenance, and three critical maintenance procedures involve asphalt seal coating, crackfilling, and pavement markings and stripes.
What Are the Benefits of Including Parking Lot Sealcoating in My Asphalt Maintenance Plan?
Sealcoating is an economically priced procedure that offers both cosmetic and protective benefits.
1. As a cosmetic treatment, sealcoats restore faded asphalt pavements to their original color. They also hide hairline cracks and other minor imperfections to make the surface of the pavement appear smoother.
2. As a protective treatment, sealcoats prevent asphalt pavements from being dried out by the sun, which results in a brittle pavement that is more likely to develop cracks. Sealcoats also shield asphalt pavements from vehicle fluids that will interact with and destroy the asphalt binder, leaving behind soft spots that are filled with easily displaced crumbs of pavement.
The asphalt paving company that installed your new overlay or pavement should have told you how long to wait before applying parking lot sealcoating. The delay is to give the asphalt sufficient time to exhaust its excess oil through curing, and the curing time can vary. However, you should not leave your pavement unsealed for more than 12 months after its installation, and you can likely have it sealcoated in less than half that time. After the initial sealcoating, most parking lots need fresh applications about every two years.
Why Is Crackfilling an Important Asphalt Maintenance Procedure?
Any honest asphalt paving company will tell you that your pavement will develop cracks at some point during its life. It may take years before the first crack appears, but, once it does, you need to have it repaired quickly. Cracks are passageways through which water can enter, drip down through all levels of the structure, and then erode the pavement’s supporting foundation. Eroded, weakened foundations can be expensive to repair, but you will be faced with frequent and costly pavement repairs until foundation repairs are made. It is also quite possible that it can become more cost-effective to tear out and rebuild the pavement than to pay for extensive repairs. Asphalt crackfilling is an economical way to help prevent costly damage to the pavement and its foundation. It is best to have cracks repaired immediately, but, if you cannot, at least have them repaired every spring and every fall. You may also want to remember that, when asphalt sealcoating Atlanta parking lots, most contractors insist on repairing cracks first. Sealcoats are not intended to be used for repairs; since sealcoats are applied as liquids, they will simply drip into the open cracks and be lost.
Why Is Parking Lot Striping Considered a Maintenance Procedure?
Most line striping and pavement marking paints will last roughly two years before they become too faded or damaged to fulfill their function. The lines and markings in your parking lot serve a variety of purposes, and all of them are important.
1. They enhance the curb appeal of your property.
2. They make your parking lot more convenient and less confusing for visitors, thereby enhancing safety.
3. They help you maintain an orderly flow of traffic throughout your parking lot, reducing congested areas that can anger or frustrate customers.
4. They are essential for complying with local codes and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
5. They help you maximize the number of parking spaces that you can provide.
6. They provide valuable information to drivers that can help prevent door dents and other types of vehicle damage.
7. They let drivers know where they should not park.
At MH Greeson, we offer all of the above paving services as well as traffic signs, ADA compliance, bollards, asphalt paving, and car stops. We have an immaculate reputation for craftsmanship and reliability, impeccable references, and the capability to successfully complete jobs of all sizes. We serve clients in Atlanta, Marietta, Alpharetta, Kennesaw, Smyrna, and many other towns in Metro Atlanta. For a free quote, fill out our online form, email Tripp@MHGreesonPaving.com, or call 770-335-2983.
