In modern America, asphalt paving is being used for everything from tennis courts to heavily trafficked highways. Asphalt is also a leading paving choice for parking lots. Asphalt pavements are fast and economical to install and maintain, have a great deal of aesthetic appeal, and can often provide decades of service. However, unless you give your asphalt parking lot the care it needs, its appearance and longevity can be severely impacted. Reconstructing your asphalt parking lot can seriously disrupt your business operations and cost you money that you would likely prefer to use for other purposes. Professional maintenance is the key to getting the most from your asphalt paving investment.
What Asphalt Maintenance Procedures Do Parking Lot Paving Contractors Prioritize?
There are two asphalt maintenance procedures that should be considered your highest priorities. The first is parking lot repair to mend any breaks that could potentially allow water to reach and erode the foundation that supports the weight of your pavement and its traffic. Potholes, alligatored asphalt, and significant cracks should be repaired as soon as possible. If you can, you should ask your contractor to inspect your pavement and make any repairs needed every six months, but you should not let the damage go unrepaired for more than 10 or 12 months. The second procedure is asphalt sealcoating. When maintained throughout a pavement’s life, sealcoating can often double an asphalt parking lot’s useful life. Parking lot paving contractors typically recommend an initial application of sealcoating no more than a year after the pavement’s construction, and most parking lots will need fresh sealcoating about every two years.
What Procedures Can I or My Staff Perform to Extend the Life of My Asphalt Parking Lot?
If you keep your asphalt pavement clean, you will likely need fewer repairs. Keep sand, trash, gravel, grass clippings, and dead leaves off your pavement. Accumulations of debris keep moisture trapped next to your pavement, increasing the chances that water can penetrate beneath the surface or that the debris will permanently stain your pavement. However, one of the greatest threats to your asphalt pavement comes from a source that you cannot control. The vehicles that park on your property can leak oil and other fluids that can turn your pavement soft and crumbly. Tires that pass over these soft spots can pluck out enough material to allow potholes to develop within a relatively short time. Significant deposits of petrochemicals should be treated by applying an absorbent material to soak up as much of the fluid as possible. Leave the material in place overnight. Sweep up the material and scrub the stain carefully. Some contractors offer parking lot cleaning among their asphalt paving services if you or your employees lack the time or energy to handle the tasks.
If My Parking Lot Is Undamaged, Are There Asphalt Maintenance Services That Can Enhance Its Appearance?
Sealcoating can be an excellent way to improve the appearance of your parking lot. In addition to protecting your pavement, sealcoating rejuvenates its color. Fresh parking lot striping can also enhance the aesthetic appeal of your lot. Typically, you should have your striping and markings repainted if they have lost visibility or suffered damage. You should also plan on having fresh markings applied after sealcoating; sealcoating will obscure your existing markings.
What Asphalt Paving Services Does MH Greeson Offer?
MH Greeson offers an extensive range of parking lot repair services, including crack repair, sealcoating, and pothole repair. We also resurface tennis courts, install car stops and traffic signs, offer parking lot striping, and install parking lot bollards. We are a highly experienced company with an unblemished reputation for integrity, craftsmanship, dependability, and customer service, but our rates are extremely competitive. We serve most locations in North Georgia, so fill out our online form or call our Marietta office at 770-335-2983 to request a free job quote.
