When properly maintained, an asphalt pavement can be safe, aesthetically pleasing, and long-lasting. When asphalt maintenance is ignored, however, the pavement can be potentially dangerous, unsightly, and short-lived. Fortunately, preventive maintenance for your asphalt pavement does not have to be expensive or time-consuming if you know what you should and should not do.
What Are Some Asphalt Maintenance Don’ts?
1. Don’t postpone repairs. Any break in your asphalt is potentially placing your entire pavement in jeopardy. Water can penetrate deep into the structure, destabilizing and weakening the foundation. Without the proper support, your pavement will not be able to withstand the weight of traffic.
2. Don’t neglect your asphalt sealcoating. Sealcoating is your pavement’s first line of defense against the sun, automotive fluids, water infiltration, and corrosive chemicals. Plan to reapply your parking lot sealcoat about every two years unless your paving maintenance contractor advises otherwise.
3. Don’t forget about your parking lot striping. Professional pavement markings can make your property more attractive and safer. Furthermore, hiring a qualified parking lot maintenance company is the best way to ensure that your lot is in complete compliance with all local codes and federal laws.
4. Don’t ignore complaints about your parking lot. If your customers, employees, or tenants tell you about a pothole, misaligned car stops, or badly deteriorated area, either verify the information yourself or call your contractor to check it out.
5. Don’t be penny wise and dollar foolish. If you want a functional pavement, you will need to pay for its upkeep. Routine paving maintenance and minor repairs are much more economical than paying for major repairs, replacing the entire pavement, or paying for a foundation reconstruction.
What Are Some Pavement Maintenance Do’s?
1. Do make sure that you select a reputable, experienced, and honest parking lot maintenance company. Verify their references, obtain proof that they are properly insured, and try to drive by jobs that they have completed.
2. Do get everything in writing. Ideally, every contractor you ask for a quote should give you an itemized list of the quantities and types of materials, the exact work that they will perform, and a tentative schedule for starting and completing the work. This allows you to compare apples with apples to help you determine which contractor to choose.
3. Do schedule regular inspections of your pavement. At least once every two or three months, you or your contractor should conduct a thorough inspection to identify potential problems before they escalate.
4. Do clean your pavement regularly. Arrange for a sweeping service to remove dead leaves, trash, dirt, and other debris. Clean up puddles of automotive fluids that have been leaked onto your pavement.
5. Do choose a temporary repair if a permanent repair cannot be performed at the moment. The weather can sometimes make it impossible for your contractor to use a long-lasting repair product. For example, it may be too cold or too wet to use certain products. Rather than allowing a crack or pothole to remain open over the winter, it is far better to have your contractor make a temporary repair to prevent additional water penetration.
At Greeson Sealcoating, we realize that there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all paving maintenance program, so we would be happy to assess your pavement to design a plan specifically for you. We are a well-respected, experienced asphalt company with an impeccable reputation for integrity, craftsmanship, dependability, and customer service. Whether you need asphalt crack repairs, sealcoating, parking lot striping, asphalt repairs, ADA compliance assistance, traffic signs, car stops, or bollards, we can help. To request a free quote, call 770-335-2983, or complete our online form.
