Having a great parking lot can lead to a plethora of advantages that you wouldn’t get otherwise. It increases curb appeal and its resale value along with providing smooth and comfortable traction for you to park on. Asphalt is durable and requires minimum maintenance making them a great option if you’re having trouble deciding on what material you want your parking lot to be. Much like everything if you want to keep your asphalt looking good as new then you’re going to have to make repairs as it deteriorates over time. This part of maintaining asphalt parking lots is self-explanatory but did you know that there are other things you can do to both increase its lifespan and help reduce the damage it receives? Here are 5 pro tips that you can use for maintaining asphalt parking lots.
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Surface Preparation
Whether you’re seal coating or crack filling it’s important that you prepare the surface ahead of time. This is more than just a typical sweep to get rid of any stray leaves or twigs that may be on your parking lot. Take a wire brush and clean out the cracks along with taking a gas blower to the lot to get rid of any gravel or dirt that you missed. Cutting corners affects the long-term life of your asphalt lot so avoid doing it.
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Wait for the Right Weather Before Repair
Finding the right time to make repairs to your asphalt parking lot is dependent on the weather. Doing it during a downpour or snowfall is an obvious no, however, you should also avoid doing it depending on the temperature and how long it’s been since the ground was wet. A general rule of thumb is to wait until the temperature is greater than 60 degrees Fahrenheit along with it being a few days without rain.
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Apply Sealcoat
A good way that you can protect your asphalt parking lot from the elements is to apply sealcoat to it. Having this protective layer will help prevent damages from occurring to the surface of the lot meaning you will save money on crack fillings and other repairs.
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Drain Water
Water can be a very destructive force so if you’re trying to keep your parking lot in good shape then you should work to keep it dry. Make sure there are drains nearby and if they’re not doing their job well enough then install no ones. Having pools of water sitting in your lot can create large potholes so avoid it whenever possible.
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Restrict Heavy Vehicles
Asphalt is durable but not invincible. While it can take a lot of weight on it at once if you strain it too much through heavy vehicles then it can start to break down. It’s unrealistic to never have any heavy vehicle park on your property so whenever it happens try to minimize the time as much as possible.
Have More Questions?
You can count on Walt’s Paving to complete your residential or commercial paving project in an efficient and timely manner. We have over 40 years of experience paving asphalt driveways, making asphalt repairs, and seal coating asphalt. We are located in Osceola IN and service homeowners and businesses within 50 miles of Elkhart IN. If you have any further questions regarding our services, do not hesitate to contact us today.
