Maintenance Tips That Make Asphalt Parking Lots Last
You don’t want to let your asphalt parking lot get out of hand. A poorly maintained asphalt parking lot will leave a bad impression for your visitors and will cost you more money in the long-run. However, there are actions you can take to reduce the damage your asphalt parking lot suffers so you won't have to repave as often.
Keep Your Parking Lot Clean
Business owners can implement a variety of ways to keep their parking lot clean.
Pick Up Trash
Clean your parking lot regularly. When you clean your asphalt parking lot regularly, it won't stain or become damaged as often. Dirt often builds up on asphalt parking lots and customers will often leave trash behind.
Placing garbage cans around your property can allow customers to throw away their garbage, but you may still find some trash scattered around your parking lot that you must clean up.
One reason why you must clean your asphalt parking lot is because debris will prevent moisture from draining away, which can cause more damage to your parking lot. Not only will pools of water increase the number of potholes and cracks, but a damp, mucky pool of water is not a good look for your parking lot.
Drain Your Parking Lot
Make sure that your parking lot drains properly to avoid pools of water. If you have a drain to remove water from your parking lot, make sure that the drain isn't backed up. Clear your basin. If you are constructing a new parking lot, make sure that it slopes enough to allow the water to drain away easily.
Invest in a Pressure Washer
If you have a very dirty parking lot, one option is to hire a professional pressure washing company that will wash away gum, paint, trash and all sorts of other debris. You could also purchase a pressure washer if you'd like your staff to handle this task instead.
Remove Oil Stains Quickly
Some cars may leave behind fuel or oil stains, so you'll want to clean these types of stains up quickly to avoid damage to your asphalt parking lot. Try using a degreasing cleaning agent meant for asphalt parking lots.
Preform Regular Maintenance Tasks
Business owners can keep their parking lot in good shape by following some basic maintenance tasks.
Remove Emerging Tree Roots and Weeds
If you notice any tree roots sprouting out of your parking lot, deal with them promptly. These look unsightly, can be a tripping hazard, and can interfere with the drainage of your parking lot. Any weeds growing out of cracks will slowly wear down your parking lot and force you to repair it more often.
Have Salt and Sand Available
Keep salt and sand on hand for when it starts snowing. The salt slows down ice formation and makes shoveling snow easier. Your property will be safer for customers to use and you won't have to worry as much about the ice damaging your parking lot.
Sodium chloride is the most commonly used salt for deicing because it is affordable and widely available. However, if you anticipate that temperatures will fall below 15 degrees Fahrenheit, you may need to use another type of salt, such as calcium chloride.
Also, make sure to shovel your parking lot promptly or hire a professional snow plow service.
Ask Employees to Rotate Where They Park
If your parking lot will only be used by employees, encourage them to rotate their parking lot spots. Ask your employees not to make hard turns while their cars are in motion because this will dig into the asphalt and create impressions.
Eventually, you'll need to repair or replace your asphalt parking lot. When the time comes, callSealtech Asphalt. We can repair your parking lot in the Tacoma, Washington, area. We handle asphalt patching, crack-filling, sealcoating, and striping.
