Top Five Reasons To Repair The Potholes In Your Parking Lot

Small business owners have a lot of weight on their shoulders. They always have to watch for the angles to increase revenue. They have to manage staff, customers, vendors, and government regulators.

Cutting costs is always on the menu, but only in a way that does not reduce customer satisfaction. On top of all this, they must keep the concrete parking lots and buildings in good condition. As a manager or business owner, you probably understand this balancing act.

Here are five reasons you might want to prioritize repairing the potholes in your parking lot.

Managing The First Impression

For the customers who don’t find you on the internet, the parking lot is part of their first impression. People driving by watch your building and parking lot for signs of prosperity. Potential customers begin judging the experience the moment they drive onto your property.

Maintaining a smooth parking lot is as necessary to customer experience as keeping the floors clean. You wouldn’t let your customers wade through piles of trash, would you?

Disrepair Only Gets Worse

Not spending $50 today can often cost you $100 tomorrow. It can be true in health care and car maintenance, and it is true with parking lots.

If you don’t fix the potholes now, they will only get bigger with time. Eventually, they will get so bad that you will have to replace the entire parking lot. Fixing the damage at your first opportunity will save you money in the long run.

Avoiding Lawsuits for Damage

Most tires can roll over very small potholes without a problem. But consistent car traffic contributes to the severity of the broken concrete. Rain, snow, salt, and extreme heat can also combine to do additional damage. Before long, the dent is large enough for tires to physically fall inside.

That places your business at risk for angry customers with damaged rims and tires. The last thing you need is more expenses.

Avoiding Lawsuits for Injury

It is true that a pothole can often grow for a while before it is large enough to damage a car. But your customers and employees can trip over holes a lot smaller. Every time someone stumbles they risk serious injury.

Your enterprise is required to provide a certain level of safety for visitors. Bodily harm due to uneven, broken pavement can damage your reputation and cost your business money.

The Weather Is Right

Weather extremes can be a big problem for your concrete. The summer heat causes your concrete to expand and buckle. This buckling effect is one cause of initial lot damage. Cracks often form where the concrete is unable to expand further.

Winter’s cold weather can have the opposite impact, although not to the same extent. Winter also adds salt and water erosion, which can make the holes worse.

Autumn is the perfect time to repair damaged concrete. The weather is more moderate, giving the ground time to settle.

It Makes Good Business Sense

Why take the risk of causing injuries or damaging equipment? Why wait until small holes in the pavement become huge eyesores? You owe it to your investment to keep your property in the best condition. Contact a concrete repair specialist today, while the problem is still manageable.

Why Does New Construction Need Asphalt Paving?

First off, what is asphalt? Asphalt is an aggregate of gravel, stone, sand, and other materials bound together by asphalt cement. According to the experts of The National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA), along with many others, there are a number of qualities of asphalt which make seeing your asphalt contractor the best choice for new construction of all types.

Durability

The smoothness of the surface helps give a roadway a longer life span, because it reduces friction from the tires that roll across it. It also makes asphalt a more efficient material to pave with, because it needs replacement less often. If properly maintained, an asphalt surface can last 25 years or longer.

Ease of Repair

While asphalt lasts a very long time, when it does need replacement or repair, that repair is comparatively easy and quick to do. For example, roadways can be paved a lane at a time by the asphalt contractor, reducing inconvenience to drivers and saving money for taxpayers.

Safety

Asphalt produces a smooth, even surface for activities such as driving. This, along with these other factors, make it the surface of first choice for roadways, parking lots, paved paths, driveways, and many other applications. The smooth surface gives better traction and contact for tires of all sorts, making it safer to drive on.

Recyclable

Asphalt is the perfect “green” paving material choice for use by the asphalt contractor. It is 100% recyclable and reusable. NAPA estimates that 100 million tons of asphalt are recycled or reused each year. And since much of asphalt used is reclaimed, that means the cost is less susceptible to market fluctuations.

Environmentally Friendly

The combination of recyclability and permanence as a resource makes asphalt paving one of the most environmentally friendly products there is. Another statistic from the NAPA: The asphalt emissions since 1970 have decreased by 97%, while asphalt production, during the same period, has increased by 250%. The smoothness of the surface reduces automobile emissions as well. Porous asphalt is often used for stormwater management. Asphalt is also utilized to line and cap landfills.

Economical

Almost all of the factors listed above mean that asphalt paving is a more economical substance to pave roadways, driveways, parking lots, or any other area where a smooth surface is desired. Asphalt lasts longer, so is replaced less often. This makes it less expensive. When it is replaced, the fact that much of it is often made from recyclable materials makes it less susceptible to current market conditions.

The Best Surface

To sum it all up, numerous qualities of asphalt paving make it the best surface for roadways, driveways, parking lots, and almost any other paved area. Certainly, the fact that it is economical should interest anybody who is planning any type of paving job. So should its durability, which figures into it being cost efficient as well. Also, there’s the fact that asphalt simply makes a great surface for vehicles to drive on. Its smoothness produces better gas mileage and your tires make better contact, which means it’s safer. And, not only does asphalt need repair less often than other materials, it is easy, inexpensive, and convenient to repair when the need does arise. Asphalt is also usually 100% recyclable. All these advantages mean your asphalt contractor can do the job better than anyone else, usually at lower cost, and it’s beneficial for the planet as well.

How to Maintain Concrete: Everything You Need to Know

For centuries, concrete has been the prime choice building material for all sorts of projects, including sidewalks, parking lots, bridges, and roads, among others. This widely used building material is basically a highly refined mixture of coarse aggregate and meticulously formulated additives that enhance strength and durability. Nevertheless, that doesn’t necessarily mean that concrete is maintenance-free. The following are some helpful tips on how you can achieve concrete minatenance in the sidewalks and parking lot:

1. Clean concrete surfaces annually

The commonest stains that you’ll find on your concrete parking lot are grease, oil, and anti-freeze stains. These stains are usually caused by radiator fluid and oil drizzling from the cars that drive into your facility on a daily basis. Anything from automotive leaks to birds’ droppings and fallen leaves can ruin the aesthetic appeal of your concrete parking lot.

For a business that caters to a discerning clientele, it is imperative that the stains be washed out from time to time. The Florida Concrete & Products Association recommends that stains on concrete surfaces be cleaned off at least once per year. An annual cleaning will not only rejuvenate your facility’s appearance, but it will also extend the life of the top layer.

2. Seal concrete joints annually

Concrete joints, also known as control/contraction/expansion joints, are usually placed in concrete slabs to prevent random cracking when concrete shrinks or expands due to changes in temperature. To ensure that the joints keep your parking lot structurally sound, they have to be sealed.

Most experts recommend that concrete joints be sealed at least once per year. This can help to keep fluids, water and debris from infiltrating and damaging the sub layers of your concrete sidewalks or parking lot. Ensure that the sealer used for joint sealing allows vapor to escape from within the concrete.

3. Repair cracks and potholes Instantly

Even when you keep up with annual cleaning and joint sealing, some cracking is inevitable in due course. Age and regular use will ultimately wear down concrete, letting grime and water inside. The more debris and moisture, the flimsier the concrete sidewalks or parking lot will become, leading to more cracking and deeper potholes.

Besides being aesthetically unappealing, big cracks and potholes can also affect the performance and reduce the lifespan of your concrete. It’s therefore advisable that you have concrete repairs and resurfacing done as soon as you notice signs of wear and tear. You can also have a paving contractor perform structural inspections periodically to determine the condition of the structural elements. Doing so will enable you to know whether your concrete surfaces need repair or repaving.

4. Repaint concrete periodically

After some years, the striping in your parking lot will wear away and make traffic markings and spot divisions hard to see. Repainting the stripping will make the traffic patterns visible for both pedestrian and drivers. This will not only ensure that everyone that visits your property gets to move safely, but it will also give your sidewalks or parking lot a fresh look. In fact, repainting your concrete is the simplest and inexpensive way to add the wow factor to your business premises.

When you are a business owner, your parking is an extension of your business. Therefore, its state will say a lot about your business. Keeping your parking lot and the sidewalks in good shape will not only boost the curb appeal of your facility, but it will also enhance safety for pedestrians and vehicles traveling across it.

Repair Denver’s Harsh Winter Damage with Asphalt Repair

People from Colorado will undoubtedly tell you that while winters in the Rocky Mountains are no-nonsense, winter in Denver gets terrible. Even though the snow is considerable, the comparatively moderate winter is excellent for outdoor activities such as snowshoeing, snowboarding, skiing, and other outdoor recreation. Spring skiing and fuzzy snow aside, winter weather does not have to be much harsh to cause asphalt damage.

Moisture and cold can cause damage to concrete and asphalt structures – if you take long to safeguard your asphalt, it will get harder to repair it. Thankfully, several Colorado asphalt repair professionals can help you in protecting your asphalt from the harsh winter damage.

How Does Extreme Weather Affect Asphalt?

Asphalt is prone to the impacts of water damage resulting from extreme weather conditions, which means tons of snow and freezing temperatures in Denver. Luckily, with preventive measures and routine maintenance from Denver asphalt repair professionals, you can make sure that your asphalt remains strong as the mountain rocks.

Effects of Cold & Moisture on Asphalt

When water from ice and snow filter through the porous surface of your asphalt, it gradually erodes the structural purity of the asphalt. However, the actual damage happens when the outside temperatures go below the freezing point. When water freezes, it expands. The moisture contained in asphalt only requires a single freezing day to crack due to the strain of the expanding ice and water.

Effects of UV Rays on Asphalt

Denver city is one mile high, and that means that asphalt in Denver is nearer to the sun and the destructive effects associated with it. UV rays accelerate the rate of surface degradation, which forms small waves and soft spots across the surface of your asphalt.

Daily use and UV rays make the components that join asphalt together weak, which might lead to the fading of the black color of asphalt into a dull gray. Sealcoating cracks are the best method of protecting your asphalt from UV rays and heat whenever damage occurs and routine preventive maintenance.

How to Prevent and Repair Erosion & Damage

With some advice about paving and preventive maintenance from professionals, you can protect your asphalt from the harsh winter weather damage effects.

Repairing Storm Basins

Storm basins are constructed to hold and restrain water from the surface of your asphalt before accumulating to cause damage. But, it is not unusual for runoff from snow and a torrential downpour to move the storm basin from its designated position.

If you see water accumulating in places, it shouldn’t be or cracks in your storm basin, contact a Denver Asphalt repair professional right away. Remember that an inch of water can cause damage to thousands of dollars.

Sealcoating

It is a method used to protect asphalt from gas and oil spills. Sealcoating also prevents the spread of cracks, thus enhancing the artistic taste of the asphalt surface and increasing the durability of the asphalt construction.

Crack Sealing

Crack sealing your asphalt increases the durability of your structure by preventing debris and water from accumulating in the cracks on the surface of your asphalt.

Protect Your Asphalt from Harsh Winter Damage

Hiring professional paving contractors in Denver is the best way to protect your asphalt from the damaging effects of the harsh winter weather. From big business projects to basic repair and maintenance, they provide the best paving solutions in Denver. So, don’t hesitate to seek assistance from an expert if you notice any asphalt damage to your structure.

What is the Typical Life Cycle of an Asphalt Parking Lot?

No matter how sturdily a structure is laid, it will eventually reach a time when it will require maintenance or replacement. The period it takes before reaching such an instant defines a structure’s lifecycle. Asphalt parking is one such structure, and if you own one, then you need to keep updated on essential aspects that define its lifecycle.

Various factors affect the lifecycle of an Asphalt parking lot. Environmental conditions, design and construction elements, water drainage means, frequency of maintenance, and significant of all, traffic load, are some of the critical aspects to the lifecycle of an Asphalt parking lot.

In this article, we shall focus specifically on the lifecycle of an asphalt parking lot as well as factors signifying a need for maintenance or replacement.

Asphalt Parking Lot’s Life Cycle

In overall, a standard asphalt parking lot can last for up to 25 years. However, this period can reduce or increase depending on asphalt maintenance regularity. But what happens during this lasting period?

Well, let’s have a look.

0 to 5 years: For the first five years since construction, your asphalt parking is still strong and probably shows little or no signs of damage. If anything, the surface might have insignificantly deformed while color discoloration might be visible, especially if it is extensively exposed to sunlight.

5 to 7 years: During this period, your parking lot starts experiencing minor cracks, thereby necessitating for maintenance services. Practices such as crack-sealing and seal-coating are necessary at this stage.

7 to 15 years: With proper maintenance practices during the previous phase, your parking might not undergo significant damages for the next 15 years. However, you should continually check for damages while ensuring necessary maintenance practices for prolonged endurance.

15 to 25 years: After 15 years of use, you should expect your Asphalt parking lot to have started developing visible cracks as well as considerable deformation. If such damages are significant, you might need to resurface your parking lot.

Over 25 years: beyond 25 years signifies the end of the parking’s life cycle. During this stage, it has undergone extensive damages and probably multiple repairs, which means it might no longer withhold the weight of your vehicle. If more repairs seem to be of no help, then you can reconstruct the entire structure.

Maintenance Practices Timing

Maintenance involves various activities including crack-sealing, seal-coating, and resurfacing, all which should be timely carried out. But how do you determine the best time for every maintenance practice?

Crack Sealing

Filling of small cracks in your parking lot should be done using a liquid concrete filler. Cracks to seal should be small, not exceeding half an inch in terms of width. You should schedule a crack sealing exercise every year to extend the lifecycle of your asphalt parking.

Seal coating

As one of the concrete maintenance activities, seal coating is meant to reduce concrete exposure from the effects of sunlight, spillages, water, and air oxidizers. Seal coating should be best carried out immediately after the crack sealing process or any other time beyond six months when damages start revealing.

Resurfacing

Extensive damages might eventually necessitate for resurfacing process. It involves adding a new asphalt layer on top of the existing one, a process also referred to as overlaying. This process should only happen after a decade of parking construction. You should also initiate it during favorable weather conditions, preferably during warm seasons.

Final Thoughts

Since timely maintenance is essential for your asphalt parking lot, you need to be observant on the emergence of an issue. If conditions such as cracks are unattended to, they may continually weaken the surface leading to a reduced timeline. Moreover, you should act on any issue you identify as soon as possible.