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The Importance of Parking Lot Safety Devices

Proper Lighting Can Greatly Increase The Safety of A Parking Lot

There are many features that you can include to improve parking lot safety. One of these features is proper lighting. Proper lighting makes a parking lot safer for both pedestrians and drivers. With proper lighting, pedestrians can navigate the parking lot much more safely and ensure that they make it back to their car without any problems. Proper lighting also makes pedestrians more visible so that cars can more easily avoid them.

As stated previously, lights make pedestrians more visible and this makes it easier for drivers to drive safely. However, drivers can also avoid getting into accidents with each other if the parking lot includes proper lighting. This is an essential part of any safe parking lot.

Crosswalks Make Parking Lots Safer

Crosswalks are another crucial safety feature that all parking lots should include, as well. Crosswalks make it very clear where pedestrians are supposed to walk, meaning that it is much easier for them to walk through the parking lot safely. Drivers are also safer due to crosswalks, as well.

If you see a crosswalk, you know that people are going to walk through it and you can drive more slowly to accommodate the pedestrians. Additionally, crosswalks make it easier for drivers to notice people crossing the street and, therefore, improve both driver and pedestrian safety. Whoever is building the parking lot will talk to their concrete contractors to see what the legal requirements for crosswalks in a parking lot are in that area.

Bollards Improve The Safety of Parking Lots

Bollards are another feature that makes parking lots safer. To start off, a bollard is a post that is vertical and short and it is made to control the flow of road traffic. Bollards are created to be able to withstand a significant impact from a vehicle and another use of a bollard is as a visual barrier. You will often see bollards in front of the entrance to a building.

This makes sure that a car cannot ram into the building and cause damage. It also ensures that people can access the building by preventing such damage to the entrance. Bollards definitely make parking lots safer.

Speed Humps and Bumps Add to the Safety of Parking Lots

It is also important to ensure that drivers are not going too fast in parking lots. This is because excessive speed in parking lots can prove dangerous both to other drivers and to pedestrians, as well. Speed humps and bumps help regulate the speeds of automobiles driving through the parking lot. You can find speed humps and bumps in a number of different materials. Yellow bumps in the road are one type of speed bump that you will often see in many parking lots.

Parking Curbs and Parking Stops Increase Your Safety in A Parking Lot

A parking stop is a common feature of parking lots. It helps ensure that a driver does not pull in too far into a parking spot. You will see these at the top of parking spots in a parking lot. Parking stops or parking curbs also make sure that you don’t run off the pavement into some kind of road hazard. Parking stops are often painted yellow or white so that they are extremely visible for added safety.

Pavement Markings Are Another Critical Safety Device in a Parking Lot

Parking lots have many different types of pavement markings. You may not even notice some of them because they are so common. Turn arrows, one-way designations, stop lines, and crosswalks are all types of pavement markings. Another common type of pavement marking is a handicapped space designator. The company creating the parking lot will consult with their concrete contractors to see which type of pavement markings they are legally required to have. In any case, pavement markings make parking lots safer for both drivers and pedestrians alike.

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KEEP YOUR PROPERTY’S CONCRETE ADA COMPLIANT WITH THESE 5 TIPS

When you maintain ADA compliance, you signal to customers that you are committed to their care and comfort. Not complying with ADA regulations has serious consequences including loss of reputation, upset customers, and potential lawsuits.

Therefore, every business owner should understand ADA rules and regulations, including the rules for ADA compliant asphalt on your business property. Keep your property updated by following these 5 tips.

1. Make Sure Your Sidewalk Includes a Curb Ramp

Curbs pose a challenge for some people with disabilities. However, curb ramps make it easier for those using wheelchairs, canes or walkers to safely negotiate elevation changes. According to ADA regulations, you need a curb ramp installation to make it easier for those with disabilities to get around.

If you have a sidewalk with crosswalks, you need a curb ramp that follows ADA guidelines. Think of a sidewalk at an intersection where curb ramps are built-in. Curb ramps make it easy for customers with mobility issues to get around inside and outside your business.

2. Use Concrete for Access Ramps

Concrete ramps provide a durable, nearly maintenance-free material for access ramps. Concrete has high tensile strength and can handle heavy foot traffic without becoming pitted and damaged easily.

The ADA does not legislate what you need to use for your access ramps. However, the surface should deter moisture and contain enough texture to help prevent slips and falls. Concrete checks off all of these boxes and has qualities that less permanent materials, such as wood, lack. The longevity, appearance, and flexibility of concrete access ramps make concrete a natural choice.

Partner with a reputable local contractor for affordable business asphalt options.

3. Work With a Reputable Contractor

It’s important to research contractors through a number of options. First, search for a business profile at BBB.org. This will give you a list of any complaints made against the contractor and a brief summary of the company’s history. When reviewing complaints, it’s important to evaluate how the company handled unhappy customers. Every company will naturally have a few complaints, so knowing how they make it right for the customer can help you predict how responsive they are.

The company should also have references for previous jobs involving ADA compliant asphalt. Ensure that the company understands ADA regulations and ask them how they could help your business reach or retain ADA compliance. If your ramps, handrails and other ADA features are not installed correctly, you could face fines and lawsuits.

4. Meet All Requirements for Landings

You also need landings to prevent levels greater than the ADA threshold. Basically, the law prohibits level changes that surpass 1:48 at landings. For access ramps, that means installing flat landings at the top and bottom.

Here are a few guidelines to help you meet ADA rules:

  • Ensure all landings are level
  • Make landings as wide as the ramp
  • Create landings at least 60 inches long

5. Know When You Need Handrails

Handrails are valuable tools for those with mobility issues. They provide balance and can prevent falls. If your ramp has a rise of 6 inches or more or is at least 72 inches long, you’ll need to install ADA compliant handrails.

Follow these tips for business asphalt that can help you avoid fines and make your business more inviting to those with certain disabilities.

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WHY REPAIRING YOUR ASPHALT IN A TIMELY MANNER MATTERS

Many businesses do not include asphalt repair in their maintenance budgets, but they should. It’s incredibly important to fix asphalt potholes and cracks as quickly as possible to prevent further damage. Improved curb appeal, increased safety and longer-lasting concrete result from giving your asphalt the attention it deserves.

CURB APPEAL

What impression does your business asphalt give? Do customers have to navigate several potholes to reach your front door? Potholes are unsightly and inconvenient and make your property look rundown, even if it’s otherwise well maintained.

Often, your client sees the parking lot long before they get inside to form an impression of your products or services. In order to keep clients, tenants and customers content, it’s important to perform asphalt repair as quickly as possible. It will improve the look and feel of your entire property.

Asphalt repair services include the following:

  • Seal-coating
  • Crack filling
  • Pothole repairs

It’s important to work with a reputable business to ensure that the repairs last as long as possible. Additionally, there are things that you can do to keep your asphalt in great shape throughout the year.

Asphalt maintenance tips for owners:

  • Sweep your asphalt pavement several times a year. This prevents gravel from enlarging cracks and holes. It’s also important to perform a self-inspection to determine the severity of defects.
  • Call a local company that specializes in asphalt repairs to seal your asphalt every three years. Sealcoat protects the asphalt from moisture and oxidation. Think of it as sunscreen, which protects your skin from damage, for your business asphalt.
  • Fill in cracks as quickly as possible with the help of a trusted contractor. Repairing and sealing cracks can help prevent them from widening further,

SAFETY

There are also many safety concerns when it comes to cracks and potholes in your parking lot or sidewalks. Customers with mobility issues can quickly trip and fall on large potholes. To keep your clients safe and increase the useful life of your concrete, make repairs quickly.

Unfortunately, many people continue looking through their mobile devices when crossing the parking lot. This can cause them to trip in potholes or cracks and become injured. Large potholes can also damage cars, trucks and other vehicles. Potholes form because there’s a problem with the base of your concrete. To avoid problems with appearance and safety, it’s important to have potholes fixed as quickly as possible.

DIY patch kits can temporarily prevent water penetration and further damage to the asphalt pothole. However, a professional contractor with experience in asphalt repairs can cut out the damaged asphalt and pour in new concrete, fixing potholes from the inside out.

FINANCIAL SAVINGS

Taking care of asphalt repair early can save you money down the road. Potholes allow moisture to sink into the surface of your asphalt, causing further deterioration. On the other hand, fast asphalt repairs can immediately improve the look and safety of your business.

The longer you can keep your current asphalt looking and performing well, the more savings you’ll realize. So, contact a proven contractor to provide an honest evaluation of your next best steps,

Asphalt potholes are a sign that your aging concrete may need replacement in the near future. So, it’s important to pay attention. Therefore, it’s important to get the best asphalt repair along with a professional inspection of your business asphalt.

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Mitigating Heat on the Asphalt: The Role of Tree Planting

There are lots of people who are looking for ways to mitigate the impacts of solar heat on the pavement. Black asphalt absorbs sunlight. That is why it is significantly hotter than other surfaces that are nearby. Particularly during the summer months, it is important to find ways to mitigate the impacts of the heat on asphalt. Excess heat on asphalt can damage shoes, harm pets, and even have an impact on vehicles. One potential solution could be to plant more trees. What could be the impact of trees on commercial asphalt?

Many Cities Are Built To Retain Heat

One reason why many people are concerned about the impact of commercial asphalt and heat retention is that many other structures in urban areas have been designed to retain heat. For example, a lot of cities that have tall skyscrapers are built using a variety of other materials that absorb light. In addition to asphalt, many other structures are built with concrete, steel, and iron. These are all materials that capture and retain heat for a significant amount of time, even after the sun goes down in the evenings. In the past, there might have been vegetation in the area that could mitigate some of the impacts of solar heat. Now, these structures have been replaced by tall buildings and parking lots.

The Urban Landscape Will Only Continue to Spread

As more people continue to move to urban areas and the suburbs, the urban footprint is likely to expand. This means that many commercial landscaping and commercial construction companies are probably going to continue to build more streets, sidewalks, and parking lots. These hardscape structures are only going to increase the impacts of asphalt and solar heat issues. What can be done to address the heating issues?

Bringing Back Nature to Urban Areas

One solution could be to bring back nature. Because vegetation did a great job of mitigating the impacts of asphalt in the past, many people believed that planting trees could be a way to address this concern. For example, a lot of cities have already started to plant more trees in urban areas. Some locations have even put tax policies in place that reward commercial companies for installing gardens and trees. The entire purpose of planting more trees is to increase the amount of shade in asphalt areas.

At the same time, it is important to think carefully about where these trees are planted. Trees have to be placed in an area that is healthy for root growth. In contrast, companies in cities that are planting trees also need to make sure the root system does not damage roads and sidewalks. Trees also need to be able to survive a wide range of temperatures. Some cities that heat up during the summer can cool off significantly during the winter. That is why it is important to work with a commercial company that has experienced planting trees around asphalt locations.

Partner With a Commercial Asphalt Company

If you would like to mitigate the effects of commercial asphalt, then you should work with a company that has experience in this area. Commercial contractors spend a lot of time figuring out how to lay out roads and sidewalks. Then, they can also work with individuals and businesses to install vegetation, making the landscape look beautiful. Reach out to a commercial landscape company today to learn more about how trees might be able to keep your asphalt cool.

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The Impact of Wildfires on Asphalt Pavement Roads

Unfortunately, it seems like wildfires have become more common during the past few years. Even though wildfires have traditionally been an issue on the west coast, wildfires in Colorado have also become a major concern. Wildfires can burn vegetation, burned down neighborhoods, and release dangerous chemicals into the air. Even though asphalt does not typically burn during a wildfire, there are other significant issues that could rise to the surface. What is the impact of wildfires on asphalt surfaces? Take a look at a few important points below, and make sure you rely on a commercial asphalt company that can help you manage this issue.

Why Doesn’t Asphalt Burn During a Wildfire?

Anyone who has touched an asphalt surface in the middle of the summer understands that asphalt can heat up very quickly. Because of its dark color, it absorbs a significant amount of light. At the same time, asphalt usually does not catch fire during a wildfire. Many of the ingredients used to make up asphalt are not combustible. The vast majority of asphalt is made up of sand and small stones. These are not items that catch fire very easily. Furthermore, asphalt burns at a temperature that is lower than its ignition temperature. This means that asphalt is far more likely to melt and evaporate before it catches fire.

Items On Top of the Asphalt Might Catch Fire

Even though asphalt itself is unlikely to catch fire, substances on top of the surface might catch fire instead. If you see an asphalt surface on fire, this could be due to oils that are on top of the road. For example, cars that drive down the road may leak motor oil. Oil can catch fire, and it is not unusual to see it while burning on top of an asphalt pavement. Furthermore, vehicles can catch fire on top of the road. The fuel inside of cars and trucks is combustible, causing them to catch fire on the surface.

There Are Other Impacts from Wildfires on Asphalt

Even if the asphalt does not catch fire, there are other adverse impacts. For example, firefighting vehicles that travel the roads can cause damage. Particularly in rural areas, many of these roads are not built for heavy traffic. As the pavement heats up, it becomes more pliable. Therefore, it is not strong enough to resist a lot of these stresses. In some cases, the pavement can melt or crack, leading to significant problems. When the asphalt begins to crack, water can infiltrate underneath the road, leading to potholes. Finally, there are also a lot of risks related to chemicals being released into the air as the asphalt degrades. This can lead to serious health problems down the road. For all of these reasons, it is important to work with a company that has experience dealing with commercial asphalt.

Work with a Commercial Asphalt Company

Asphalt pavement is not impervious to damage during a wildfire. That is why it is important to work with concrete contractors who have experience in this area. You need to make sure that your asphalt surfaces are able to withstand the impact of a wildfire. If you partner with a professional who has experience in this area, you can ensure the integrity of your asphalt pavement for years to come. Even if there is a wildfire, your asphalt pavement may be able to stand up to the stress.