You pavement maintenance checklist for 2020.
90% of all parking lots in the country are made of asphalt. Despite this popularity, asphalt is susceptible to weather changes and deteriorates over time. The damages make your paving visually unappealing and prone to parking lot accidents. You can, however, prolong the lifespan of your asphalt paving by carrying out regular pavement maintenance. As the property owner, consider the following maintenance checklist for 2020.
Sweeping
Sweeping your parking lot regularly as part of regular asphalt maintenance procedure has several benefits to your parking lot including:
- Keeping it free of debris
- Improving its overall appearance
- Enhancing the safety of those using it including pedestrians and vehicles
- Extending its lifespan
Debris accumulation in your parking lot can hasten the damage leading to standing water on the surface of your asphalt paving. Over time, the water causes the surface to break and penetrate the sub-base. When the pavement foundation softens, it creates cracks, which eventually result in potholes.
During the sweeping routines, check out for any possible problems, including cracks and potholes that threaten the lifespan of your asphalt paving. Make sure you clear the weeds growing in the cracks to prevent their roots from damaging the asphalt and consequently causing tripping hazards. Once your pavement is clear of weeds and debris, seal any visible cracks as soon as possible.
Sealcoating
Asphalt Sealcoating is the process of applying a liquid product on your existing asphalt paving to seal any small cracks and voids on the surface. The procedure seals them, hence protecting your pavement from weather elements. Failure to seal the small cracks in time lets air and water pass through them, leading to asphalt oxidation and hardening, eventually causing larger cracks.
Having a professional repair company seal coat your pavement periodically protects the underlying asphalt from harsh weather elements. There are two types of sealcoating materials to choose from:
- Coal tar sealers- this material is affordable but requires more product management during the application
- Asphalt emulsion coatings- this is the best coating to use if you’re concerned about chemical and fuel spills on your pavement. Unlike coal tar sealers, these sealers are easier to apply and release less volatile organic compounds.
Whichever sealcoating material you choose, you get to enjoy the following preventive pavement maintenance benefits:
- Prevents asphalt paving from hardening and crumbling
- Gives your pavement a uniform and attractive look by sealing cracks and holes
- Protects your asphalt pavement from salt, chemicals, and moisture penetration
- A cost-effective way of repairing and prolonging the lifespan of an existing pavement
Crack Filling
Crack inspection and filling as part of pavement maintenance prevents water from penetrating through the cracks and causing severe damages. The type of crack filling you choose depends on the size of the cracks. The small ones can be repaired using seal coating while the large ones require crack filler. Different factors result in various types of pavement cracks among them:
- Cracks due to shrinkage- temperature variations make it hard for the pavement to withstand stress, leading to cracks. These cracks get worse as the pavement gets older.
- Alligator cracks- these cracks resemble the alligator skin or chicken wire, hence the name. They occur due to repeated traffic loadings on the pavement.
- Reflective cracks- these occur if the pavement overlay was done over unprepared conditions. This results in the opening of the joints and, consequently, the tension on the bottom of the asphalt overlay. If left unfilled, these cracks allow water to pass through into the aggregate and cause premature damage to the pavement.
- Edge cracks- these occur due to frost action, poor shoulder support, or inadequate drainage. They start as small hairline cracks, which eventually develop over time.
Pothole Repair
These occur when water permeates through the cracks and into the pavement surface. When the soil underneath combines with air and moisture, it softens and creates a depression. These depressions hold water, which eventually breakdown the asphalt into sub-particles, gravel, sand, and stones. If left unrepaired, potholes are potential parking lot slip and fall hazards.
Work With PLS for Professional Pavement Maintenance and Repairs
Asphalt maintenance requires working with a professional parking lot maintenance company that understands different asphalt paving problems. At Parking Lot Services, we have years of experience and offer asphalt repair and asphalt sealcoating in Tampa. Contact us for annual pavement maintenance services or if you’re looking for parking lot repair services.