Here are 3 important tips for parking lot maintenance.
Your parking lot is often the first thing people see as they approach your business and the state of the lot – be it flat and nicely painted or cracked and full of potholes – contributes greatly to their first impression. It would be nice if parking lots were set-it-and-forget-it, especially since they tend to last between 20 and 30 years on average. That’s just not the case, however, because those decades are not guaranteed, especially if your lot is subject to heavy traffic, extreme temperatures and sun exposure, or chemical contamination. In order to keep your parking lot looking good for as long as possible, you have to make parking lot maintenance a priority. Here are 3 tips to get you started.
Be On The Lookout
Fixing issues early when it comes to parking lots is the key to keeping costs down. This means that you have to be able to notice the issues before they become big problems. If you only ever look at the path you walk from your parking spot to the door, you won’t notice the small crack starting over by the dumpster. Make it a point to look over the whole lot for signs of damage on a regular basis. Walk the lot once per month and also after any extreme weather like snow or ice, intense heat, or hard rains.
Repair And Seal
Once cracks or holes start forming, you should call in a professional right away to assess and repair as needed. The sooner the issue can be addressed, the better the outcome will be. Once the patch is in place, make sure that the lot is still smooth and flat. Another way to prevent a breakdown is with seal coating, and you should talk to your repair professional about it. Seal coat lasts 3-5 years, so if your lot is older than that it is likely time to have it seal coated again.
Clean
Another important part of parking lot maintenance is keeping the lot clean. This should include routine sweeping, since accumulated leaves, sticks, and trash can clog drains and lead to sitting water on your lot. That sitting water will break down the asphalt more quickly and lead to big problems. The other side of cleaning your lot is pressure washing. Pressure washing removes the oils and other chemicals that lead to degradation of the asphalt and it should be done a couple of time a year.
Maintenance You Can Trust from PTG Enterprises
If you want to protect your pavement and ensure it has a long lifespan, choose PTG Enterprises for your community sidewalks, parking lots and pavement maintenance needs. We offer commercial concrete, asphalt, masonry, paving, consultation, and survey report services throughout Baltimore, Harford, Anne Arundel, Howard, and P.G. Counties. If you are interested in hearing how we can help you, contact us online or give us a call at (410) 636-8777. For more tips and tricks, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Flickr.
Tags: asphalt, Maintenance, My Pavement Guy, Parking lot, PTG Enterprises
