Maintaining an asphalt parking lot is important to prevent deterioration. One way to maintain a n asphalt parking lot or pavement is to get it sealcoated. Sealcoating will protect asphalt from water damage or damage from other types of fluids. The material used fills up the pores of the asphalt and so prevents any other type of fluid from seeping in and degrading the asphalt. This does not mean there is no need for maintenance. However, there are some pitfalls that you should be aware of when it comes to asphalt maintenance. Three primary pitfalls that can derail your maintenance program are:

Not Having a Maintenance Plan in Place

  • A parking lot, especially one that is well used should have a maintenance plan in place. While the temptation may be there to just use any plan, it is important to develop one for the specific parking lot. In addition, it makes sense to revise the plan periodically, at least every 10 years. This is necessary because the usage pattern may have changed over time. The plan should include information such as:
  • How often to do inspections to check for warping, cracks and other issues. The frequency of inspections will depend on size of the lot and how heavy traffic is that uses the parking lot;
  • Scheduling of repainting of lines and curbs;
  • Scheduling of landscaping work

Waiting to Do Any Repairs

The longer you wait to do any repairs to the asphalt parking lot the more damage there will be. The greater the damage to the asphalt, the higher will be the cost to do the needed repairs. The timeline for completing the repairs may also be longer as well.

Not Using an Experienced Contractor

One big mistake is using a contractor or company that has little or no experience with asphaltic repairs. Someone with experience will be able to properly access the parking lot and determine what type of work is needed and how often. An experienced contractor will be able to help you develop the maintenance plan as well as create a maintenance budget. Going with the less expensive contractor can cause more eventually.

Asphalt Maintenance in Chicago

Simply put, asphalt parking lot maintenance is the key to preservation. Even with a maintenance plan in place, it is still important to make repairs to cracks and potholes before they worsen. Taking due care will goes a long way in keeping asphalt looking good.