Property managers with an asphalt parking lot have a lot of variables to consider as the weather gets colder and the threat of rain, snow, and freeze-thaw cycles loom. Keeping your asphalt surfaces in good condition can take a backseat to other concerns in and around your facility, but if you fail to address these issues now, you can pay for it dearly later. Knowing how to properly take care of your parking lots can help you prioritize your maintenance tasks and give you a leg up. Here’s our essential commercial winter asphalt maintenance checklist.
Prioritize Filling Cracks
Your concrete surfaces can last for years if it’s maintained properly, but that doesn’t mean that cracks can’t or won’t happen. As cracks begin to form in the concrete, they can quickly worsen into full-blown potholes that can cause significant damage to vehicles if left untreated. However, if you fill these cracks in a timely manner, you can prevent more significant damage from occurring and improve the overall look of your asphalt surfaces.
Fix Any Potholes You See
Property managers and business owners realize that one of the first impressions people have of your business is your parking lot. How smoothly someone can park their car and enter your facility can help set the right tone and put them in a positive frame of mind from the get-go. One of the quickest ways to undercut that first impression is to have multiple potholes ruining that first experience.
Potholes develop from an initial crack and deepen and worsen over time. Instead of believing it’s a natural part of having a concrete driveway, you can address these potholes before they completely ruin your customers’ first impression. Having a commercial paving company in Burlington County, NJ, come out and fill in the potholes can help you make the best impression possible.
Sealcoat Your Lot When Necessary
This step relies on the temperature fluctuations of your area, but if Mother Nature is playing nice, you can schedule a sealcoating appointment for your concrete parking lot in the winter. Sealcoating your asphalt surfaces helps protect from water infiltration and the natural freeze and thaw cycles that happen during the New Jersey winters.
As snow continues to fall, the accumulation will eventually melt away when the sun starts shining again. The melted snow will seep into your concrete, and if the temperatures are low enough it will freeze again between the asphalt’s pores and expand. This expansion causes new cracks to form or existing ones to widen. A fresh sealcoating will help protect your asphalt from the side effects of the freeze-thaw cycle.
Know When Repairs Aren’t Enough
Sometimes when it comes to caring for your asphalt parking lot, repairs aren’t enough to make a difference. Knowing when routine repairs aren’t enough means you can get your parking lot completely repaved by professionals. Stanley Paving has helped countless customers throughout the Greater Burlington area ensure their property’s asphalt parking lots look their best and provide a smooth experience for their visitors. Contact our team to learn more about our commercial and municipal paving services today!