Having Your Parking Lot Paved? Know How To Maintain It

Will you be getting your parking lot paved in the near future and want to do everything you can to make it last as long as possible? Here are some tips for maintaining an asphalt paved parking lot. 

Check The Drainage System

You'll want to make sure that water is not pooling on the asphalt surface. You can do this by checking the drainage system to make sure that it is working. Surfaces should have slopes that lead to these drains in the ground, but they can become clogged over time. Remove debris from the drains to keep the water flowing.

Remove All Debris From The Surface

The best way to keep debris out of your drains is to make sure the debris is not in your parking lot in the first place. This can be done all year round, but it will be more important in the fall and spring. 

Fall weather tends to leave behind a lot of weeds and leaves that can gather on the surface, which make their way towards the drains. Sweep off the asphalt surface regularly so that you are not dealing with an excessive amount of leaves that collect in those low points. During the spring, check for places where ice caused the surface to crack and leave parts of the asphalt loose on the surface. This debris should be removed as well to prevent it from going into the drains. 

Repair Asphalt Cracks ASAP

Asphalt damage spreads with water getting into cracks, freezing, and then causing the crack to get wider. That's why it's so important to repair these cracks as soon as you notice them. Asphalt patches can do a great job at filling in the gaps so that the crack doesn't continue to spread. It not only makes the surface look great, but it also removes a potential hazard for customers. 

Keep The Surface Plowed During The Winter

It is smart to make sure you handle snow on your parking lot during the winter months. It will help to keep the surface plowed soon after it snows so that you do not have to deal with snow compacting on the surface. This makes it easier for salt and other deicers to work so that ice doesn't form on the surface. 

When it comes to using a deicer on the surface of the parking lot, make sure to use equipment that will help spread the deicer evenly. This prevents you from using too much in a single area.

If you have questions about your pavement or would like to get your lot paved, contact a commercial paving company—such as Oregon Paving Company—to learn more.