Rainy days are great for spring flowers, but they can be really damaging for your parking lot.
If you notice standing water on your roadway or parking lot after a rain, that’s a sure sign that the asphalt and the underlying base is weakening, and it can lead to very expensive repairs.
Standing water seeps into the asphalt and into the foundation, causing it to degrade and become unstable. When the foundation is compromised, the pavement loses its structural support, which results in potholes, cracking, and indentations or low spots in your asphalt parking lot or roadway.
The longer the water is allowed to penetrate into the asphalt, and the more traffic you have in your parking lot, the more extensive the damage will become over time, as this chart shows:
Don’t delay asphalt repairs. Most of these issues can be fixed or avoided entirely with a little proactive asphalt maintenance.
Preventing water damage to your asphalt pavement
The most effective defense against premature pavement failure is a quality paving job. The right asphalt contractor will ensure that your parking lot is paved at the correct grade so that any water will flow off the pavement and drain efficiently, minimizing the potential for standing water in your lot.
Your asphalt parking lot or roadway is an investment in your business, so it’s worth taking care of. Our experts can design a custom maintenance program that will keep your pavement in peak condition no matter the season. Keeping up with this maintenance schedule will save you thousands over the life of your asphalt pavement. Here’s what it involves:
- Sealcoating
- Sealcoat provides a protective layer to your asphalt that guards against water, engine oil/fluid, and UV (sun) damage to the asphalt. It also helps your pavement retain its black color rather than fading to grey. We generally recommend applying sealcoat every 3-5 years, but if your pavement gets a lot of heavy traffic and sun exposure, you should plan to sealcoat more often.
- Patching
- For existing damage, particularly if it is caught early on, the area can often be cut out, refilled and patched with hot mix asphalt. This method is ideal for isolated potholes or small areas of eroded pavement.
- Crack Seal
- Cracks appear in asphalt naturally over time, but it’s important to fill and seal them as soon as they appear to minimize the potential for water, oil, or other debris to seep in and weaken the pavement. Our team can help you identify cracking or weak areas in your pavement and seal them up to keep your lot in peak shape.
- Cleaning
- It may seem unnecessary, but simply keeping up with sweeping debris that could clog your storm drains and power washing engine oil and fluids from your asphalt pavement will do a lot to combat corrosion and prolong its life!
We can help
Not sure what your parking lot needs? Give us a call or submit an online form. Our estimators will be happy to provide you with a free estimate and will help design the ideal maintenance program for your business’ needs.
Waco-Belton: 254-939-8106
Greater San Antonio: 210-654-5576