When your commercial parking lot paving falls apart, the rest of your business will suffer as well. Without a sturdy, safe place to park, customers won’t feel as inclined to pay you a visit, and employees will feel less motivated to come to work. Moreover, a parking lot that’s littered with potholes and uneven surfaces is less safe for all vehicles and pedestrians. These asphalt issues begin with the smallest of cracks. While minor fractures might not do much harm in the short-term, they can grow deeper and fan out if left alone for too long. The sooner you take care of small cracks in your pavement, the less extensive your pavement repair projects will be down the road, and the longer your parking lot will endure.
With all this in mind, here’s how to stay ahead of small cracks in your asphalt.
How to Stay Ahead of Small Cracks in Your Asphalt
Keep an Eye on Your Asphalt
It might seem obvious, but the only way to address small cracks in your parking lot is to see them in the first place. Larger cracks and potholes are nearly impossible to miss – small cracks, however, require a closer look. Therefore, it’s best to stick to an inspection schedule, checking on your asphalt surfaces on a regular basis and making notes of minor cracks. The more vigilant you are, the simpler and fewer your parking lot repair projects will be.
Determine What’s Causing Cracks
Many factors contribute to asphalt crack formation, including sunlight, extreme temperatures, moisture intrusion, ground shifting, vehicle weight and activity, and more. In many instances, an asphalt’s issues won’t be primarily caused by any one issue but rather a combination of factors like the ones described above. However, some factors may play more of a role in damaging your commercial paving than others. If, for instance, your parking lot encounters drainage problems, this might be the main reason it’s deteriorating so quickly. Discovering these potential root causes is key in preventing additional cracks and holes from forming. Hiring professional asphalt contractors to periodically audit your pavement will help you stay on top of these potential issues.
Fill Cracks as Soon as Possible
Cracks in asphalt have a tendency to grow exponentially deeper and wider when left unchecked. This is because moisture and debris have an easier time entering the cracked pavement – this intrusion causes further deterioration which creates new cracks and exacerbates existing ones. In other words, the longer you wait to invest in asphalt crack repair, the more effort is required to fix these problems. Conversely, tackling crack repair at the earliest stages prevents further fracturing for the time being. As an added bonus, filling small cracks requires minimal effort and materials, saving you money.
Sealcoat Your Pavement
One of the best ways to prevent cracks from forming in the first place is by sealcoating your pavement about six months after it’s been laid. This key form of asphalt maintenance provides an additional protective layer to your parking lot, shielding it from harmful UV rays, moisture, chemicals, impact, thermal shock, and more. Applying fresh sealer to your pavement every 3-4 years (after filling any existing cracks or potholes) will extend your asphalt’s lifespan and restore its appearance.
Don’t Let Asphalt Maintenance Fall Through the Cracks
Virtually all of your asphalt’s problems start with a small crack. Don’t let your parking lot’s problems spiral out of control – prevent this minor problem from evolving by regularly inspecting your pavement, finding root causes, filling cracks promptly, and sealcoating your pavement. The New England asphalt experts at Cassidy Paving can assist with all of these efforts and more.
Call us today at 866-978-9788 for a free estimate on your next asphalt project!
