Even with the advent of online shopping, Black Friday remains a busy event for brick-and-mortar stores across the country. And as the world gradually returns to normalcy, this year’s holiday shopping season is bound to kick off with a bang. As you prepare your store for an increase in foot traffic, don’t forget about your parking lot — the surge in vehicular activity combined with the chilly conditions of a New England winter can wreak havoc on your asphalt. Even if you do your best to fortify your parking lot prior to Black Friday, there’s a good chance you’ll need to invest in some parking lot repairs once the dust has settled. Here are some repairs to look for on your retail lot following the Black Friday fuss.
How to Repair a Retail Lot After Black Friday
Cracks of Various Sizes and Depths
All parking lots are prone to cracking. Over time, shifts in the ground’s structure, changes in temperatures, and impact from above can cause your asphalt surfaces to break open. Tackling asphalt crack repair at the early stages of fracturing helps prevent these issues from getting worse. If you haven’t repaired these openings before Black Friday, however, the constant pressure and movement from vehicle activity can exacerbate them, resulting in wider, deeper cracks after the fact. If this happens to your lot, don’t wait too long to fill each and every crack — the winter weather is only going to get more extreme, after all.
Parking Lot Potholes
Cracks aren’t the only potential problem your parking lot will face this season. We’ve all encountered potholes on various asphalt surfaces. These craters don’t do your business’ curb appeal any favors, and they can also do damage to tires while threatening the safety of your employees and customers. Once again, the chaos of Black Friday can both create potholes and aggravate existing ones, making your lot resemble the surface of the moon by the time the event comes to an end. You’ll want to hire professionals to seal these holes with a winter-ready asphalt pothole filler so you can prevent them from expanding further.
Berm and Curb Damage
Though often taken for granted, a parking lot’s berms and curbs are highly beneficial. These raised edges help keep drivers on the asphalt, protect your landscape, and aid in water runoff diversion so your lot doesn’t get inundated with moisture. With so many cars coming in and out during Black Friday, however, these berms and curbs can lose their structural integrity. As such, make sure to inspect the edges of your parking lot following Black Friday — leaving these areas in a state of disrepair can accelerate additional parking lot problems during winter and beyond.
Drainage Issues
It’s always a good idea to check on your parking lot’s drainage system before winter kicks into full gear. Though winter doesn’t officially begin until later in December, Black Friday tends to mark our conceptual notion of the winter and holiday season. Plus, in regions like New England, freezing temperatures and snowfall will likely have already begun by the end of November. If your parking lot can’t drain properly, a single snowstorm can do serious damage to your asphalt, since the moisture will simply linger, thaw, and re-freeze on your lot. Doing your best to keep snow off your parking lot is also a crucial step in proper asphalt maintenance.
There’s no telling how busy your business might be this Black Friday, but it’s always better to be prepared. Though asphalt paving contractors put a hold on their hot-mix paving services during the cold season, comprehensive asphalt providers like Cassidy Paving can inspect, maintain, and repair your parking lot year-round. Call us today at 866-978-9788 for a free estimate on your next asphalt project.
