Keeping your pavement strong throughout the year is essential for your bottom line. Especially as a property manager for a commercial asphalt parking lot, you have a responsibility to keep your lot safe and functional. Unfortunately, the summer heat can be a factor in how well your asphalt paving does through the rest of the year. Here is a list of the things you can do in the summertime to keep your commercial lot safe and your liability low.
How to Maintain a Parking Lot in Summer
Keep It Clean
One of the best things you can do for your asphalt paving is to keep it clean throughout the summer. If you have the right equipment for the size of your commercial lot, you can do regular cleaning on your own. However, you can get commercial paving help with routine cleaning such as sweeping, debris removal, and pressure washing. Commercial lots see a lot more oil, gas, and chemical spills than other lots. These substances can rapidly break down your pavement, dissolving the sealcoat and working the way to the subbase. Cleaning your lot every month is the best way to stay on top of these issues.
Fill and Seal Cracks
As the temperatures climb in New England, you could start to see an increase in cracks. This is because your asphalt goes through intense temperature fluctuations from winter to summer. We have freezing winters and harsh summers that cause asphalt pavement to expand and contract. This movement can cause cracks, but they aren’t typically difficult to repair. The best practice for cracks in your asphalt is to fill them as soon as possible. Asphalt paving contractors can do these repairs quickly and with a hot mix asphalt that provides increased durability.
Watch Out for Pooling Water
Your asphalt pavement should never hold water. One of the biggest threats to the viability of your commercial lot is excess water. Asphalt parking lots should have a drainage system that encourages water to run off and never pool on the surface. The heavier rain and humidity in the summer can exacerbate these issues. Therefore, you will need to take note of even the most minor occurrences of standing water. Sometimes the fix can be as small as a curbing repair. But if ignored, you could find yourself in need of a complete asphalt replacement. Whenever you encounter asphalt drainage issues, the sooner you address them, the better.
Call in the Professionals
One of the best steps you can take to maintain asphalt pavement is understanding when to call in a professional. Some things that you might consider minor could be a sign of a much bigger issue.
Summer is the ideal time for Cassidy Paving to perform asphalt services because the warm months are optimal for installations and asphalt paving and maintenance. Often, many minor repairs will cost less than waiting for catastrophic issues to consume your asphalt.
If your commercial lot has a few areas of standing water or crumbling pavement, or even if you think you need a complete overhaul, give Cassidy Paving a call today at 866-978-9788. We offer free estimates to industrial and commercial clients in the Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire areas.