As a business owner, your storefront property is understandably your pride and joy. In order to make an excellent first impression on your customers and keep them coming back for more, it’s not enough to simply offer them great customer service. You also need to prove to them that you care about your business by projecting a professional image. One way to do this is by keeping the exterior of your property clean and well maintained. A parking lot that’s riddled with cracks, potholes, and large depressions is off-putting and potentially dangerous. Constantly having to repair your parking lot can also get expensive, especially if you own a small business. That’s why a lot of small business owners in Toronto and the GTA turn to commercial asphalt paving.
What Is Commercial Asphalt Paving?
Commercial asphalt paving consists of three major foundational components: preparing the subgrade, the thickness of the asphalt pavement, and proper drainage. Asphalt goes through a rigorous preparation process to ensure its long-term durability and sustainability. The minimum requirements for compound asphalt aggregates and their viscosity depends largely on the type of asphalt paving project. Commercial parking lots obviously require a much stronger aggregate than residential asphalt driveways because they’re exposed to greater usage by load bearing vehicles, foot traffic, shopping carts, and other elements.
For optimal results, it’s important to hire professional asphalt pavement contractors to install, repair, replace, and maintain your asphalt parking lot.
What Are the Benefits of Using Asphalt for Commercial Paving Projects?
Asphalt mixing has certainly come a long way since it was first introduced as the primary paving material of choice in Babylon in 625 B.C. From there, the popularity of this uniquely multifaceted and inexpensive material expanded throughout Europe and even made its way overseas to North America. Nowadays, it’s one of the most widely used and recycled paving materials in the world—and for good reason. The benefits of using asphalt are endless, but here we’ve listed just a few of the most noteworthy ones.
Asphalt Allows for Quick, Easy, and Convenient Installation
Repaving or repairing your parking lot means you might have to shut down your business for a period of time. Luckily, asphalt pavement is incredibly easy to work with and it dries quickly. If applied during slow business hours or overnight, asphalt installation and repairs won’t impede your business. Weather permitting, the asphalt will most likely be fully dried, cured, and fully operational by the time you’re ready to open up shop the next day. That means minimal revenue losses for your business and you won’t have to inconvenience customers by staying closed or telling them they have to find alternate parking.
Asphalt Is the Most Environmentally Conscious Paving Option
If you’re looking to decrease or better manage your carbon footprint, asphalt is one of the most environmentally friendly and sustainable paving materials. Asphalt production uses approximately 20% less energy than other paving materials such as concrete and gravel. And it also promotes less energy consumption from motor vehicles by reducing traffic congestion thanks to its easy installation process which leads to fewer road closures.
On top of that millions of tons of asphalt are recycled, reused, and repurposed every single year. As a result, asphalt producers have been recognized as the top recyclers in all of North America.
Unbeatable Durability
Asphalt production is extremely precise and the installation of it is even more so. From the intricate mixing process to laying it down layer by layer, asphalt installation is almost like an art form. Professional contractors take their time to guarantee that every last detail is just right and every last step is expertly executed. Porous asphalt is one of the most durable and long-lasting paving materials in the industry because it contains miniscule pockets throughout that allow water to penetrate the surface without damaging the substrate.
With proper maintenance, your asphalt parking lot can last you anywhere from 20 to 30 years or longer without having to be replaced.
Weather Resistant
Aside from bad drivers and heavy traffic, inclement weather conditions are some of the worst offenders when it comes to causing severe blacktop damage and erosion. Consistent exposure to heavy rains, snowfalls, extreme temperatures, and even strong winds can certainly do a number on your parking lot, causing it to expand and contract during freeze-thaw cycles. All of these elements can place a tremendous amount of stress on your asphalt, which can make it literally crack under the pressure.
That’s why many modern asphalt aggregates are made of weather resistant materials like crushed stone, gravel, and sand. These materials are capable of withstanding many of the detrimental elements thrown at them because they’re natural materials derived from the earth. Bitumen is the dark sticky material that holds all of these components together and gives the pavement its black colour (hence, the name blacktop).
Easy Maintenance and Repairs
Asphalt paving is as easy to maintain and repair as it is to install. The best way to take care of your asphalt pavement and ensure its longevity is to apply a layer of sealcoat on it once every two to three years. Before doing so, you should survey your property carefully and look for any minor cracks, large cracks, potholes, puddles, and other signs of damages that need your attention. While these aren’t urgent problems, they need to be repaired as soon as possible to prevent them from getting worse. More often than not, all that’s required is a quick patch job or cleaning.
Professional Commercial Asphalt Paving Services in Toronto and the GTA
Sure-Seal Pavement Maintenance Inc. has been the go-to commercial asphalt paving company for numerous Toronto and GTA businesses for over 20 years now and we’re not showing any signs of slowing down. With a seven-year limited warranty on all of our products and services, you can’t go wrong. Contact us today to book your complimentary consultation!