Asphalt Parking Lot Planning: How to Design the Right Asphalt Pavement Project for Your Business

One of the first things people notice about your business is the condition of the exterior of your commercial property. If the asphalt pavement looks like it’s in total disrepair, this can lead to potentially serious safety hazards and it can depreciate the value of the property itself.

As a business owner, you should take great pride in the appearance and upkeep of your commercial property, if not to attract more customers, then at least to increase safety standards. Whether you’re making a few minor repairs or installing an entirely new pavement aggregate, there are a few points to keep in mind when planning an asphalt parking lot project.

Examine the State of Your Existing Asphalt Pavement

If you already have an asphalt parking lot, then you should set aside some time every month or every couple of weeks to perform a thorough inspection. The frequency of these inspections will depend on the follow factors:

• The amount of vehicular or foot traffic your parking lot gets
• The weight and types of vehicles that are usually on your parking lot

Parking lots that don’t get a lot of traffic won’t need as much maintenance or repairs as those that are always busy. However, industrial parking lots might still need as much maintenance as, say, a grocery store parking lot that sees a lot of traffic simply because they cater to large and heavy vehicles with a lot of tire traction.

Before you decide whether or not you it’s worth the effort to repair or replace your parking lot entirely, you need to assess the amount of damage (if any) that the pavement has sustained since your last inspection. As long as you take the time to make minor repairs and keep your parking lot clean, then you should be able to significantly extend its lifespan.

Identify Areas That Need Improvement

What exactly is the issue with your parking lot as it currently stands? Are there design inefficiencies? Is it severely damaged? Or does it just need a little tender, love, and care?

Identifying the areas of your parking lot that could be improved or need repairs is half the battle to adequately planning asphalt parking lot projects.

Here are a few common problems that asphalt pavement may exhibit that you should look into.

Cracks

Minor surface cracks on your asphalt pavement are perfectly normal and common. With that said, however, you should patch them up as soon as you notice them because tiny cracks can quickly expand over time and spread to other parts of your parking lot. Furthermore, cracks are a gateway for water and debris to infiltrate your asphalt pavement and cause internal damages below the surface. These are far more complex and expensive to repair. Some internal damages may even require full asphalt replacement.

Potholes

Potholes are like the bigger ugly cousin of cracks. They can start off as minor cracks or subsurface deficiencies caused by poor construction and balloon into full-fledged potholes if ignored. The more people drive over them, the bigger they get, and they pose a greater safety risk to pedestrians and drivers alike.

Faded Line Markings

Line markings are aesthetically pleasing, and they designate specific parking or no parking zones for your customers. They also serve to help improve the flow of traffic and safety standards on your property. Faded line markings make it difficult for people to know where to park and this can lead to chaos and increased poor driving habits on your property.

Damaged or Clogged Catch Basin

Pooling or standing water, also known as puddles, is one of the most common telltale signs that there’s something wrong with your catch basin. Catch basins function to capture and filter out runoff water from your property into the local sewage system. If your catch basin is clogged, that runoff water has nowhere to go and will start to pool on your property, creating dips, depressions, cracks, and more severe damages.

Look for the Right Asphalt Repair Options

Commercial property owners often look to professional asphalt parking lot repair contractors in Toronto and the GTA to provide affordable and feasible solutions. While you can certainly fix minor asphalt issues on your own, there are certain types of repairs that should be left to the pros.

Here are a few common asphalt repairs that you may need to do.

Asphalt Crack Sealing or Patching

Asphalt crack sealing and patching is essentially the same thing. Basically, this process entails filling in a gap or crack in your asphalt with a new and stronger aggregate. You can definitely patch asphalt cracks on your own, but you do need to make sure that the new asphalt mixes in perfectly with the existing asphalt to prevent future damages.

Asphalt Parking Lot Line Marking

Faded parking and directional lines can cause a lot of confusion on your property and slow down the flow of traffic. Restriping your parking lot during the spring and summer months is a good idea because it helps restore safety standards and a sense of organization to your property.

Catch Basin Repair

Every asphalt repair contractor in Toronto that’s worth their salt knows how important it is to repair or replace a broken down or clogged catch basin. A clogged catch basin leads to a backlog of runoff water throughout your property and this can lead to a series of water damages that will increase maintenance costs.

Different Types of Asphalt

• Hot mix asphalt.Perfect for both commercial and residential properties, hot mix asphalt is heated to 300 degrees before it’s poured onto the construction site.
• Warm mix asphalt. Warm mix asphalt is heated to a slightly lower temperature, making it more flexible and cost-efficient.
• Porous asphalt.Arguably the best choice for commercial properties, porous asphalt allows for the most water drainage and prevents pooling or standing water damages.

GTA Asphalt Maintenance and Repair

For over 25 years, Sure-Seal Pavement Maintenance Inc. has been one of the leading asphalt installation, maintenance, and repair companies in Toronto and the GTA. We’re a BBB-accredited business with a strong focus on providing excellent customer service. We also offer an extensive seven-year material and service warranty. Contact us today to learn more.