Today, many driveways and parking lots are made of asphalt since property owners appreciate the benefits it offers. If your business has an asphalt parking lot, you need to protect the lot from water damage. Water damage can decrease the strength of asphalt, and in turn, affect the quality and durability of your parking lot.
Here are tips to help you prevent water damage on your asphalt parking lot.
Install Reliable Drainage Systems
One of the primary reasons your parking lot may have water puddles during the rainy season is poor drainage, and improper drainage could cause structural damage and accidents. Therefore, you should hire a paving contractor to modify your parking lot and ensure it has the right grade and slope. The contractor will also install a drainage system to drain water, preventing it from collecting on the surface.
Moreover, they will employ mechanisms to redirect water to the right channels. For instance, they can install curb gutters to collect water from your parking lot or adjacent pavements and direct it to the drains.
Sealcoat It
Sealcoating your asphalt protects it from cracks that may allow water penetration. You should sealcoat an asphalt parking lot every couple of years. But you may need to hire a professional to inspect your parking lot to determine the right time to sealcoat it.
Fill the Cracks
If your parking lot has cracks already, sealcoating won’t fix the problem. And, unfortunately, cracks can allow water to seep into the sub-layers of the asphalt material. Water accumulation under your parking lot weakens its subbase, which means that it won’t be able to withstand heavy traffic. As a result, your parking lot will have more cracks.
If your parking lot has cracks, call a professional to repair and fix the structural damages.
Repair the Potholes
Potholes are bigger than cracks, and they can ruin your entire parking lot faster than you think. If your asphalt’s sealcoat wears off, and you don’t reapply it fast enough, oxidation could occur. Oxidation causes asphalt’s aggregates to loosen and disentangle.
When vehicles pass above such a surface, the aggregates can move, creating potholes. Therefore, you should inspect your parking lot regularly to spot signs of potholes early and repair them before they let water into the subbase.
Additionally, avoid off-the-shelf pothole repair products since most of them don’t offer lasting solutions. They may waste your money and time. Instead, call a professional to repair the holes using the right equipment, materials, and procedures.
Restrict Heavy Equipment or Cars
Sealcoating your asphalt protects it from cracks that may allow water penetration. You should sealcoat an asphalt parking lot every couple of years. But you may need to hire a professional to inspect your parking lot to determine the right time to sealcoat it.
Asphalt parking lots are typically created with a weight limit in mind. If your parking lot was constructed for small cars, you should restrict heavy trucks or cars.
When you have a delivery or a renovation project, trucks and heavy equipment should be in your parking lot for a short time. If they are parked for an extended period, their weight can cause the area they occupy to sink. This will result in depressions, which will eventually cause cracks or potholes.
Additionally, water puddles can accumulate in the depressions when it rains, which may lead to water penetrating your parking lot.
Keep It Clean
Cleaning your parking lot can also prevent water damage; when dirt and debris accumulate on your parking lot, they can block the drains, causing water to stand and cause damage.
Water damage on asphalt should no longer be a challenge to you. Use the tips on this guide to protect your parking lot. Arrow Black Top & Masonry, Inc., offers a wide array of paving services to commercial and residential clients. Contact us now for more information.
