Based on your commercial property’s driveways and parking lots, what kind of first impression do customers get of your business? The hot, sunny weather in the Greater St. Louis area this time of year can seriously damage your paved surfaces, so it’s imperative to execute proper summer asphalt maintenance.
Take the First Step
The first step for anyone looking to maintain their asphalt is to perform a visual inspection with your property or facilities manager. Check carefully for signs of damage, like cracks, breaks in the pavement, bubbles, bumps, or potholes. These seemingly minor issues can become much more costly repairs that take a massive bite out of your budget.
Pay close attention to even the most minor details, and record any damage by writing it down or taking pictures. This way, you can track the damage’s progression to see if areas of your pavement need more attention than others.
Remember to commit to the regular parking lot and property cleaning, too. Dirt, debris, and other contaminants can seriously damage your pavement. Think about all the cars that travel on roads and park in paved lots — oil leaks, radiator fluid, and other chemicals can wear on the surface and cause cracks to form and deepen. Cleaning asphalt pavement can mitigate this risk while giving the surface a fresh look, adding to the curb appeal of your facility.
While this cleaning process will vary based on how your pavement is used and where it’s located, it generally includes cleaning chemicals designed to uphold the integrity of pavement while also removing a layer of grime. Keep up this cleaning throughout the summer, so the job is quicker and less involved while being effective. Consult an expert if you have questions about the best practices for cleaning asphalt.
Call In the Professionals
After inspection and cleaning, it’s time to call a professional asphalt contractor for repairs; it takes expertise and specialty equipment to get the job done right the first time and avoid creating an even bigger headache. An added benefit of working with paving professionals? It could increase the value of your property and reduce liability from accidents or injuries resulting from pavement damage.
Don’t overlook the importance of having asphalt professionally sealcoated if it’s been a while or you don’t remember the last time it’s been done. Sealcoating protects asphalt from further exposure and damage and restores the surface to look new again. Sealcoating also replenishes the oils and binders used for the installation, fills in gaps, and smooths out the appearance.
Summer storms can cause water to pool on top of asphalt paving and present runoff challenges that can impact the integrity of the ground beneath the pavement. This, in turn, can increase the risk of vehicle hydroplaning, deepen dangerous cracks, contribute to potholes, and detract from the aesthetic look of pavement.
Take a look at your paved surfaces after a summer storm to identify problem areas and bring them to the attention of your paving partner. Quality installation and repair is a surefire way to help ensure that water doesn’t pool on or underneath your pavement. Contractors will help design a drainage system and control the slope of the ground beneath the asphalt to allow proper runoff.
Because the sun and heat are particularly damaging to asphalt, it’s crucial to redistribute the weight on your pavement surfaces. While you likely can’t tell visitors to park elsewhere or reduce the number of spots you provide, you can minimize damage by not allowing heavy items to sit on your asphalt for too long. Keep this consideration in mind on construction job sites; piles of building materials like lumber or masonry can cause paved areas to sag and crack.
While summer asphalt maintenance can be an efficient way to extend the life of your pavement, it takes some extra steps and help from professionals to get it done right. When you use Leritz Busy Bee for asphalt maintenance and repair, you will be working with a commercial asphalt paving team that creates a plan custom-tailored for your property. Get your asphalt project built and maintained by the best commercial asphalt contractor in the Greater St. Louis area — get in touch to schedule a consultation.