While most people don’t think about parking lots, they are important spaces that provide functionality, safety, aesthetics, and branding for businesses. That is why it is essential to ensured that they are well-maintained, damage-free, and in good condition. Although there are a variety of factors that inflict damage to asphalt, keeping up with proper maintenance doesn’t have to be difficult. That is why we’ve compiled this guide to understanding parking lot maintenance in Albany, Oregon.
Key Considerations for Parking Lot Maintenance in Albany, Oregon
Factors that Cause Damage
Even the toughest of surfaces suffer wear and tear over time, and parking lots are no different. One of the biggest factors affecting parking lots is weather. Highly exposed areas accrue damage due to sunlight, rain, snow, and even oil spills. These materials break down the asphalt, causing cracks, potholing, and faded paint lines. Winter conditions can be especially pernicious, as freeze-thaw cycles cause moisture within pavement to expand and contract, causing erosion and degradation.
While traffic is excellent for business, an unforeseen consequence of high traffic is damage to parking lots. It is especially important to ensure regular maintenance for busy parking lots to maintain their value and function. Time itself also plays a toll, inflicting gradual wear and tear to asphalt surfaces that can eventually lead to damage and deterioration.
Prevention Tactics
As with so many things, prevention is key to longevity. One of the easiest methods to prevent parking lot damage is regular cleaning and debris removal, whether by hand, broom, blower, or power washer. Keeping your parking lots clean prevents asphalt deterioration and the accumulation of dirt that makes it difficult to identify new issues. This includes regularly removing snow and laying down salt in the winter, which keep pedestrians and drivers safe, in addition to the surface itself.
Regular sealcoating is an essential parking lot maintenance step that should be done every 2–3 years to protect its surface. Sealcoating involves applying a protective coating to the asphalt surface to shield it from the elements, prevent water penetration, and enhance its appearance. A professional sealcoating application is an affordable way to maintain your parking lot over time as it prevents the kinds of damage that are costly to repair.
Damage Repair
As much as you can try to prevent damage to your parking lot, it is inevitable that some major repairs will be needed over the course of its lifetime. Repairs can be fixed through a variety of professional methods, such as infrared repair, cut out and replace, or resurfacing.
Infrared repair involves heating up the compromised area, removing the damaged material, and blending new asphalt with the existing surface. Using the cut-out and replace method, a damaged area is cut out using excavation techniques and replaced with fresh, high-quality asphalt. Resurfacing is applying a fresh, new layer of asphalt over top of the existing surface, giving it a renewed look and strength.
Contact Blackshot Sealcoating in Albany, OR today to get a quote. We serve the whole Willamette Valley, including Portland, Salem, and Eugene.
