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The average useful lifespan of asphalt is 12 to 15 years. If you don’t maintain it, then it won’t last even that long. 

There are two main services that get done to asphalt to extend its life. Asphalt patching and sealcoating both serve to maintain and protect your asphalt. 

But do you know how they are different and which one is right for your asphalt? Not to worry! We have created a guide to help you know the difference and ensure that your asphalt lasts as long as possible. 

Asphalt Integrity Enemies 

Natural elements are your asphalt’s biggest enemies. This includes sunlight, water, oil, and oxidation. If there are other chemicals present, these will break down your asphalt too. 

Over time the binders in your asphalt break down. Now you have brittle asphalt that will crack and pothole. 

What Is Sealcoating?

If you want to extend the life of your asphalt and keep it looking like new, then you should have sealcoating done regularly. You should consider sealcoating as an integral part of your asphalt maintenance. 

The process of sealcoating means that an extra protective layer is applied to your asphalt. This helps extend the life of your asphalt by protecting it from use and the elements. 

If you regularly sealcoat your asphalt, you can extend its useful life to up to 30 years. 

Benefits 

This is the most affordable way to maintain your asphalt. It is also simple and easy to apply. 

Once applied it restores your asphalt to look like new. This will, in turn, increase the overall curb appeal of your property. 

Having a fresh asphalt surface will create a surface that provides more traction. This creates a safer parking lot or driveway. 

The Process 

Before a sealer can be applied, you need to make sure the asphalt is in good condition. You will need to have repairs made before you can sealcoat. 

The weather has to cooperate with warm temperatures and no rain expected. You also need 24 hours for the entire process start to finish. 

A quality company will create a hot mix of sealer and then apply two coats. Then it just needs time to cure before you can drive on it. 

What Is Asphalt Patching?

If you ignore damage to your asphalt, it will eventually become an expensive headache or complete redo. So if you see any cracks or potholes develop, have them repaired immediately with a patch. 

When your asphalt becomes damaged and deteriorated, it is unsightly and just plain dangerous. If you leave the damage, you risk someone getting hurt, and now you have the liability of paying for their injuries. 

Benefits 

Patching your asphalt is quick and affordable when done correctly. Fixing cracks prevents your asphalt from slowly crumbling into pieces. 

While fixing a pothole prevents vehicle damage and potential for injury. It also greatly improves the entire look of your parking lot. 

The Process 

When it comes to repairing cracks, the first step is to identify the type of crack. There are three common types of cracks, alligator, block, and edge. 

Because patching is about repair, it is important to address the cause of the damage. Otherwise, you risk the damage re-occurring. 

Cracks

Alligator cracking happens when excessively heavy vehicles drive on the asphalt, or there isn’t adequate drainage. They can also happen if the company who originally installed the asphalt did a poor job. To fix these, a full-depth repair is needed to address the surface and structural problems. 

Block cracking happens when your asphalt is dried out and old. This type of cracking is usually a surface issue and occurs with age. Because of this, repair requires a patch on the surface. 

Edge cracks are those half-moon shaped curved cracks along the edge of the asphalt. They occur when there is poor underlying support, overgrown vegetation, or poor drainage.

The only way to fix these cracks is to remove the problem and then seal the cracks. This means redirecting water if drainage is the problem. Or clearing away vegetation if plant growth is the problem. 

Potholes 

Just like cracks, potholes allow moisture and debris to get in your pavement and compromise its overall integrity. To properly fix a pothole, the damaged asphalt gets removed down to a specific depth. 

Then a hot mix will get poured into the hole. This will bond with the surrounding asphalt and provide strength and support. 

For added support and protection, have the entire surface area of the asphalt sealed once the pothole is done curing. This will seal and protect the entire piece of asphalt. 

Which Do You Need?

If your asphalt is in good condition and free of cracks or potholes, then you should choose the sealcoat. If your asphalt has cracks or potholes, then you need patching first. 

Asphalt that is two to four years old and in good condition should have sealcoating done. Ultimately though, it is never too late to sealcoat your asphalt. 

Schedule Your Asphalt Patching or Sealcoating

The best thing you can do for your asphalt is to schedule regular maintenance and repair. By sealcoating, you maintain the protective layer and prevent your asphalt from becoming brittle. 

If your asphalt hasn’t been maintained, it’s not too late to start taking care of it. A knowledgeable and experienced company can help you with asphalt patching and sealing to extend the life of your asphalt. 

Don’t worry if you aren’t sure what your asphalt needs. Our qualified professionals can come out and give you an evaluation and quote for recommended services. 

Contact us today and let us repair and seal your asphalt parking lot or driveway. 

A whopping 63% of Americans chose not to visit businesses with parking challenges. If your parking lot is in poor condition, it’s likely costing you and your tenants in lost customers and revenue.

Perhaps you’re thinking of resurfacing your parking lot. If so, stop right there.

There are some tips every property owner should know about parking lot resurfacing before they hire help.

We’ll cover some telltale signs of worn parking lots, list some benefits of resurfacing, and include cost considerations.

To avoid being taken for a ride, instead take a look at our comprehensive guide. 

When Do I Need to Resurface?

Like any property, parking lots depreciate and become worn over time. When small blemishes occur, repair jobs such as an asphalt patch are often enough to maintain your parking lot.

But as the years go on, small cracks and tears in the base layers of asphalt may make repairs an expensive and pointless consideration.

You should expect your new parking lot to last for an average of 25 years. As it ages, climate and regular use will cause the asphalt to break down. In areas with steady snowfall and fluctuating temperatures, rain and snow will dramatically reduce the potential lifespan of your parking lot. 

If your asphalt is dull and dry but otherwise in fine condition, you may only need to replace the sealcoat. Asphalt sealcoating provides your parking lot with a rich black surface that shields weather and reduces the wear of daily use.

A parking lot with an acceptable age could benefit from a blacktop resurfacing. Blemishes are filled in and your parking lot is given a new coat.

This solution is not advised for aged asphalt worn down to its foundation layers. At this point, repaving is your only option.

What Are the Benefits of Parking Lot Resurfacing?

So, your parking lot needs to be resurfaced or repaved entirely. It’s a big expense you’d rather avoid, right?

The reality is you’ll benefit from the returns of upgrading your parking lot.

If you choose to leave your degrading parking lot in poor condition, you could be liable for customer injuries that occur on your property. Suppose a visitor trips on one of the potholes in your parking lot and breaks his leg.

Paying for the customer’s medical bills and lawyer fees will likely dwarf the cost of a repaved parking lot. Don’t leave yourself open to unexpected expenses.

Along with improving customer safety, a resurfaced parking lot will give your property a professional appearance and boost your property value. When more than half of Americans will purposely avoid terrible parking conditions, choose to provide the best parking around.

You’ll attract more customers with a professional look.

But that isn’t all. When worn parking lots gather potholes and cracks, these ruin its natural drainage system. With poor drainage, your parking lot will age faster and water will freeze in areas it shouldn’t.

With a fresh resurfacing or new pavement, your enhanced drainage will dramatically increase the resilience and lifespan of your property. You could also consider installing catch basins when you choose to resurface.

How Does Parking Lot Resurfacing Work?

If you choose to resurface your parking lot, you’ll want to know how it all works. While deploying an asphalt layer is fairly cheap, there are some additional resurfacing services that can raise the price.

Repairing small potholes has little to no impact on the function of your parking lot. Simple repair jobs will have small portions of your parking lot cordoned off for a brief amount of time.

Resurfacing your parking lot is a more demanding process. When you spot standing water on your surface or a large network of cracks, this is your best option. Your parking lot will be cleaned and leveled off with new asphalt.

Hot asphalt is injected into the parking lot to contour it into a more effective shape. But these leveling binders may cost you. Be sure the construction company shows you the unleveled areas in your lot.

You may also be offered geotextiles. Geotextiles are set before the new surface is applied. It’s a waterproof structure that also adds more rigidity to your new surface.

How Much Will This Cost Me?

Whether you are resurfacing or repaving your parking lot, a variety of features will impact the cost.

The location of your parking lot is often the biggest factor. Construction companies have their own material and labor costs in different areas. If you’re choosing to repave, the conditions of the regional soil can impact cost. In Hawaii, construction crews first must deal with volcanic rock.

Naturally, the larger your parking lot, the larger the expense. Consider the size and number of parking spaces.

Build enough to accommodate your customers for your peak business hours. Not enough parking will impact how many customers use your business. Similarly, too many parking spaces will cost you more in repavement costs.

A parking lot with considerable damage will add additional charges in both labor and materials. With significant draining issues, milling may be required to level out the parking lot. This is an extra expense. When milling isn’t enough and leveling binders are required, you’ll also pay extra for these.

Expect to pay $2 per square foot just for the new asphalt surface. Milling, binders, and other services will be required based on the quality of the existing lot.

Ready to Resurface Your Parking Lot?

Proper maintenance and sealcoats can keep your parking lot safe and professional. But if your property has potholes and alligator cracks, you should consider a parking lot resurfacing or a full repavement.

Need some help? Our experts offer a variety of pavement services for parking lot resurfacing or other paving projects.

We get it, parking lots tend to lose their smooth finish after a few years, especially when there are snow storms and ice. Something the DC, Maryland and Virginia area were hit with in the beginning of 2019.

But, you’ve now realized your parking lot could be a safety hazard. Or, maybe it’s hurting the look of your property.

It’s time to get a quote! Now, it’s time to pick up the phone and shop around for estimates.

But let’s face it, who doesn’t like to get the best price?

Although price is certainly a factor, there’s something more important to consider…

Developing a relationship with a company. Not only does it establish the basics of the price, but it also lays the groundwork for how long the job should take when it begins and other important matters.

Getting the best price on sealing your parking lot pavement might cost more than you think (and typically with sealcoating – you’re looking at maybe a few hundred dollars in price variations from company to company).

Thing is, parking lots aren’t forever. That’s why you should focus more on building a relationship with your local asphalt contractor vs. hiring the cheapest guy on the block who disappears one year later. Then, when you need something patched up, it’s round two of finding another asphalt paving company all over again.

How Do You Find The Best Asphalt Sealcoating Company?

Other than getting along with them on the phone after calling, see how detailed they are in providing you with an estimate. How do you know if they provide you with the right estimate? A sealcoating estimate for commercial properties should include several items.

The Inspection of Your Asphalt

A good inspection of a parking lot for a sealcoating estimate should be more than a quick glance from the company.

A contractor who knows what they’re doing will walk the area to fully understand what is going to be required on their end to ensure you are taken care of the first time around.

Depending on the size and other variables of your parking lot, you may be provided with some options on what needs to be done, right there on-site.

Depending on the state of the asphalt surface though, the paving contractor may need to get back to you after the inspection.

Once the estimate is sent over, you’ll be informed on the extent of repairs necessary, before the sealcoat is applied.

Finally, you should receive a timeline for the work to be started and completed. And most importantly, when the surface will be usable again.

The Surface Work Details

Not everyone will be interested in every detail of a parking lot sealing job. We may get excited about it, but we won’t hold it against you if you look at us like we’re speaking another language.

Let’s note now a few things should always be covered, or at least offered.

• What types of materials are used?
• How long will the process take?
• When can the property be used again?
• Are there any dangers to customers in the sealcoating process?

Depending on the size of your parking lot, everyone likely has different concerns. Therefore; it’s important to ask all the questions you may have before the work begins.

The Benefits

It’s hard to judge if a price is fair without understanding the benefits of a job. Sealcoating provides protection from UV rays, oxidation, water damage, oil and other harmful chemicals. It also increases the longevity of the surface while improving curb appeal.

Call for a Free Estimate

To upgrade a commercial property call NVM Paving & Concrete at 301-288-1753 or end an email to NVM Paving & Concrete . You can also request a free estimate online.

For a business, concrete structures that are failing or in poor repair can be a serious issue. Customers could trip and fall or pieces of concrete could dislodge and injure property. It’s smart to keep up on concrete maintenance on a property to avoid lawsuits from employees and customers alike. Moreover, structures such as balconies, parking garages, columns, beams and others should look good to uphold the image of a company. Proper concrete maintenance and coating will have many benefits for your business.

The Bottom Line

It makes financial sense on many fronts to establish a plan for concrete maintenance. In many cases, it’s best to contract with a company that can prepare a regular maintenance plan. Look for a company that can repair a range of structures, including:

• Stairs
• Walls
• Balconies
• Sidewalks
• Parking Lots
• Driveways

With a plan in place, you won’t be surprised by unexpected bills. Minor repairs are always less expensive than major ones.

The Aesthetic Side

One affordable way to keep your concrete looking nice is with coating. Concrete sealing is effective on a wide range of structures, including stadiums, chimneys, parking garages, road surfaces, ramps and rails and others. Best of all, combined with cleaning, stain removal and polishing, the process restores old concrete to excellent condition again. It also increases longevity of the concrete.

Maintaining the structural integrity of your concrete structures is an effective way to keep your property looking nice. Concrete that appears dingy or has cracks and crumbling edges might leave a bad impression. In some cases, it could even cause a client to go elsewhere. Professional coating prevents the degradation of your business properties.

Call a Top Concrete Service Provider

When you need concrete work done, partner with the best. NVM Paving & Concrete has served the East Coast for 25 years and can be reached at 301-355-2079. For a free estimate, fill out an online form today or send an email to NVM Paving .

Winter is here, which means commercial property owners need to make sure their concrete parking lots can handle the dropping temperatures. Concrete is susceptible to damage when exposed to freezing temperatures, ice and snow, so you need to prepare the concrete lot accordingly. Here are some simple steps property owners should implement before the weather gets too bad.

Clean It Often

The first thing you should do at the beginning of winter is thoroughly clean the lot. Not only does this enhance the look of the parking lot, it also helps you avoid excessive damage. It is particularly important to clean up any chemical or oil spills. You may need to invest in a pressure washer to ensure the lot is as clean as can be.

Inspect the Drainage

One big danger for parking lots involves cracks forming and water seeping into the spaces. You do not want water puddling in a single area, so you need to ensure the lot has adequate drainage. You should have a professional inspect this drainage system prior to the winter season to make sure any water has a place to go.

Repair Cracks

Even with adequate drainage, rainfall can still find its way into cracks. Therefore, you want to fill in any cracks before it starts to rain or snow frequently. A small crack can quickly grow out of control because when water gets in and freezes, it expands. This leads to large cracks that can damage any vehicles that drive across it. You should apply a seal coating after you fill in all the cracks because this will help prevent any future water penetration.

It is much simpler and more affordable to take preventive measures prior to the winter season rather than address issues that have already occurred. You can prepare your concrete lot thoroughly with the help of the professionals from NVM Paving & Concrete. Contact us at 301-355-2079 to see what services you can benefit from.