Winter is Coming
Just as it does every year about this time, winter weather starts trickling in. As you know, winter weather can seriously harm your parking lot, so it is important to take the time now to prepare. This means taking the necessary steps to protect your asphalt from the cold, snow, and ice.
While your asphalt is exposed to the weather all year, it is the winter months that are often the hardest on it, working to expose and widen cracks and breakdown sub-grade structures. The cycle of freeze and thaw and the bombardment from ice and snow can open fissures in the parking lot’s surface that grow larger over time. A few winterization treatments and repairs leading into the cold months are the best way to protect your pavement against a cold winter.
Proactive Repairs
There are a number of repairs are easy to enact and don’t cost a lot of money. They take care of cracks in the early stages and add to the smooth appearance of your company’s parking lot. They also make the parking lot safer for drivers and pedestrians. Consider these repairs before winter gets started:
- Crack sealing
- Patching
- Pothole repair
Pavement repairs are designed to eliminate the cracks and openings that allow moisture to get below the asphalt surface. Crack sealing, for example, begins by cleaning the debris out of cracks and then adding sealant, which goes into and around the crack.
Protective Treatment
Sealcoating is another technique worth looking into before winter hits. In this method, a protective barrier is placed over the asphalt. This thin layer guards against the harmful effects of sun, chemicals, oils, weather, and other agents. Other benefits of sealcoating include sealing in oils from the asphalt mix, creating a smooth surface, and making cleaning easier. Sealcoating works well on both newer and older asphalt parking lots.
To learn more about preparing your commercial parking lot for winter, contact NVM Paving & Concrete by calling 703-423-0471 or sending us an email today!
