When property owners are choosing surfaces, they often turn to asphalt because of the durability and affordable cost. While there are many upsides to asphalt, there are some things to keep an eye on in order to protect your asphalt. The following are three of those items and how you can prevent them from destroying your asphalt.
1. Water
When your asphalt lot is initially installed, chances are it will be designed so as to sweep water off of the surface. This doesn’t always last forever, and if there are ever any spots where the water is able to collect, it can damage the surface. Water essentially weakens asphalt, which allows cracks and eventually potholes.
Sealcoating is just one of the many solutions to this issue. An asphalt parking lot should be seal coated about once every three years, but that depends on the amount of weather it’s exposed to and the amount of traffic it receives.
2. Heavy Vehicles
You can’t prevent heavy vehicles from driving on the asphalt, especially when that’s what it’s meant to handle, but that doesn’t mean they won’t leave a mark. Heavy trucks and other vehicles cause rutting and deterioration. This makes the life of the asphalt shortened, which means you’ll be paying more in replacement costs too soon.
One of the best ways to avoid heavy vehicle ruts is to have the asphalt installed properly in the first place. Working with a professional contractor who has a lot of experience, you can design a layout that takes heavy vehicles into consideration. For example, they might install a thicker layer of asphalt in areas where heavy vehicles are allowed.
3. Sunlight
While the sun can damage your asphalt if there are already cracks in it, it typically doesn’t do much more than cause aesthetic damage. You don’t want your property to look old, faded, and worn out, so proper sealcoating is again the answer. This keeps your asphalt looking vibrant and new at all times.
As you can see, asphalt does take some time and maintenance to stay in good shape. Contact NVM Paving & Concrete today by calling 703-423-0471 or sending us an email for help maintaining your asphalt lot.
