As summer begins to settle and autumn begins to approach, it’s imperative to know how to protect your asphalt parking lot from the cold weather. The winter weather is actually the most damaging to the asphalt surface. During the cooler seasons, the asphalt expands and contracts from the freeze-thaw cycles. This leads to cracks and water seeping beneath the asphalt surface causing further degradation. If you follow these three tips, it can help prevent and protect your asphalt parking lot from the brisk fall weather.
Keep Your Parking Lot Clean
Just like our skin, it’s important to keep the asphalt surface clean, especially before the fall season. When we wash our face, we’re clearing out the debris, dirt, and toxins that we come in contact day to day. The same exists for asphalt. Clearing the dirt, debris, trash, and foliage from your parking lot will prevent physical and chemical damage. Cleaning the parking lot will also make it easier to remove snow and ice when the time comes. Small parking lots can easily be tidied with brooms, shovels, and blowers. Oil stains can be removed with dish soap and water. For larger parking lots; however, it would be best to contact a professional sweeping or cleaning company.
All cracks in your asphalt parking lot should be sealed before fall to prevent further harm from the freeze-thaw cycles. As temperatures change seasonally, especially in New Jersey, your asphalt repeatedly expands and contracts which weakens the asphalt surface; thus, leading to large cracks, alligator cracks, and potholes. Sealing the cracks with crackseal will prevent the moisture from entering because it creates a water-resistant barrier.
Patch the Potholes
Potholes are not only unsightly, but they are dangerous to consumers and your wallet. If left untreated, especially through the fall and winter seasons, they will enlarge. When they enlarge and become worse, instead of a maintenance plan, you may end up needing an entirely new parking lot, costing you thousands more. Potholes can cause major damage to cars and be a serious tripping hazard to pedestrians. Patching potholes before the cooler months will prevent further liabilities.
The time is now to start preparing for the fall and winter. It is best to contact a parking lot maintenance contractor like The RAHN Companies to schedule your asphalt maintenance.