Winter brought about a lot of good things – the holidays, quality time with your family, and snow days! It may not have been everyone’s favorite season but no one can say that the snow wasn’t nice to look at. Nonetheless, with the beauty of winter came the onslaught of freezing cold temperatures, heavy snow, and icy roads. For the asphalt in our parking lot to have survived, it needed protection from the harsh winter. Here are some of the reasons why your parking lot was able to survive the winter season.
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You inspected the general area thoroughly.
Paved asphalt surfaces are actually prone to deterioration due to vehicle usage and harsh weather conditions. All of these external stressors, plus the onslaught of winter, can accelerate the deterioration process. Alternating thawing cycles and subzero temperatures can cause moisture to be trapped in the asphalt. This expands and contracts the asphalt repeatedly which can create cracks in the surface.
By inspecting the area, you were able to take note of any damage that you needed to focus on. Simple inspection may help prevent the origins of bigger problems you might encounter later. This really helped in extenuating the harsh effects of the colder climate to our lot.
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You cleaned the parking lot area and cleared away all debris.
The preparation process started by cleaning up the general area. The entire lot and driveways were cleaned before the arrival of winter. To prepare for the first snowfall or winter storm, you cleared any form of debris.
It was vital that you removed all debris so that they won’t interfere with the snow removal process. Aside from that, this also ensured the clearance of larger debris that had a potential to freeze. This could’ve been a source of damage to the asphalt surface during the winter season.
A professional cleaning service may have helped alert you with any issues. They were able to warn you ahead of time of any structural damage existing in the area. With that, you were able to have the repairs needed to protect your lot last winter.
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You had your drainage system inspected.
One thing that you had done before winter was check any area in the lot where water tended to pool. It was a good idea to repair and fill up these areas to prevent standing water from freezing into ice. This way, you were able to avoid any accidents or slippages from occurring. Water can also overflow and refreeze, turning your parking lot into a blanket of ice. Ice can also damage the asphalt so it is better to prevent any from forming.
By inspecting the drainage system, you were able to check if it was able to drain standing water on the paved surface. You also had to make sure that it was working properly and able to handle runoff. The system was there to make certain that water never pooled on the asphalt. You checked and cleared out any debris from the drainage inlet and pipes used to guide water from the surface.
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You stocked up on salt and snow melt chemicals.
Using salt and snow melt chemicals prevented any accidents such as falls or slips from happening. This also created safer driving conditions for those who used the lot. It was important that you kept the area safe for vehicles to park and drive through. Not only were the drivers kept safe, pedestrians were kept away from harm as well.
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You regularly shoveled snow during the winter season.
Lastly, your parking lot survived the winter season because of the regular removal of snow. Using a shovel or snowplow averted the accumulation of snow and ice that can make the lot slippery. By frequently shoveling snow, it didn’t have the chance to melt and turn into standing water. It would be best to teach yourself how to properly use a plow. This is because improper use can result to creating cracks or potholes and damaging the asphalt in general. Hiring a professional cleaning service company helped us properly clean out the snow!
These steps helped you maintain your parking lot and kept it safe for use. Since you prepared ahead of time and regularly cleaned the area, it kept the lot in top shape! It also prevented it from being damaged by the extreme weather conditions of winter.
Entrust your parking lot maintenance services to Prestige
We specialize in commercial cleaning services and facility care solutions in all of Los Angeles and Orange County. We have well-trained and professional employees, ready to help you with anything you need! We also specialize in parking lot maintenance services. As a janitorial service provider, we have a reputation of outstanding quality and we offer nothing but the best. Contact us today for any concerns or inquiries.
