Parking lot maintenance should be a priority of any property manager or owner in Los Angeles and Orange County. With proper maintenance, you can prevent untimely deterioration and disrepair of your parking lot. You can also get more value for money for your investments in property when you try to maintain the integrity and appearance of your parking lot. Though it is not always easy, there are some key parking lot maintenance tips that you can look out for.
Maintaining the condition of parking lots has clear benefits. To get to those benefits, you need to know the difference between maintaining concrete and asphalt parking lots.
In general, parking lot maintenance consists of correcting signs of wear and tear. Different techniques include crack sealing, asphalt patching, and sealcoating. These are all processes that need to be done regularly to ensure the best results.
Benefits of Maintaining Your Parking Lot
Following parking lot maintenance tips will lead to a lot of benefits. First, the parking lot of the establishment is usually part of a customer or visitor’s first impression. A badly maintained parking lot reflects poorly on you as a property owner or manager.
Second, proper maintenance can also ensure better safety and security. Cracks, uneven surfaces, holes, and other hazards are dangerous for anyone and any vehicle going through your parking lot.
Third, with regular maintenance, you can avoid the costs of a full overhaul in the near future. Instead of paying for a costly renovation of your parking lot because you let things go bad, you can focus on regular maintenance instead. You can also avoid the costs of further damage. For example, water has the tendency to seep through cracks, which can affect the integrity of the ground and lead to a safety hazard.
Maintaining Asphalt Parking Lots
Asphalt parking lots are commonly found in many establishments. Initially, asphalt parking lots can hold for up to 15 to 20 years of surface life. Throughout this time, there will be minimal tread marks and oil leaks. You can expect easy traffic and striping for many years. Compared to concrete, asphalt offers a bit more give. For that reason, the initial cost of laying down asphalt tends to be cheaper.
But with the right parking lot maintenance tips, you can add another decade or so to the appearance and integrity of your parking lot.
Asphalt maintenance includes: cracksealing, asphalt repair, asphalt resurfacing, and asphalt sealcoating.
Cracksealing is the first defense when it comes to asphalt maintenance. The moment cracks are observed in the pavement, it is sealed to prevent water from entering and weakening the foundations.
In asphalt repair, affected areas like cracks and holes are filled with a hot or cold asphalt mix. The exact mix depends on the season as well as on the location.
Resurfacing the pavement of your parking lot is done when there are depressions and/or large areas of interconnecting cracks already. This process involves preparing and cleaning the area, leveling the asphalt, grinding transitions to smoothen the pavement, and also adjusting the drainage.
In asphalt sealcoating, surface voids are filled while the pavement surface is coated. This technique results to a smoother surface that is easier to maintain through the next months. The process can also increase the pavement’s ability to withstand pressure, even under heat.
Maintaining Concrete Parking Lots
From the start, concrete parking lots have an advantage of 10 more years of surface life compared to asphalt parking lots. Throughout this time, the parking lot doesn’t require a lot of heavy maintenance. You can extend the lifespan even more by following parking lot maintenance tips and using new technologies for overlays.
Concrete maintenance includes:
- Crack filling
- Patching
- Grinding
- Sealing
- Protective coating
In crack filling, cuts are made into the cracks of the concrete lot and filled with a self-leveling concrete caulking mix. On the other hand, hydraulic cement is used to repair chips or small areas of loose concrete in the process called patching.
Grinding is done to level two uneven sections of concrete that are beside each other. The higher side is smoothened down for a better transition.
Sealing is another common technique used in parking lot maintenance. Sealing blocks the pores in the concrete and forms a protective layer against the elements like water.
Lastly, protective coating means directly applying a chemical onto the concrete to slow down deterioration. Plus, it also adds a more attractive finish to the lot.
Preventative Maintenance for Parking Lots
There are many parking lots which make use of both asphalt and concrete. Asphalt can be used for majority of the surface, while the more durable concrete is used for loading areas, sidewalks and drainages. As mentioned, asphalt and concrete can have different needs and methods when it comes to repair and maintenance.
Knowing what signs of disrepair to look out for is one of the key parking lot maintenance tips. You also need to be able to spot such cracks and damages as they appear, to prevent any permanent damage or build-up. It’s better to trust a professional to do the regular evaluation, maintenance and repair work for you.
Contact Prestige Property for Outstanding Parking Lot Maintenance Services
With the right company, you can expect the following services to help you maintain the quality of your parking lots:
- Asphalt patching/repair
- Concrete maintenance
- Sealcoating
- Cracksealing
- Drain adjustment
- Pavement marking
You can expect all of these services and more from Prestige Property Services! The company offers a wide array of janitorial services, including commercial cleaning, floor waxing, and handyman services. For over 15 years, Prestige has built strong relationships with property management firms, building owners and facility managers in different markets in Los Angeles and Orange County. Contact us today!
