Parking Lot Maintenance Basics

If you own a business or are responsible for a commercial property containing one, you should know the basics of parking lot maintenance. It all starts with a well-designed and built lot, which is no small investment considering what you probably already spend on any number of maintenance plans, but starting with a solid foundation is essential. Performing preventive maintenance, and finding and fixing damage and early signs of deterioration quickly, is key to making that initial investment in designing, grading, paving, parking lot striping, and asphalt sealing, and continuing to get the most from your money.

Four main components make up that solid parking lot foundation:

Materials

The most common choices for parking lot surfaces are either asphalt or concrete, with each material having its own benefits and drawbacks that need to be considered in light of your particular site, situation, and local weather and climate. Asphalt pavement is faster to pour and spread and sets faster than concrete, but it requires more maintenance in later years. Concrete is more time-consuming and costly to install but holds up better over time. You should choose your surface based on budget, timing, exposure to traffic and weather, and your plan for maintaining your parking lot.

Striping and Traffic Management

Striping refers to the painted markings on the surface of a parking lot. Along with signage, they provide directions to direct organized traffic flow, denote handicap-accessible parking spaces, and outline parking slots. A properly striped lot requires suitable materials for particular environmental needs and proper painting and application. The most commonly used parking lot striping paint is a water-based acrylic, which provides excellent durability, high brightness, and good visibility. They are also environmentally friendly, and the paint is best applied when in temperatures of 45 degrees Fahrenheit and above.

Proper Drainage

When rainwater does not drain quickly from your parking lot, it can pool and cause damage to the surface of your lot. The holes and cracks formed by standing water can lead to a number of problems:

• causing damage to vehicles and surrounding infrastructure
• increasing the risk of trips and falls to pedestrians
• shortening the lifespan of the pavement
• breeding insects and unsanitary conditions

There are several ways to avoid drainage problems. The first is to build your lot with the correct grading, water flow, and internal drainage systems. Also, monitoring the lot for new cracks is important because today's tiny crack is tomorrow's canyon.

Landscaping

Landscaping is an important consideration when designing beautiful and long-lasting parking lots. Well-placed trees, hedges, and shrubs can reinforce traffic directions, divert water, and protect the lot from excessive heat by providing shade and reducing wear from harsh wind and weather.

The most important basic of parking lot maintenance and repair you should always remember is that Benford Site Services LLC is the Summerville area's number one choice for pothole repair, parking lot striping, asphalt sealing, and all aspects of asphalt and parking lot maintenance.