When the automobile was first introduced in America, parking lots were not considered to be of vital importance. Few people could afford them, and on-street parking was typically sufficient to accommodate drivers. Furthermore, in crowded cities, public transportation was convenient and affordable. People could take a bus, subway, or taxi to take them to restaurants, stores, jobs, and other destinations. In many cases, shoppers could even count on the store for home delivery so that they did not have to wrangle their purchases on the bus or subway. However, options for public transportation were limited in suburban areas, so more people began to purchase their own cars, which had become increasingly affordable for the average American family. In this new situation, the necessity of providing a parking lot became obvious to virtually every business owner. If you manage or own any type of enterprise in southeast Georgia or northern Florida, you may already know that you need to provide your pavement with occasional parking lot maintenance in Waycross GA. However, you might not fully understand why maintenance is important, what services you need, and when your contractor needs to deliver these services.
Why Should I Invest in Parking Lot Maintenance In Waycross, Ga?
Your parking lot makes an impression on everyone who approaches your business. A well-maintained, clean parking lot helps potential tenants, customers, and employees form a favorable impression. However, they can form a negative impression if your lot is dirty, chaotic, or damaged. You could be losing business, which means you could be losing money. If the potential loss of revenue does not concern you, you might consider the other ways that a poorly maintained parking lot could cost you a significant amount of money. One potential expense could come in the form of fines for failing to comply with the federal laws contained in the Americans with Disabilities. Another problem will arise if your parking lot is allowed to deteriorate prematurely. Without the proper maintenance, your lifetime costs for repairs will be substantially more, and your parking lot could easily require a complete reconstruction in less than 10 years.
What Are the Most Essential Parking Lot Maintenance Services?
Every parking lot is a little bit different, so you will want a maintenance plan that focuses on the specific needs of your pavement. Here are the most common services.
- Asphalt Crack Repairs: Open cracks provide an easy way for water to reach the foundation of your pavement, eroding, weakening, and destabilizing it. Your foundation is an essential part of your pavement’s support system, so widespread pavement damage can result from foundation damage.
- Asphalt Sealcoating: Sealcoating applications are economical, but they provide several important benefits. Asphalt sealcoating is sunscreen that blocks the UV rays that can make your pavement brittle, faded, and more likely to break or crack. It can also restore faded pavements to their original color, improve traction, and make your parking lot easier to clean. Sealcoating also helps prevent automotive fluids from leaving soft spots in your asphalt pavement.
- Parking Lot Striping: A parking lot without line striping and pavement markings can be quite confusing and chaotic. Furthermore, it can leave you in violation of the ADA as well as local codes. You will also be unable to offer the optimum number of spaces.
- Sweeping and Cleaning: Trash, grass clippings, and other debris detract from your pavement’s aesthetics, but they can also promote pavement damage. In addition to sweeping your parking lot, you should remove puddles of oil and other vehicle fluids to prevent the formation of soft spots.
How Often Should I Schedule These Parking Lot Maintenance Procedures?
The best way to determine the right schedule for your specific parking lot is to start with a professional pavement assessment. However, the following list explores the typical schedule for an average parking lot.
- Asphalt Crack Repairs: Schedule an inspection every spring and again in the fall to identify new cracks. Have significant cracks repaired promptly.
- Asphalt Sealcoating: The normal schedule for parking lot sealcoating is every other year. However, do not wait the full two years if the sealant displays signs of unusual wear or damage.
- Parking Lot Striping: Conveniently, pavement paints and asphalt sealants usually have very similar lives, so you can schedule both at the same time. However, you should not wait if the paint becomes damaged or overly faded.
- Sweeping and Cleaning: The need for sweeping services can vary widely. For example, if your business is located in a shopping center with a busy fast-food restaurant, you may need nightly sweepings. On the other hand, if your parking lot is reserved for 20 or so employees, you may only need to sweep it every two weeks. Cleaning up automotive fluids, however, is an activity that should occur at least every six months.
Lay-N-Spray can help you keep your parking lot attractive and healthy. We offer parking lot maintenance programs in Waycross, GA, asphalt sealcoating, parking lot striping, asphalt crack repair, asphalt paving, asphalt repair, and concrete services. We have worked in the construction industry since 2006, have an exemplary reputation, and are known for our integrity, craftsmanship, and service. For a free quote, you can call 912-816-4463, email Info@LNSPavementGA.com, or fill out our online request form.