Asphalt is an excellent choice for driveways, parking lots, and highways. Maintaining asphalt is relatively straightforward. Yet, you must be sure about when to consider reparatory steps. The following are top signs that show when to consider calling a professional for asphalt parking lot repair services.
1. Significant Stains
A parking lot with many stains and faded colors requires attention. These stains are often a product of vehicular fluids and various industrial solvents. You’ll also find many other chemicals that could stain your parking lot. While stains might not appear significantly alarming, they often show an underlying problem with the parking lot.
Stains often show that the vehicular fluids, industrial solvents, and chemicals have seeped through the asphalt. That means they could compromise the structural integrity of this parking lot, thanks to continuous erosion. Slowly, the parking lot will be unable to handle vehicles of a specific weight.
2. Significant Drainage Issues
Drainage issues often highlight a bigger underlying problem. According to the National Asphalt Pavement Association, about nine out of ten parking areas are made of asphalt. You can notice improper drainage by unusual water pooling-this water pooling results from improper asphalt cap installation. Unless the installation is properly leveled, your parking lot will have multiple water puddles.
Water puddles have various effects on your asphalt parking lot. For example, this water could seep through the pavement, continuously destabilizing the structure. That means you must remove the water as soon as possible to help avert further destruction in the long run. This water could also house various elements that could destroy vehicles. This way, you end up with high vehicle repair costs.
3. Unusual Cracks and Ruts
Considerable depressions and cracks on your parking lot are a nightmare. These cracks could destabilize the parking lot, compromising its structural integrity. While you can fix minor damage with a seal coat, it would be best to consider professional services if the cracks are significantly large.
At the same time, you should be wary of rippling patterns on the parking lot’s surface. These patterns will eventually cause cracks on the surface. Addressing them on time will help avoid costlier parking lot repair services.
Cracks often become worse during rainy and snowy seasons. That is because they tend to expand once water seeps through them. This aspect implies that the parking lot will become unstable, leading to extra wear and tear over time.
4. A Sinking Parking Lot
Undoubtedly, a sinking parking lot should force you to seek immediate professional help. This will often happen if the soil underneath is not compacted or has eroded. The best solution is to ensure that the soil gets adequately compacted. A professional will also ensure that the asphalt parking lot is properly leveled, holding vehicles firmly.
Your parking lot could also sink if the soil underneath has too much or too little moisture. You could attribute this to inclement weather conditions or poor drainage. In this case, a professional will find a perfect solution to ensure that the soil and the parking lot remain significantly stable in the future.
5. Fading
Noticeable fading is a common problem in many parking lots. This issue often signifies oxidation on the surface of the parking lot. Exposing some materials to sunlight is often the cause of the fading. Consequently, your parking lot can become too brittle and dull. Such a lifeless parking lot will hardly add to your curb appeal.
Fading will also affect lines painted on the parking lot. That means it will be hard for people to park their vehicles in an orderly fashion. In this case, it would help if you hired a professional to improve the parking lot surface.
6. Warping
Suppose your parking lot is too wavy and not flat. In this case, it would be almost impossible to park vehicles here. This is an extreme case that requires immediate professional attention. Such warping often shows that the parking lot is unstable and weak, meaning that it will buckle under the weight of parked vehicles. In such instances, it would be best to replace both the base and the surface.
At the same time, be wary of disintegrating edges. This disintegration is often thanks to poor asphalt installation. Thinning the surfaces towards the edges will usually result in the parking lot starting to break away. In this case, it would be best to consider having the thickness of the edges increased to two or three inches.
In conclusion, adequate parking lot maintenance is critical. Proper care will cushion you against significant repair costs. Yet, sometimes, parking lot repair is inevitable. Once you see the signs mentioned above, contact our team for professional repairs.
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