If you’re consistently seeing puddles form in certain areas of your parking lot, you should contact your asphalt paving contractor for an assessment. Puddles may be a sign of a variety of issues, each of which needs to be addressed by a contractor. What follows are some of the reasons why those puddles may be forming.
- Heavy use – If your parking lot is used day in and day out, the puddles you’re seeing could be an indication of that heavy vehicular traffic. Although asphalt is an incredibly strong and durable material, it can eventually start to break down under heavy use. Over time, this can cause depressions in the surface, and those depressions can collect water and form puddles.
- Rutting – The term “rutting” refers to indentations that occur in asphalt as it ages. There are two types: 1) rutting that occurs as a result of inadequate compaction when the surface was installed, and 2) rutting that occurs when the surface starts to collapse as a result of heavy traffic over an extended period of time. When water collects in ruts, puddles form.
- Raveling – If your asphalt surface wasn’t properly installed, you might be seeing puddles forming as a result of raveling. This occurs when the bonding agent in the asphalt mix begins to break down. If your puddles are forming because of raveling, you’ll also see loose gravel on the surface.
- Poor drainage – If you don’t have an adequate drainage system in your parking lot, puddles can form when rainwater and/or irrigation water collects in certain areas on the surface. Installing an effective drainage system should be part of any quality parking lot installation.
If you see puddles in your parking lot, pay attention! Puddles that form after a heavy rain or as a result of melting snow may not be anything to worry about. But if you see puddles that form in certain areas of your pavement on a regular basis, it’s usually an indication that your asphalt is damaged in some way. Water can quickly cause significant damage to your asphalt pavement. This is especially true when depressions, cracks and/or potholes are present, allowing the water to seep below the surface and damage the sublayers of your pavement. Fortunately, there are ways to resolve these issues. The first step is to contact a local, reputable paving contractor and schedule an appointment. They can make recommendations on how to repair any damage that exists, and how to prevent puddles from forming in the future.