It may seem like fall just arrived, but winter weather is just around the corner. Fall is an excellent time to perform some preventive maintenance on your parking lot to prepare it for the upcoming harsh winter weather. Here are a few simple steps that will protect your paved surface:
- Clean off debris. Use a broom or a blower to clear away debris, leaves and dirt from the pavement. Be sure to clean any type of gas or oil stains as soon as possible after they appear.
- Have minor repair work done now. If you see any cracks or potholes in your parking area, contact a reputable paving contractor to have that work done now. If you don’t fix these issues, they will get much worse over the winter, when water will seep below the surface of the asphalt and cause damage to the sublayer. And that can cause substantial damage to the pavement.
- Resolve drainage issues. If you notice areas of standing water in your parking lot, you might have inadequate drainage. It’s important to address this problem before winter sets in. A paving contractor can help you to identify the source of the problem and provide suggestions about how to resolve it.
- Have your pavement seal coated. Ask a local paving contractor whether or not your parking lot should be seal coated before the arrival of winter weather. Seal coating is an excellent way to protect the pavement. How often your parking lot requires seal coating will depend on usage and the climate in your area, which is why it’s a good idea to ask your paving contractor for their recommendation.
Preparing your parking lot for winter not only protects the money you have invested in that paved surface; it can also save you money by avoiding costly repairs in the future! But there’s another reason to act now, during the relatively mild fall weather – it’s much easier for paving contractors to perform repair and maintenance tasks now than in the winter. So don’t put it off any longer! Fall may have just begun, but it will take time to get your parking lot ready for winter, so there’s no time like the present to contact a reputable paving contractor. Follow these simple steps to save your parking lot from damaging winter weather – and to save your pocketbook from costly pavement repairs next spring!