1. LOOK CLOSELY AND DO A VISUAL INSPECTION
Take the time to do a thorough visual inspection of your paved areas as soon as the harsh weather of winter is over. Make sure you pay close attention to any damage. Even small cracks can grow into something bigger. As soon as possible, you should fix these problems, because water can seep into these cracks, freeze overnight, and then expand, making the pavement worse. Water can also seep under the asphalt and weaken the foundation, which can lead to sinking, potholes, and even collapse over time.
Potholes are not only unsightly, but they can also be dangerous. If they cause you to trip, fall, or get hurt, you could be putting yourself in danger. Paying for damages to a person’s body or to a car is a lot more expensive than fixing a few potholes. Make sure that any holes in the road are fixed so that you don’t get sued.
2. SEALCOAT REGULARLY
Sealcoating, which is also called “paving sealing,” is very important. Sealcoating is one of the best ways to keep asphalt paving in good shape and prevent damage. Sealcoating is the most important part of any plan for managing pavement. Sealcoating is the process of applying coal tar pitch or asphalt cement that has been mixed with inert fillers, water emulsifying agents, and/or additives. When put on in thin layers, this mixture protects off-road pavement surfaces from oil, gasoline, salt, water, and UV rays. At least once every two years, you should try to have sealcoating done on your asphalt. If you haven’t already, now is the time to plan one while the weather is dry.
3. GET BETTER AT LINE-STRIPPING
If the lines in the parking lot of your business are getting worn down, now is the best time to re-stripe the lot. A fresh coat of paint will not only make your parking lot look better, but it will also show your customers that you care about their health, safety, and well-being. For safe and easy parking outside of businesses, the parking lot needs to look nice. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires businesses to have handicap parking spots and regular parking spots that meet certain criteria and standards. This makes it safer for pedestrians, drivers, and visitors, and it also makes your business look better, since “appearance is everything” and means more sales and money coming in.
Make sure to line and paint all of the following areas so that your customers can find them easily:
- Parking spaces
- Fire lanes Accessible places
- No parking zones
- Loading zones and speed bumps
Jersey City Paving has a full range of maintenance and repair services for asphalt and parking lots. From painting lines to fixing holes, our team of professionals can help you with anything.
4. CLEAN UP/CLEAN YOUR EDGE
Grass and weeds can often get through the top layer of asphalt and damage it from the bottom up. Over time, this makes it less strong and more likely to break or crack. You can help stop this from happening by keeping the edges of your asphalt clear of weeds and other plants. You can also think about putting a curb along the edges of your asphalt. This will not only make your parking lot look better, but it will also make it easier to keep weeds and grass from growing.
Belgian block is one type of material that can be used to make a good edge around your driveway and/or asphalt areas. If you want to use pavers to edge your driveway and want the most durable material, you should use Belgian block, which is also called cobblestone pavers.
5. ASPHALT MAINTENANCE
Many people think that cleaning asphalt is a waste of time because it will only get dirty again. What if I told you that it can make your blacktop last a lot longer? Every day, damage is done to parking lots of all sizes that are easy to stop. Keeping your asphalt in good shape requires that you clean it often. Make sure to clear your pavement of any rocks, leaves, or dirt on a regular basis so that it’s clear for your guests. This will not only make it look better but also make it much safer. Also, make sure to clean any dirt and trash out of your drains. This will help both the drains and the pavement last longer. Make sure to check drains often and empty them so that water doesn’t build up in them.
