A-1 Asphalt Inc. is proud to serve as your local and trusted asphalt parking lot contractor in Greater Grand Rapids, MI. As such, we know that Michigan winters can dole out a lot of snow and ice before spring arrives. This means that keeping up on asphalt parking lot maintenance is more important than ever. It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on asphalt damage so it can be repaired in a timely manner once paving season resumes.
In the meantime, here’s what you need to know about how winter weather affects your asphalt parking lot.
Freeze-Thaw Cycles
In West Michigan, the freeze-thaw cycles can be vicious. This is especially true for asphalt parking lots. With each freeze-thaw cycle, the ground expands and contracts which can create cracks and even potholes.
To reduce the amount of damage winter wreaks on your asphalt parking lot, there are a few preventive measures you can take. For example, many business owners consider it a worthwhile investment to hire an asphalt contractor. A professional will have the necessary experience to install a high-quality sub-base for your parking lot.
The sub-base serves as the foundation for your whole parking lot and can prevent cracking during snowy or icy weather patterns.
Snowplows
Professional snowplow drivers will make sure the plow blade is set high enough so that it won’t cause damage to your . However, sometimes mistakes are made or a rookie driver can mark up your parking lot. When this happens, you may have a few minor scrapes along the surface of your pavement. To remedy this, ask us about asphalt parking lot repairs in the spring.
Salt and Snowmelt Chemicals
During the winter months, the surface of your parking lot can become slippery from ice, hail, or freezing rain. To prevent lawsuits, it is important to make sure that your parking lot is de-iced as much as possible to prevent slip-and-falls and to create safer driving conditions for your customers.
While hot-mix asphalt is great for withstanding salt, the same can’t be said for pavement markings, such as parking lot striping. Certain snowmelt chemicals can also impact your local waterways and seep into your water table to cause a negative environmental impact.
While it’s important to keep a safe ice-free parking lot for your customers, consider if snowmelt chemicals are necessary the next time you decide to use them.
Flooding
Snow eventually melts. Without proper drainage, meltwater will pond on the surface of your parking lot. When this happens, the standing water can weaken pavement and make it more vulnerable to . We recommend checking your asphalt parking lot for sections of sunken pavement. Otherwise, you could have an unwelcome surprise next spring.
Schedule Parking Lot Maintenance & Repairs
Need to hire an asphalt parking lot contractor in Greater Grand Rapids, MI? Call A-1 Asphalt Inc. at (616) 877-4400 to schedule an estimate. Our team would be more than happy to restore the look and function of your asphalt parking lot. You may also contact us online and someone from our team will reach out to you soon.
This blog post has been updated.