Winter is very hard on parking lots. Low temperatures, ice, and road salt do a lot of damage to asphalt. They make it crack, buckle, and degrade, and that can lead to some high repair bills in the Spring. So, now that Fall is here and temperatures are cooling down, it’s time to do some asphalt maintenance and prepare your parking lot for the Winter. A little asphalt maintenance now means less asphalt repair in the Spring.
Fall Asphalt Maintenance Tips
At a minimum, you need to be doing the following things for your parking lot in the Fall:
- Pressure Washing: Pressure washing removes dirt and debris, making your lot look cleaner. Not only that, but it also removes petroleum products and such that have coated the asphalt. These chemicals can seep into cracks in the asphalt and really cause damage when they freeze.
- Crack Patching: Small cracks in the Fall will become big cracks in the Spring, thanks to the effects of winter. Patch them now and you won’t have to worry about costly repairs in a few months.
- Sealcoating: Water expands when it freezes, so even small amounts of water seeping into and under the asphalt will tear it apart in the Winter. Sealcoating your parking lot before Winter hits will save you a lot of trouble.
- Protect the Edges: Plants can also damage asphalt over time. Roots grow slowly, but they’re surprisingly powerful. Keep grass and weeds away from the edges of your asphalt to keep roots from growing under it and slowly tearing it apart.
Protect Your Investment
Your asphalt surface is an investment and you need to protect it. Asphalt is one of the most visible parts of your organization or home, and it plays a big role in determining curb appeal. And curb appeal plays a big role in the impression that people, including potential customers, get of your organization or that potential buyers or even just friends get of your home.
Minimize Asphalt Repair: Call Us Today
Call us at XSealer Asphalt Maintenance today for a free fall asphalt maintenance estimate. We have a lot of experience with commercial and residential seal coating and paving. We can prevent minor asphalt repair issues from becoming major asphalt repair issues.