It doesn’t matter where you go in a city, you’re going to see a fair amount of parking lots and drive ways. But have you ever noticed the poor condition that many of them are in?
For every new parking lot, there are many that desperately need to be serviced by a residential parking lot paving company.
In this month’s post, we’re going to look at 6 causes of recurring parking lot damage that we’ve seen over the years.
1. Inadequate Previous Repairs – Residential Parking Lot Paving
A lot of amateur contractors might try to fix a pothole by simply reapplying a top layer of asphalt. These kinds of “Band-Aid” fixes for underlying structural problems are merely short-lived solutions. We always recommend that you contact your local residential parking lot paving company to properly fix any major damage that your driveway and parking areas are experiencing.
2. Bad Soil Foundation – Residential Parking Lot Paving Maintenance
The soil underneath the road contributes greatly to its stability or lack thereof. Soil can damage the pavement above it in three ways:
- Soil that is too moist can flow too easily and cause pavement failures, so consider installing drains to keep the soil dry.
- Wet soil can also expand in cold weather as the water turns to ice, which disturbs the road above.
- Some types of soil can’t support the amount of weight a road must undergo every day.
Problems with the soil foundation usually call for the most expensive repairs involving removing the pavement, rearranging and replacing the soil, and reapplying the asphalt.
3. Sudden Water Damage – Residential Parking Lot Maintenance
Generally, water can seep into the asphalt, freeze in cold weather, and expand to cause major cracks in the road. However, it’s possible for sudden damage to occur.
If an underground pipe breaks suddenly, the water it leaks disrupts the soil around it, causing holes to develop. The type of damage these holes effect happens quickly enough that it’s usually mistaken for a sinkhole.
Thankfully, sudden water damage can easily be fixed as soon as the broken pipe is located. Still, when detected too late, you’ll need to contact a residential parking lot paving company to fix the damage.
4. Poorly-Executed Residential Parking Lot Paving
Not all paving jobs are done equally. Sometimes, an inexperienced engineer might choose the wrong materials when building the road. Maybe the parking lot paving company decided to cheap out too much and used lower-grade materials.
Whatever the case, a shoddy paving job may result in cracking where weaker parts of the road deteriorate faster than other parts. For example, if too little base coarse is applied, the road cannot support the amount of weight it’s expected to, resulting in damage over time.
You have to remember, driveways and parking lots are under constant stress when you’re vehicles are parked. While it may not seem like much, the average car weights nearly 4,079 pounds. When you add multiple vehicles, a lot of stress is being placed on the asphalt, which can quickly multiply if low-grade materials were used.
5. Temperatures and Climate – Residential Parking Lot Paving
The hot summer sun causes the asphalt in parking lots to expand and contract, again causing cracks, especially in the joints of the concrete.
Cold temperatures can also cause problems. As mentioned, water that freezes in the soil under the road expands, resulting in major breaks in the pavement.
If you believe this is the case for your driveway, call a residential parking lot paving company to assess the damage. Catching it early can reduce the costs you’ll have to pay to fix it.
6. Ultraviolet Rays & Its Effect on Residential Parking Lot Paving
Asphalt is made of various sediments of rock and sand held together by binding cement. When the sun’s rays break down this binding, the road can literally fall apart. If you’re seeing lots of loose gravel, that’s a sign it’s time to call a specialist.
About Melrose Paving | Residential Parking Lot Paving Company | Toronto – Mississauga & the GTA
It’s clear that parking lot damages can happen anywhere. If you think you’re at risk, call Melrose Paving and have our trained staff with over 35 years of experience help diagnose and fix any problems you might have with your residential paving.
We’re family owned and operated, so we understand the hassle parking lot damages can cause your home or residence. We work closely with clients in Toronto, Mississauga, and the GTA to develop cost-efficient and effective solutions for all your residential road paving needs.
- Road damage is ubiquitous, and constant maintenance is necessary.
- Water, extreme temperatures, and poor soil are major culprits.
- Call or contact Melrose Paving to solve any road-related woes anywhere in the GTA and surrounding areas.
