A clean, well-maintained parking lot in your commercial premises creates a good impression. However, while constructing the parking space, you need to choose the material carefully. Concrete and asphalt are common materials used for the surface of a parking lot. That’s why you must evaluate the pros and cons of both these materials to make the right choice.
We’d like to discuss the factors that help you distinguish between asphalt and concrete to create your parking zone.
Installation Cost- Asphalt Versus Concrete
Cost is the most significant factor for your parking lot construction in Edmonton. In terms of upfront costs, asphalt costs less than concrete. That is why most commercial property owners want to invest in asphalt for their parking lots. The overall costs may vary with the local markets. What’s more, asphalt allows quicker installation, ensuring minimal disruption to your business operations during construction.
However, concrete is costlier to install, although it provides a longer-lasting value. You may need to replace or resurface asphalt after 25 years, but with proper parking lot maintenance in Edmonton, the concrete surface lasts longer.
Which is a More Durable Material?
Durability is another factor that lets you choose between concrete and asphalt for the parking zone. Although asphalt is resilient, temperature fluctuations may cause damage to the surface. In the chilly winter months, asphalt has a risk of cracks. But, you can easily repair the asphalt surface and restore it. Resurfacing will extend the lifespan of your asphalt parking lot.
On the contrary, extreme temperatures do not affect concrete surfaces. One demerit of concrete is that it gets stained. Moreover, if the surface is not properly reinforced, heavy loads will cause cracks in the concrete parking lot.
Although concrete is a popular choice, it is difficult to repair damages.
Which Has More Maintenance Needs?
Most parking lot owners are concerned about the long-term maintenance costs. Although asphalt is a cost-effective material, it needs regular maintenance. Experts recommend seal coating and crack filling to maintain the best condition of the parking lot. You need to seal the surface every few years to prevent potential water damage.
On the contrary, a concrete parking lot’s surface needs less maintenance. Although it has a risk of surface wear and cracks, it needs less frequent maintenance. So, you will save a lot in the long run.
Which is More Aesthetic?
An asphalt parking lot looks more attractive because it has a smooth and sleek finish. It reflects a professional look, which is important for commercial premises. The marks or stripes on the surface will be visible, ensuring convenience to visitors. But, the surface may fade in due course if it receives high traffic regularly.
Concrete has a decorative look, as you can add textures and stains to the surface. However, these customizations will make the parking lot construction project costlier.
Which is Eco-friendly?
Most businesses want to choose sustainable materials for their parking lots. Although asphalt contains petroleum-based ingredients, it is recyclable. You can invest in recycled asphalt to construct your parking lot. It is the best approach for showing your eco-consciousness.
On the contrary, slag or fly ash is used to make concrete. Although it is not recyclable, it minimizes environmental impact. Due to its longevity, concrete is a more sustainable material.
Looking for the Most Reliable Parking Lot Experts?
Vital Property is a prominent company with a team of professionals for parking lot maintenance in Edmonton. We construct new parking zones and maintain the existing ones. We aim to deliver top-notch solutions for your parking lot. Contact us and learn more about our services.
Do you have a large parking lot in your commercial premises? A well-maintained parking area ensures your customers’ safety and reflects your professionalism. But, negligence in parking lot maintenance in Edmonton will cause several hazards. To avoid legal issues, you should keep the area clean and damage-free. Here are a few signs indicating that your Edmonton parking lot needs maintenance without delay.
Potholes
A parking lot surface with potholes is not just an aesthetic issue. It will cause safety risks to pedestrians and car drivers. When rainwater seeps into the pavement, it freezes and expands. It results in the potholes formation because the frozen element melts and creates a void. The weight of traffic causes a collapse to the pavement. It leads to the development of a pothole.
Potholes also damage vehicles’ suspensions and tires. So, hire experts to repair potholes on the parking lot’s surface.
Buckling and Warping Signs
Most parking surfaces are designed to endure the weight of cars and weather elements. However, some factors may cause buckling and warping of the surface over time. These signs indicate an issue with the structural integrity.
Temperature fluctuations cause the expansion and contraction of the asphalt. Like other materials, asphalt degrades in due course. Moreover, heavy vehicles cause constant pressure that leads to buckling signs. If the materials used for the parking lot are not durable, there is a risk of damage. Once you have noticed surface degradation, call the professionals for maintenance.
Fading Line Stripping
The markings on the parking surface serve different purposes. If these lines are not prominent, it will cause safety and aesthetic issues. Clear markings are vital because they direct both pedestrians and vehicles to navigate the site safely. The lines also reduce potential accidents and ensure smooth flow.
The parking lot maintenance experts will identify the missing and faded markings and restore them. They will also keep the surface dirt-free and stain-free. A well-striped parking area reflects your professionalism. Your customers will think that you care for their safety.
Drainage Issue
It is another sign indicating the need to maintain the parking area. If you have noticed standing water on the surface, call the professionals for repair. Drainage problems may cause severe damage to the parking lot’s structure. Water that seeps into the cracks degrades the asphalt surface.
Regular maintenance of the surface will ensure the proper functioning of the drainage system. It prevents water buildup and preserves the pavement’s integrity.
Even more, proper drainage makes your parking lot long-lasting. However, improper drainage will cause standing water to penetrate the asphalt. It will also make the base weaker.
The standing water collects contaminants, carrying them to the local waterways. So, the parking area should be repaired to prevent water pollution.
Surface Wear and Brittleness
As asphalt ages, it results in the loss of oil, which ensures flexibility. But, if the oil starts drying out, the surface becomes brittle. Environmental factors (like harsh sunlight) and chemical spills accelerate the process. The parking lot’s surface appears crumbly, which affects its aesthetics. You may use concrete for parking lot construction to avoid this problem.
The experts will restore your parking area using different techniques, such as crack filling and seal coating. This approach will protect the surface and make it last a long time.
Find the Best Experts for Maintaining Your Parking Area
Vital Property is a reliable company that has experienced professionals for Parking Lot Maintenance in Edmonton. Our experts will check your parking surface and repair the damaged parts. Our strategic surface treatments will alleviate brittleness and damage risks. Your parking lot will be safer for every visitor.
A well-maintained commercial parking lot allows a business to create a positive impression on its clients. So, most businesses invest in cleaning services for parking lot maintenance in Edmonton to keep the surface dirt-free.
But have you ever thought of maintaining your parking zone with line striping? Parking lot line striping, also known as pavement striping, is a traffic marking process. It involves painting symbols and lines in the parking area.
Now, what are the benefits of line striping for your parking lot? Keep reading to find out.
Add an Aesthetic Value to the Area
If the car parking surface is left bare, it does not look attractive. The best way to make it aesthetic is to paint lines. Without these lines, your parking area will appear as a chunk of asphalt or concrete.
Bright lines painted on the black surface are appealing. A visually pleasing area will impress the passersby and customers. A clearly marked lot will catch the visitors’ attention.
Prevent Potential Damage
The lines displayed on the parking surface act as a guide to most car owners. If there are no lines or the existing lines fade away, it may lead to parking issues. For example, some car drivers bump into other vehicles while trying to park.
Most drivers park their vehicles too close to each other. It increases the risk of door dings and scratches when people get in or out of the vehicle. A clearly marked surface will prevent damage to your property.
Ensure Safety
Parking lot striping keeps pedestrians and drivers safe. Edmonton is a bustling city with a lot of traffic. So, a clear parking zone with line striping provides directions to drivers and pedestrians. You can also display pedestrian signs and stop signs to ensure more effective safety measures.
Adverse weather elements may cause the lines to fade away over time. Thus, you need to maintain your parking lot lines to keep them legible and clear to visitors. The white lines will be visible to everyone during daytime and night time.
Higher Accessibility
Line striping creates a clear layout for a parking zone. With properly painted lines, you can show well-defined spots for drivers and pedestrians. In some states, there are legal obligations to display accessible areas in the parking lot.
Line striping is the best method for creating accessibility lines for visitors. These small details develop a sense of security in parking lot users.
Maximum Use of the Space
A commercial parking lot must accommodate cars of different sizes and models. A too-narrow space will prevent drivers from parking their large vehicles conveniently. Your customers and employees should not feel concerned about finding a proper space for parking the car.
Properly planned line striping allows you to make the optimal use of the parking space. The maximum number of cars can be parked in the area. If there are no lines, your visitors will park their cars anywhere, which will also cause navigational issues for others. You can also hire professionals for line striping that facilitates efficient spatial management.
Find the Best Professionals for Parking Lot Striping
Line striping is an important step for parking lot maintenance in Edmonton. The clear lines minimize the risk of collisions in the parking area. They guide pedestrians and drivers to park their vehicles in the right place. Moreover, they help you stay compliant with legal rules.
Vital Property is a trustworthy company that provides line striping services for your parking area. We have an efficient team to maintain the parking lots. Our experts have the best tools for removing snow and repairing concrete surfaces. We will clean the surfaces to create a spotless surface.
Your parking lot should be clean and damage-free to give the best experience to visitors. However, seasonal change causes an impact on parking areas. The parking zone experiences different issues every season, from sweltering summer to frigid winter. Weather elements cause deterioration to the paved surfaces. So, you can hire professionals for parking lot maintenance in Edmonton.
A Parking Lot’s Condition on the Summer Days
The summer heat is damaging to concrete and paved surfaces. You will notice durability issues, discoloration, and other problems in your parking zone.
Extreme heat causes dehydration to the concrete surface and degrades its strength. The materials will become loose, and you will find cracks in your parking lot. But, professional repairers will restore the surface by repairing the holes.
Moreover, temperature shock can damage even high-quality concrete material. Your parking lot’s material will not last long, as there is a risk of cracks. People in the urban areas must invest in concrete protection on the hot summer days.
The sun’s UV rays are also detrimental, as they cause discoloration. Higher temperatures and dehydrated concrete surfaces lead to a bleached appearance. The sun even turns a monochromatic parking lot into a bleached grey surface.
The sealant also gets destroyed when the temperatures are excessively high. You may choose stronger sealant materials and avoid epoxy ones. UV rays easily damage the epoxy on the parking surface.
Effects of Autumn on the Parking Surface
Autumn takes a toll on your parking area and other exterior surfaces. Fall foliage can harm the asphalt pavement and parking zones. Autumn leaves that contain tannins cause stains on the surface. Concrete surfaces make the stains more noticeable. Though the leaves do not damage the materials, they will temporarily discolor the surface. Call professionals to remove the stains and maintain aesthetics.
Brittle leaves from big trees may not cause severe damage to the durable asphalt. However, some leaves carry abrasive dirt that scratches the asphalt surface. It is easy to remove the scratches and scuffs from the surface.
Although fall foliage appears beautiful, it carries pests and fungi. These microorganisms slowly affect the underlying asphalt layers and blacktop seal coating. That is why it is essential to remove debris and leaves from the asphalt parking surfaces.
The accumulated leaves on the pavement and parking zones absorb water. Moisture not only causes stains but also leads to asphalt erosion. Water gets into the deep layers through cracks and pores. Temperature fluctuations cause contraction and expansion of the material, resulting in cracks.
Winter Season and the Hazards to Your Parking Lot
Winter leaves a blanket of snow and makes Mother Nature look beautiful. But, it poses a safety risk to your parking lot users. Snow accumulation will affect the parking capacity. It limits accessibility for both employees and customers. The snowy, slippery surface also increases the risk of accidents to visitors. So, your parking lot maintenance team should remove snow during heavy snowfall. Experts will make the surface easily navigable on winter days.
The piles of snow also cause structural issues to your pavement. It leads to cracks and potholes, reducing the longevity of the parking zone. Thus, create your snow management plan and keep the site safe.
The Effects of Spring on the Parking Zones
You might have created a spring cleaning routine for your office and home. Your parking lot also needs your attention in the spring.
Winter weather may leave behind potential safety hazards and unsightly debris. Accumulated debris and snow will shorten the lifespan of the paved surface. The leftover debris may also put the drivers and pedestrians at risk. You need professional sweeping services to overcome post-winter challenges.
Sometimes, spring rainfall causes a pool of water in your parking lot because of the clogged drain. Regular sweeping is essential to keep the drainage system functional and clear.
Spring is a season of renewal, but your parking zone needs maintenance to stay in top condition. If your commercial premises receive a high amount of traffic, invest in parking lot upkeep services.
Conclusion
To conclude, your parking lot needs maintenance throughout the year. Every season brings different challenges that need to be addressed efficiently. At Vital Property, we specialize in year-round parking lot maintenance in Edmonton. Whether it’s sealing cracks, clearing debris, or managing snow, our experts are here to provide reliable and affordable solutions to keep your parking area in pristine shape. Don’t let seasonal changes compromise your parking lot—reach out to us today for professional care and peace of mind.
Usually, visitors’ first impression of a company is its parking lot, which tells volumes about the maintenance and care a company pays to its grounds. Not only is regular parking lot care aesthetically pleasing, but it also significantly affects lifespan, safety, and utility. In this blog, we will explore the reasons for the need for consistent parking lot care, the services involved, and how choosing the right maintenance company can make all the difference.
1. Improving Safety
Safety is the first concern of any parking lot. Wear and tear over time may produce potholes, fissures, and uneven surfaces that might cause mishaps and injuries. Regular parking lot maintenance in Edmonton ensures these issues are addressed promptly, reducing the likelihood of falls, trips, and car mishaps. It is possible to keep your parking lot safe for both automobiles and walkers by investing in a competent parking lot management program.
2. Verifying Correct Drainage
Other common problems that can be found in neglected parking lots include puddles of water that may form. Slippery roads, more pavement deterioration, and even car damage might all follow from it. Other maintenance involves ensuring drainage facilities are correct, refraining from water accumulation and associated risks.
3. Extending the Life of the Pavement
Pavement of the parking lot is a capital intensive area that like any other capital must be protected. Taking good care of your pavement makes it last longer and hence reduces the amount of money that you spend in the long run.
Sealcoating is essential in the maintenance of a parking lot. It provides a barrier that protects the pavement from UV light, rain, and snow. This procedure assists in averting the formation of cracks and potholes thus maintaining the excellent state of the pavement for a longer duration.
4. Crack Sealing
Over time, cracks are inevitable, yet, your handling of them will make all the difference. A somewhat cheap approach to stop minor fractures from becoming more costly, bigger issues is crack sealing. Regular crack sealing performed by a parking lot care company can greatly increase the lifetime of your pavement.
5. Enhancing Appearance
The first impression is crucial which is why a clean parking lot is always associated with the right company image. A clean, level, clear, and well-defined parking area shows how much you care for your business and your clients.
6. Cleaning and Debris Elimination
The welcoming parking lot is always clean. There is also regular sweeping and clearance of garbage to ensure that the area does not attract dirt, leaves, and other rubbish that is likely to make the place look dirty. This enhances looks and halts deterioration due to garbage.
7. Money Saving
Though, doing regular maintenance requires some investment, it is far less expensive than carrying out repairs or even complete resurfacing. Eventually, the habit of managing small issues before they transform into significant ones will serve you well in terms of saving money.
8. Energy Optimization
Also, parking lots that save energy with adequate illumination are cleaned well. Current technologies for replacement of old inefficient lighting systems help in saving energy bills and enhancing safety and visibility.
9. Following Rules of Compliance
In Canada, there are certain regulations regarding the security and maintenance of parking lots. Regular maintenance helps ensure that your parking lot complies with these rules, avoiding potential fines or legal issues.
Additionally, your parking lot must adhere to accessibility standards as outlined in the Accessible Canada Act (ACA). This includes providing clearly marked accessible parking spaces, proper signage, and smooth, hazard-free surfaces.
10. Environmental Control Policies
Avoidance of pollutants getting into the storm water system is also part of proper maintenance and management of runoff. Environmental rules can assist a dedicated parking lot maintenance service company in guaranteeing your car parking lot is advantageous for the environment.
Conclusion
Regular parking lot maintenance is a measure that provides safety not only prolongs the life of pavements and, in the long run, is cost-effective as opposed to making the property look aesthetically pleasing. Choosing a competent parking lot maintenance service could assist in improving its shape so that guests would notice it and everybody would be safe.
Though it seems like an extra outlay, regular maintenance is a wise investment that pays off over time. Start your maintenance schedule today with Vital Property to enjoy the advantages of a well-kept, safe, and appealing parking lot before your lot is in ruin.
Not only is a well-kept parking lot helpful for customers and workers, but it also shows that you care about safety and efficiency. However, the surface and structure of your parking lot can slowly get worse over time due to constant car traffic, weather, and other factors.
Routine scans are the initial stage of any parking lot maintenance strategy. Check items for damage indicators, such as cracks, holes, or drainage defects. Handling things like that as soon as they come up will keep them from getting worse and save you money in the long run if other things need to be fixed.
2. Preventive Maintenance
Create a maintenance schedule that will be appropriate for your parking lot. In this group can be common jobs such as painting, crack filling, and sealing. Sealing a thing with sealant offers it a place of refuge from water, UV rays, and chemicals in addition, it prevents water from getting to the subbase which causes more damage. New lines will keep the road safe and will make it easy and smooth for cars to pass.
3. Drainage
To put your parking lot in good condition, you should pay particular attention to its drainage system. The water can accumulate when drainage is poor, that causes the surface to wear fast and it can be hazardous too. Ensure the grade of your parking area is correct such that the water will flow off of it. You should also likely consider basins for catch, trench drains or swales for storm water management.
4. Fixing Damage on the Surface
Fix the surface as soon as possible to prevent the issue from spreading. To ensure that it remains smooth, even, and level, fix the cracks, fill the holes, and fix the edges that are coming apart. Failure to look after the problems like these may worsen the infrastructure of parking lot and can also contribute to car accidents.
5. Regular Cleaning
Ensure your parking lot is cleaned at regular intervals to minimize litter and oil spills as they damage the environment. A clean environment is required not only for its visual appeal but also to give people a favorable impression.
6. Durable Practices
Implement sustainable parking lot maintenance with a goal to preserve the ecology and save money in the long run. Among the solutions to recharge groundwater and mitigate the overflow is to use surface materials. Attempt other techniques for melting the ice and snow and choose the ones that are not harmful to the environment and to your pavement.
7. Professional Assistance
Though some maintenance tasks can be performed by personnel, other jobs need special skills and machinery. Make sure that your parking lot goes through the necessary tasks by collaborating with an experienced team. They can answer your questions, do difficult repairs, and also suggest the best affordable options that match your parking lot needs and budget.
Conclusion
Putting money into maintaining the parking lot of your business property is a smart move that will pay off in the long run. You can make your parking lot last longer and keep it safe, functional, and attractive for years by putting in place a full maintenance plan that includes regular checks, preventative measures, proper drainage, surface repairs, cleaning, environmentally friendly methods, and professional help. Remember that preventative maintenance is the best way to avoid expensive fixes and make sure that both guests and renters have a good time.
