Top Asphalt Repair Tips for Birmingham Parking Lots

As a Birmingham property manager or business owner, you are always looking for ways to save money on maintenance and replacement costs. One of the best ways to do this is to help extend the life of your property’s systems and materials. Taking a more proactive approach to property care ensures you catch minor issues before they cause severe damage. You can significantly increase the life of your Birmingham parking lot by using these simple asphalt repair and care tips in the summer.

Cracked Asphalt Filling

Moisture is enemy number one for materials like asphalt. Cracks provide an easy way for water to penetrate asphalt, causing it to deteriorate much faster. As a result, your parking lot becomes riddled with potholes. Summer asphalt repairs address small cracks, filling them with a durable material that prevents cracks from worsening. Also, even small cracks allow for water penetration. However, by filling small cracks each summer, you avoid the need for untimely resurfacing or repaving your entire parking lot. This is one of the most effective pavement preservation treatments to prolong life.  

Repair Potholes

Potholes require asphalt repairs as soon as you discover them. Leaving them open allows water to penetrate and get into the parking lot’s foundation. It also turns small potholes into larger ones, creating deep fissures in the surrounding area. Birmingham asphalt repairs maintain parking lot safety to help avoid vehicle damage and prevent pedestrian injury. 

Today’s asphalt repairs use advanced infrared asphalt repair methods to quickly repair asphalt damage with a new, long-lasting surface. This unique approach fills in gaps and cracks with compacted hot-mix asphalt to create a smooth and even surface. The final step includes a rejuvenator that replaces lost oils for flexible, seamless transitions between new and existing asphalt.

Cleaning and Debris Removal

Debris removal might not seem like much. However, by removing debris from your parking lot not only in the summer months but throughout the year, you can protect the integrity and lifespan of your asphalt. Debris can interfere with proper drainage, clogging your pipes and allowing water to pool on your parking lot’s surface. As mentioned, water and moisture are very damaging to asphalt, and therefore maintaining proper drainage is a must. 

Next, debris such as leaves, paper, and plastics can carry harmful residue and contaminants that corrode asphalt leading to damage requiring costly asphalt repairs. By minimizing the amount of debris in your parking lot, you can help limit contamination. Cleaning your parking lot surface every summer then removes damaging residue, including tree sap, motor oil, vehicle fluids, etc. These contaminants stain your asphalt, not only ruining your parking lot’s appearance but also indicating possible damage from corrosive materials.

Weather-Resistant Sealcoating

Asphalt-based waterproofing sealant sprays both protect and improve asphalt surfaces. They provide a crisp, unified look while preventing moisture penetration that leads to cracks and potholes. It is a crucial step to prevent damage and prolong life. The sealant effectively blocks asphalt pores so water, oil, chemicals, and gas can’t leach into the surface. The treatment also restores flexibility to prevent weight capacity loss. Sealcoating helps reverse the ravages of sun exposure, wear and tear, and the elements that reduce the lifespan of your asphalt. 

The sooner you begin applying sealcoating, the longer your asphalt will last. However, it can be applied to both new and old parking lots. This step is critical to help asphalt withstand the heat of a Birmingham summer and can be applied every two to three years. As an added benefit, sealcoating also penetrates fissures, cracks, and small holes, protecting from further damage. These areas become more durable, contributing to extended life and protecting against harmful chemicals like oil.  

Potholes and cracks are not just unattractive. They also make your parking lot unsafe for pedestrians and vehicles. By maintaining your parking lot with regular summer repairs, you improve the appearance of your property and provide a safe parking area for customers, employees, and visitors. Better yet, summer maintenance can help you effectively extend the lifespan of your asphalt parking lot in Birmingham.

Your parking lot can be restored to its original condition with the help of EverLine Coatings‘ asphalt repair service. Click here to request a quote.