Asphalt Parking Lot Repairs: A Look At Milling

When it comes to maintaining the functionality and extending the lifespan of an asphalt parking lot, milling stands out as a superior repair technique. This cost-effective method not only addresses surface damage effectively but also prepares the existing pavement for resurfacing, ensuring stronger adhesion and a smoother finish.

Milling Vs. Lot Removal

If your asphalt parking lot seems plagued with constant problems, patching and basic asphalt parking lot repairs act as band-aids but they don’t really fix the problem long term. In these severe cases, you have two options – milling or full lot replacement.

Full lot replacement is the more expensive option, and, if the damage to your lot is limited to the top layers of asphalt, milling can be much more cost-effective. At Quality Parking Lot Maintenance, we can provide you with commercial excavation and investigation services that determine why your lot is experiencing chronic issues. In many cases, we will find that milling can address the issues. 

Keep in mind, that if your lot has deep structural issues, we may recommend full replacement. While this is expensive, our team of expert commercial paving contractors can provide you with the highest quality parking lot paving in Florida. In many cases, however, milling will be a good option, especially if the sub-base layer is in good shape.

Asphalt milling offers a sustainable approach by recycling old materials and correcting surface irregularities without the need for complete pavement replacement. Let’s explore the process of asphalt milling and how it rejuvenates parking lots by removing damaged layers, improving drainage, and enhancing overall pavement performance.

Milling Removes Damaged Layers Of Asphalt

Asphalt milling is commonly used by asphalt paving contractors to remove damaged or deteriorated layers of asphalt, such as those with severe cracking, potholes, or extensive surface wear. By milling these asphalt layers away, a smooth surface is prepared for the application of new asphalt without removing the entire pavement structure.

Milling Corrects Surface Irregularities

Milling can correct surface irregularities and imperfections, such as ruts and bumps, ensuring a level surface. This is crucial for the structural integrity and longevity of the pavement, as well as for safety.

Milling & The Resurfacing Process

Before resurfacing an existing pavement with a new layer of asphalt, milling can be used to remove the top layer. This ensures that the new layer adheres properly and remains even with curbs and drainage systems, maintaining the original pavement geometry.

Milling & Surface Texture

With Florida’s frequent rains, it’s crucial that business owners do all they can to ensure that their parking lot is as safe and slip-resistant as possible. Milling can be used to create a specific surface texture on the pavement. This can help improve the skid resistance and overall safety of the lot, especially in wet conditions.

Milling Can Address Drainage Issues

If a parking lot or road has poor drainage, milling can be used to adjust the grade or slope of the surface, helping to direct water flow more effectively and prevent water accumulation.

In general, improper drainage is perhaps an asphalt parking lot’s number-one enemy. Ensuring that your lot has proper drainage and grading is one of the best ways to preserve the life of your asphalt parking lot for as long as possible.

Milling Can Adjust Pavement Thickness

Milling can be precisely controlled to remove just the right thickness of the pavement, which is vital when the height of the pavement surface needs to be maintained for drainage or other engineering purposes.

Choosing a quality commercial paving company is crucial for milling because if the milling is not controlled carefully, milling may remove more asphalt than necessary, potentially weakening the remaining pavement.

Asphalt: Some Fun Facts

Did you know that asphalt can be recycled? The asphalt removed during the milling process can be recycled and reused in new pavement mixtures, reducing waste and the need for raw materials. This makes asphalt milling an environmentally friendly process.

Asphalt is a composite material that primarily contains bitumen and aggregates. Bitumen is a semi-solid form of petroleum, and this material serves as the binding agent for the aggregate materials, which make up the bulk of the asphalt mixture. These materials might include gravel, crushed stone and sand.

Additionally, additives can be mixed in to enhance certain properties of the asphalt parking lot such as enhancing its durability, reducing its sensitivity to temperatures or improving the asphalt’s resistance to deformation.

Need Parking Lot Maintenance? Contact Us Today!

Asphalt milling is just one of the commercial paving services that we offer at Quality Parking Lot Maintenance. We can provide you with new asphalt or concrete installations, and help you determine whether an asphalt or concrete parking lot is your best option as both have their advantages and disadvantages.

Additionally, sealcoating a parking lot is another one of our areas of expertise and once sealcoating is complete, we can provide you with parking lot line striping, including ADA-compliant striping. Whether you need milling, line striping, sealcoating, patching or other asphalt parking lot maintenance, we are here to help and serve the entire state of Florida. Contact us today to discuss your paving needs and to receive a free estimate for our services.