Parking Lot Paving: How Long Should Your Lot Last?

An asphalt parking lot typically can last for up to 30 years, but there are many factors that affect the longevity of a parking lot. At Quality Parking Lot Maintenance, we can provide you with any type of parking lot paving service you might need, and many of these services can extend the life of your lot.

6 Factors That Affect Longevity

In general, the following factors can affect the lifespan of your parking lot paving. Our commercial paving company can help with many of these tasks, but some of the responsibility will fall on the business owner or commercial property managers. 

1. Parking Lot Installation Quality

In many ways, the quality of the initial parking lot installation is one of the biggest factors in how well the lot will withstand the test of time. For instance, it’s crucial to have a properly prepared and compacted base. Poor base preparation can lead to many serious issues and premature failure of your lot.

The thickness of the asphalt also is important. Generally, adequate thickness would be about two to four inches, as this provides a higher level of durability than a thinner lot. The quality of materials also is a huge factor, and we use the highest quality asphalt mixes along with proper compaction to ensure a long-lasting surface.

2. Regular Parking Lot Maintenance

Regular long-term maintenance is one of the most cost-effective ways to ensure that your asphalt parking lot lasts for as long as possible. This maintenance includes regular cleaning and inspections, as well as ensuring that all of the drains around the lot are clear.

While those tasks can be handled in-house, we also recommend that you contact our team of asphalt paving contractors for several additional services. For instance, sealcoating a parking lot needs to be handled about every two years and quality sealcoating can go a long way toward preserving your parking lot.

Sealcoating is an expense, but in the long run, regular coating will save you money by preventing costly repairs or the need for milling or complete lot replacement. When we arrive to seal coat a parking lot, we also can provide you with any asphalt parking lot repair you might need, such as patching or addressing cracks or potholes. We also can provide you with parking lot line striping services, including ADA-compliant parking spaces.

3. Drainage Issues

Improper drainage is one of the biggest contributors to parking lot failure. Ensuring that your lot has good drainage prevents water accumulation. Standing water is one of the biggest enemies of a parking lot, and this can weaken the asphalt surface and the base layers. An effective drainage system will be a huge ally in terms of preserving your lot.

4. Overall Design

While drainage is crucial, proper slope and grading of your commercial paving also are important. This ensures effective water runoff and reduces the risk of water damage. You also need to ensure that there is adequate support for the parking lot edges. Without support, edges can deteriorate and crumble.

5. Climate & Weather Conditions

Temperature fluctuations, precipitation and UV exposure all will affect your parking lot. Extreme temperatures and temperature fluctuations can cause asphalt to expand and contract.

Rain can penetrate into cracks and weaken the base, leading to potholes and surface deterioration. Prolonged sun exposure can cause oxidation, which can make the asphalt brittle and prone to cracking.

While we cannot do anything to change the weather in Florida, proper seal coating, cleaning and good drainage will go a long way to combating the extremes in weather and temperature we often experience in our state.

6. Traffic Load & Usage

A busy parking lot with a high traffic volume will accelerate the degradation process, and heavy vehicles also will cause more wear and tear compared with lighter vehicles. Directing heavier vehicles to use only certain parts of your lot can protect some of the structure, protecting the most vulnerable areas of the lot.

For lots that incur heavy use, a thicker asphalt base is recommended. A well-compacted, strong base layer can help distribute loads more effectively and prevent deformation. Again, the quality of the asphalt mix will come into play here, as well. A mix designed for heavy use and the use of the right type and size of aggregates can enhance the strength and longevity of your asphalt.

What About Concrete?

Concrete parking lots tend to be rare in Florida and this is due to a couple of factors. The initial cost of a concrete lot is much more expensive, and asphalt is much faster to install. Concrete requires a long time to cure, as well. Of course, a concrete lot also tends to last about 30 to 40 years, which is longer than asphalt.

In general, many of the same factors that indicate how long an asphalt lot will last apply to a concrete lot as well. Proper maintenance, sealing and making timely repairs, along with expert installation and adequate drainage will be needed to keep your concrete parking lot in great shape for as long as possible. Our team of commercial paving contractors can provide you with asphalt and concrete paving services and repairs whenever they are needed.

Contact Our Commercial Paving Company Today!

No matter what type of parking lot paving services you might need, our concrete and asphalt paving company can help. We can install a new lot or provide you with commercial asphalt milling, repairs, seal coating, line striping and more. We are based in Tampa, and we serve clients throughout the great state of Florida.