First impressions are important in most aspects of everyday life, especially when it comes to your business. That’s why maintaining an attractive parking lot is essential to the overall success of your company. Because a parking lot is your customer’s first impression of your place of business, potholes, cracks, and other neglected repairs can reflect poorly on your company and even detour guests from entering your building. Not to mention, this deferred maintenance can ultimately lead to a lawsuit! If you’re wondering how drastically improve your company’s curb appeal, keep reading as our experts at Encore Pavement, a leading asphalt paving company in Wichita, Kansas, detail how you can improve the appearance of your parking lot through a proactive maintenance approach!
Inspect Parking Spaces
One of the most important things to look for as a property owner is if your current parking spaces are too close together. Achieving the perfect balance between utilizing your space and ensuring a comfortable distance for parking spaces can be difficult, so it is important to consult with an expert asphalt paving company in Wichita, Kansas, to avoid crowding and an increased chance of collision at your place of business. If you feel that your spaces are too close, you may choose to reconfigure your lot to allow more breathing room and reduce your overall risk of liability. Don’t forget to restripe your lot properly to create optimum safety and efficiency for all customers and visitors!
Evaluate the Overall Condition
As a facility owner, you are responsible for ensuring the safety and integrity of your property and parking lot. There are several signs to look for when determining if your parking lot is in need of repair or maintenance. Acting on these signs will not only help prevent any current problems from worsening but will save you thousands of dollars in the long run. We recommend looking for the following signs:
- Exposed unsealed cracks—Unsealed cracks expose not only the surface but also the underlying base material to the damaging effects of water and freeze-thaw cycles.
- Excessive cracking—“Alligator” cracking indicates that there may be a problem under the surface, meaning that areas with this cracking could potentially have base failure and may need to be completely replaced to restabilize your asphalt parking lot.
- Grey surface appearance—If it has been more than 12 months since the initial installation or more than three years since your last sealcoat application, you should start budgeting and planning for your next round of preventative maintenance to maximize the longevity of your parking lot.
- Tight turn radius—If your parking lot is experiencing a tight turn radius, the pavement in this area will likely fail prematurely due to the additional stress of cars grinding around the curve. Consider rethinking the layout of your lot or installing a more durable type of surface in this area.
Ensure Compliance
Once you ensure your parking lot is functional, smooth, and appropriately marked, it also must remain compliant with the law! From a legal standpoint, ensuring your parking lot is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act is essential for your customers’ basic safety and accessibility. Because ADA compliance regulations vary from state to state and city to city, it is best practice to seek out an experienced asphalt paving company to help you navigate the laws in your area and ensure your facility is in compliance. This will allow you to focus on what you do best, running your business!
