How to Prepare Your Parking Lot for Winter?

As you may know, the winter season brings many challenges to asphalt and concrete pavement. Your parking lot might benefit from a little help to be able to handle the effects that come with winter. Preparing will help protect your pavement from damaging elements when snow hits.

The coming snowstorms, ice storms, and freezing temperatures result in constant thawing and freezing. This cycle will stress your business’s parking lot, and eventually lead to damage requiring repairs. Better to do minor repairs in the fall than more major and expensive ones in the spring.

Steps You Can Take Now to Protect Your Parking Lot Before Winter Hits

Book Snow Removal Services in Advance

Lock down your service provider: if you’re looking to clear your property of snow as soon as it falls, it’s important to have a plan in place before the storm hits. That way, you can relax and know that your snow removal method is booked beforehand, and the snow will be cleared in a timely manner.

Related: How long in advance do I need to pre-book snow removal services?

Clean and Clear Your Parking Lot

It is important to clear away any leaves, dirt, trash, and other debris from the parking lot surface. Damage can be caused by snow plows dragging and grinding random debris against asphalt or concrete surfaces. Debris can also cause damage by holding moisture in one spot for an extended period. Also, before the first storm, you’ll want to address any chemical or oil spills. Doing so will help prevent new cracks from forming.

Make Repairs

Potholes form when water seeps through cracks in the asphalt, freezes and expands. When the weather gets warmer, the water fully melts and contraction occurs which causes surface breakage that can turn into potholes. If you have any existing cracks in your parking lot, you’ll want to have them repaired before winter. This will reduce the amount of water seeping into the concrete, which decreases the likelihood of bigger problems down the road.

Consider Seal Coating

An overall inspection of your parking lot may show you that it’s not looking as good as it once did and would benefit from being seal coated before winter temperatures hit. Sealcoating is a very affordable, quick, and easy service that makes your parking lot last longer and look better. It seals minor cracks that occur over time and offers defense against the deterioration caused by UV rays from the sun.

Regular seal coating can help you avoid expensive repairs in the future. It’s a small investment that can save you a lot of money in the long run.

Make sure Your Parking Lot Has Good Drainage

Water drainage is an extremely important part of any parking lot or roadway. When water isn’t properly drained, it can lead to expensive problems. If you notice areas of your parking lot with constant puddles or standing water, act as quickly as possible. These wet areas may indicate problems within the drainage system of your parking lot and may affect your entire property.

Prepare Your Parking Lot for Winter with Burnaby Blacktop

Like many things, acting ahead of time isn’t always easy, but it can make it a lot easier for you once winter hits. Burnaby Blacktop can inspect your property and provide you with a detailed and itemized estimate because you should know exactly what you are getting and what to expect. Call us at (778) 855-0513, fill out our online form, or just send us an email.