If your commercial parking lot is in need of some TLC, it’s always a good idea to call for the experts. Paving contractors can come to your site, take a look at your lot, and do some calculations before letting you know what type of repair work you’ll need and how much it will cost. In some cases, you might need just a few patches here and there. In extreme cases, you might need to tear the whole thing out and start again. There is, thankfully, a middle ground: asphalt parking lot resurfacing.
How Resurfacing Works
Asphalt parking lot resurfacing is pretty self-explanatory. Instead of pulling up the entirety of your lot pavement and starting from scratch, simply the top layers of your lot are removed and then replaced with fresh asphalt. The process is fairly straightforward, as your paving contractor will be able to explain to you, but there are a few different ways that resurfacing can be carried out:
Overlay resurfacing: Fresh new asphalt is applied in an even layer to the lowest layer of your parking lot after stripping away the old top layer. This new surface only requires about 24 hours to set before it can be driven on once more.
Hot-in-place resurfacing: While a hot-in-place resurfacing doesn’t last as long as an overlay job, it takes much less time to set — often just a few hours. This involves using specialized equipment to heat the existing lot surface and then mixing new asphalt in with the old to strengthen and smooth the lot.
Mill and fill resurfacing: Offering the speedy recovery of hot-in-place and the longevity of overlay resurfacing, mill and fill is ideal for resurfacing large patches of a lot that have damage all the way down through the sublayer. Old, damaged asphalt is milled and cleared away before fresh fill is added, compacted, and allowed to cool.
Why You Might Need Asphalt Parking Lot Resurfacing
Whether or not you need your entire lot resurfaced is a question of the current condition of your lot. Asphalt parking lot resurfacing is best employed when your lot has moderate wear and tear that can’t be repaired through simple patching; at the same time, the lot might not be so far gone as to warrant pulling it out completely and starting again.
In most cases, a resurfacing does an excellent job in extending the lifespan of your parking lot while also preserving as much of the underlying lot as possible. There’s benefits to this middle-of-the-road approach. It’s usually more affordable than a full repaving, and it’s also more cost-effective (and less time-consuming) than both an extensive patch job and having completely new pavement laid down.
The Last Word on Asphalt Parking Lot Resurfacing
Your parking lot is the first thing a visitor or customer sees when it comes to your commercial property. Keeping your lot in good shape shows how much you value their business, which is why getting your lot resurfaced when needed is a valuable investment in your property’s future. If your lot is looking shabby and the job calls for more than a simple patch job, ask your local paving contractor if a resurfacing will solve your problem.