Is Your Shopping Center’s Asphalt Pavement Ready For Winter Weather?
Asphalt is resilient, but Atlanta’s cold winters can create more issues than you think. Cool temperatures and ice can put your shopping center’s asphalt pavement at risk. Even the steps you take during the winter to keep parking lots safe and accessible can cause harm. So, how do you prevent damage and protect your asphalt paving in Atlanta? The Surface Masters is here to help. We’re a trusted asphalt contractor serving businesses and property managers in the Atlanta area. We also serve those in Southwest Florida at our Fort Myers location.
What Types of Issues Can Threaten Your Shopping Center’s Asphalt Pavement?
Paving for shopping centers experiences several forms of distress during the winter season. The biggest problem is freeze-thaw cycles. Cold winter nights frequently hover around freezing, and cold snaps can push conditions even further into dangerous territory.
When moisture on your pavement freezes, it expands. Anything in cracks and voids can push the asphalt further than it can handle. This repeated expansion and contraction wears asphalt paving in Atlanta down at a rapid pace.
Furthermore, thawed ice can cause water to flow into newly expanded gaps, significantly increasing the risk of foundation erosion. If you’re not careful, parking lot pothole repair issues will develop. Asphalt paving at shopping centers can also suffer from structural integrity issues, surface crumbling, and more, all caused by freeze-thaw cycles.
Other potential issues you need to protect asphalt paving at shopping centers from include road salts and deicing agents.
What Does Winter Parking Lot Preparation Involve?
Fortunately, there’s plenty you can do to prevent harm. Winter parking lot preparation is a multifaceted endeavor that involves several tasks to complete in the fall before winter conditions arrive.
• Schedule an Inspection: Have asphalt contractors visit your property for a full, pre-winter inspection. They can identify any problems that need correcting, guiding your shopping center asphalt maintenance plans.
• Clean Your Pavement: Take some time to sweep away debris, clean up surrounding vegetation, and wash away grime. Caked-on messes will only exacerbate winter-related damage.
• Handle Existing Repair Issues: If there’s damage that needs mending, do it now. Invest in parking lot pothole repair, surface patching, and more.
• Correct Drainage Problems: The last thing you want in the winter is pooling water. Hire contractors to address drainage issues and ensure your parking lot can effectively manage water runoff.
• Fill and Seal Cracks: To prevent water from flowing into cracks and freezing, repair all voids. It’s important to perform this critical shopping center asphalt maintenance task at least once a year, but doing so before winter will help ensure there are no vulnerable areas.
• Sealcoat If Necessary: Contractors recommend scheduling this shopping center asphalt maintenance task every few years. During your inspection, experts will let you know if you’re due for fresh sealing. Applying sealer before winter hits is a great way to protect asphalt paving shopping centers from ice.
• Refresh Striping: Ice can take a toll on pavement markings. Refresh your striping to ensure maximum visibility heading into winter.
What Can You Do to Prevent Damaging Your Shopping Center’s Asphalt Pavement During the Winter?
Winter parking lot preparation goes a long way, but you still need to be proactive about pavement care once cooler temperatures arrive. Continue to clean your asphalt. Sweep away sand, remove snow, and pick up spills. Don’t let messes collect on your pavement.
If you plan on using de-icers, choose asphalt-safe options. Avoid traditional road salts or corrosive chemicals. Instead, opt for calcium magnesium acetate or sand to improve traction.
If you need parking lot pothole repair, call experts immediately. While contractors can’t perform permanent repairs in the winter, they can provide temporary solutions to improve safety and prevent further damage.
Keep a close eye on paving for shopping centers throughout the season. Don’t hesitate to call trusted contractors for guidance if any new issues develop. The best contractors know how to overcome challenges and prevent major damage on asphalt paving in Atlanta. They’ll help keep your asphalt in good shape despite the weather.
Let The Surface Masters be your trusted partners in all things asphalt paving. Not only will we help you with winter parking lot preparations, but we can handle all the heavy lifting for shopping center asphalt maintenance, repairs, and more. You can turn to us for new paving, milling and reclamation, repairs, sealcoating resurfacing, pavement markings, crack sealing, concrete curbing, and more.
We’re eager to serve you this winter and beyond. Call The Surface Masters today at (770) 670-7857, email Info@TheSurfaceMasters.com, or submit our online form to learn more and request a complimentary quote.
