As winter approaches, many people know to expect their drives to work to become a bit more uncomfortable. Unfortunately, potholes form for various reasons, one of them being those white flakes that look so good coming down but can cause serious disruptions to our everyday lives. A severe snowstorm almost always results in messy roadways, but why is it that asphalt suffers so much from cracks and potholes? Is there anything that homeowners, business owners, or municipalities can do about it? We have all the answers you need right here!
Preparing Your Parking Lot for Line Striping
The first thing your customers, residents, or tenants will see about your property is likely your parking lot, which means it’s critical to give it the proper attention that it deserves. This upkeep can mean anything from regular maintenance services to parking lot sealcoating when the time is right. However, some of the most critical aspects of your parking lot are the lines and traffic markings in your lot. Without these, you run a significant risk of accidents and other mishaps.
While fresh line striping is an easy solution, you will need to make sure all the boxes are checked off when planning your lot. Some factors include making sure it looks presentable and serves its intended purpose without compromising any existing parking. With that being said, there are a few major points that you should keep in mind when you prepare your parking lot for line striping.
Fresh Paint Improves Traffic Flow
One fairly obvious goal of a high-quality parking lot is to maximize parking options as much as possible. You may also want to improve your curb appeal, as the bright, fresh pain makes your property look clean and properly maintained. However, an arguably more significant aspect of your pavement markings is to improve your traffic flow and prevent any vehicular accidents that you may or may not be held liable for.
One of the chief concerns of your lot’s functionality is ensuring the safety of anyone visiting your location. For instance, you need to have clearly marked entrance and exit points, as well as directional arrows to control traffic flow, clearly marked loading zones and fire lanes, and anything else that can help you maintain a semblance of control in your lot. You must also ensure that you comply with any ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) guidelines, which means having accessibility spots that are easily visible for cars to park in.
What Do I Need to Have Ready?
Prior to your scheduled parking lot line painting, you should make sure that every aspect of your lot is ready for contractors to get the job done. One of the first things you should do is let anyone who regularly visits your property know that line striping is in process. Titan Pavement can help you prepare any notices, phasing plans, or maps that you will need to distribute to any residents, tenants, or customers who need alternative parking arrangements.
As far as the asphalt itself, we recommend making sure the areas that are going to be painted are clear of traffic throughout the duration of the project. You may also need to perform some basic asphalt maintenance to make sure the pavement is clean and dry, as it will need to be free of any dirt and water, or else the newly painted lines will come out worse for wear. Finally, you should keep in mind that while your lines should be dry within a few hours after completion, temperatures and sunlight may alter this timeline.
Choosing the Right Parking Lot Striping Contractor
When looking for a sealcoating and line striping company to handle your job, there are a few characteristics that companies will have that set them apart from others. For instance, you want to make sure that they are using the proper painting materials. We use only certified paint specifically designed for pavement and handling the amount of traffic your lot will see throughout a given period of time.
These paints are applied with proper airless spray brush machines — which means no brushes or rollers. We also use professional, high-quality vinyl stencils to keep any ADA symbols, directional arrows, and other markings uniform with each other, keeping your lot as presentable as possible.
For over 20 years, Titan Pavement has been the name that metro Detroit area trusts for asphalt sealcoating and maintenance for commercial properties. We’ve handled line striping projects as small as a local condominium complex and as large as the Detroit Lions Practice Facility, which means we can take on your lot and keep it safe and presentable to visitors. Get in touch with us today to receive your free quote!
Bumpy Pavement? That’s Not Good!
If your asphalt surface isn’t smooth and level, then there’s a real problem.
If there’s one thing we can’t stand to see, it’s a bumpy paved surface. That’s because if that pavement isn’t smooth, then it wasn’t installed correctly, and there’s simply no excuse for shoddy work like that.
What Really Wrinkles the Work
The problem with rough asphalt and uneven paving is that there are going to be gaps and crevices in the surface that will collect water. Over time, that water is going to completely destabilize the pavement. Cracks and potholes will form, and the whole area will just be a mess.
There are a few main reasons why asphalt paving will come out uneven, and they are all avoidable. We at Titan Pavement do the preparation necessary to ensure we don’t fall into any of these pitfalls.
Using the wrong aggregate mix. The aggregate should be a mix of crushed rock and small particulates, such as sand, that can be compacted tightly together. The rocks can’t be smooth-edged, or they will not compact properly.
Not using an adequate amount of asphalt. The liquid asphalt that is poured over the aggregate needs to create a top layer that is at least two inches thick. Using insufficient asphalt will fail to bind the aggregate together, and the result will be a lumpy surface that has pieces chipping off all the time.
Not compacted enough. Compaction is incredibly important, and if it’s skipped over or not done correctly, then your new pavement is going to just crumble apart. Asphalt compaction smooths out the surface and removes air bubbles and gaps that may be present.
Contact us to receive a free quote and schedule an appointment for your next asphalt maintenance project today!
Want That Asphalt Driveway To Last Longer? Here’s How
Improve Your Asphalt Driveway’s Lifespan
There are a number of things you can do that will help your asphalt driveway to last longer. They include:
Choose an experienced and reputable asphalt paving company. You want your asphalt driveway installed correctly, so you’ll want to choose a company that has the experience and reputation to stay in business year after year. Going with the company that gives you the cheapest bid may very well mean that company may no longer be in business when problems start to occur with your asphalt driveway in a year or two.
Maintain your asphalt driveway. An asphalt driveway is low maintenance, but there are still a few steps you should be taking. Clean any stains or debris on your driveway as soon as possible. Most importantly, make sure to have your asphalt driveway sealcoated ever two or three years or so. This is where a thin protective coating is added to your asphalt driveway. It reseals your driveway and protects it from the elements. Another option down the line is adding a new overlay to your asphalt driveway; this is where the top layer is removed and replaced, renewing your asphalt to like new.
Take care of problems right away. Little problems become big problems if you don’t take care of them in a timely manner. Make sure to fix issues like cracks, spots with standing water after rain, and crumbling asphalt as soon as they appear.
Contact us to receive a free quote and schedule an appointment for your next driveway project today!
How the Summer Heat Affects Your Parking Lot
Many parking lot owners believe that winter is the time of year to take active measures to protect their lots from the elements. However, the summer heat can prove as treacherous for their lot’s long-term health as cold weather. With the summer sun bearing down on your asphalt surfaces, what signs should you be aware of that indicate worsening damage, and what are some ways that you can help protect it?
