3 Scary Reasons Your Parking Lot Has Puddles

Kids may like puddles, but property managers—not so much. Puddles that linger in the parking lot can point to some serious pavement, either with the foundation or the asphalt itself. If you have puddle problems, contact Espina Paving as soon as possible to prevent worse and more expensive water damage later.

1. Exceeding Weight Limits and Asphalt Rutting

If heavy vehicles or equipment remain on the same spot on the asphalt for too long, they will compact the asphalt and cause ruts that collect water that can seep into small cracks and deeper into the foundation. Find out what your asphalt’s weight limit is.

2. Grade Depressions

Proper asphalt installation requires even compaction of the subbase (foundation) before the asphalt goes down. The smoother the subbase, the smoother and stronger the asphalt will be, which will prevent puddling and ruts later.

3. Bad Drainage

Your asphalt parking lot contractor needs to ensure there is sufficient drainage by evaluating and creating slopes, grades and drains to carry water away from your parking lot efficiently. You can also use porous asphalt in some cases.

Problem Solving Puddles in Your Parking Lot

It’s especially important to deal with puddles before winter hits. Standing water will find its way into small cracks and into the subbase. Once there, if it goes through the freeze/thaw process we experience throughout the winter here in Northern Virginia, that water/ice combination will expand and contract, widening small cracks until they become big potholes, which are far more expensive to fix.

If you notice that puddles stick around long after the storm passes, be sure to contact Espina Paving at (703) 491-9100. We will come out and evaluate the situation and diagnose the underlying problem causing your puddles and be able to fix it.