Neighbor News
5 Things Cold Weather Does to Your Parking Lots
Are your parking lots ready for these 5 things snow and cold do to asphalt? Call Espina Paving: (703) 491-9100.
Winter is coming. If you’re a property manager, it’s best to know what your parking lots and roadways can expect from winter so that you can be prepared. There’s still time for some maintenance before the cold comes, so contact Espina Paving today if you still have some prep work to do!
1. Wider, longer cracks
If your parking lots have small cracks left unfilled before winter, it’s likely they will be bigger and wider in the spring due to the freeze-thaw process. Water gets into those small cracks and pushes them wider when the temperatures dip below freezing. When the ice melts, the water sinks deeper and contracts again until the next freeze. This process repeats and repeats throughout the winter, weakening the asphalt.
2. Cracks and crumbling around manholes and drainage areas
Your parking lot and road drainage systems are critical to healthy pavement and safe drivers. Again, the freeze thaw process can damage drainage systems that were not prepared before winter, causing spring backups, puddling and bigger holes that can be dangerous.
Find out what's happening in Woodbridgefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
3. Scrapes and scars from snow removal
These aren’t always avoidable, depending on what kind of winter we have. But it’s always best to choose a snow-removal firm with a good record in preventing damage to the pavement and cement structures underneath. It’s also a good idea to use pavement- and environment-safe snowmelt chemicals, so ask your snow-removal service what they use before approving it.
4. Alligator Cracking
If winter leaves you with patches of pavement that look like the scaly back of an alligator, you’re looking at a future pothole for sure. Alligator cracking is a symptom of poor drainage and freeze thaw damage that needs to be addressed right away. If you have any alligator cracking before winter comes, get it fixed now before the repairs become significantly more expensive next spring.
Find out what's happening in Woodbridgefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
5. Potholes
After a hard winter, even patches of asphalt that you thought were in decent shape can reveal alligator cracking or potholes. Your best bet at preventing these expensive repairs is to keep to your parking lot maintenance and cleaning schedule throughout the year and not skipping sealcoating appointments during the summer.
If you’re not sure about your parking lots’ and roadways’ readiness for the winter, contact Espina Paving for a consultation today: (703) 491-9100.
