Canadian winters are notoriously severe, with record ice storms and millions of dollars worth of snow removal service each year.
Because of this, some preparation is necessary before snow begins to fall and it becomes icy. While your asphalt parking lot is still dry, repairs need to be made to ensure walking and driving can be safer once it snows.
Keep reading to find out how you can prepare your commercial or industrial parking lot for the upcoming winter season.
Identify Problem Areas
Identifying any problem areas in your asphalt parking lot is an essential step to preparing for winter. Problem areas can refer to a few different issues, such as the following list.
Cracked asphalt
Crumbling asphalt
Depressed areas possibly with pooling
Potholes
Each of these problem areas should be found before winter hits. They can pose much larger threats as snow falls and the ground freezes.
All these issues are often linked to negligence, weak structural integrity, or poor construction. If left alone, cracks can turn into potholes, and depressed areas can fill with water and freeze.
Repair Potholes and Cracks
Once identified, you can get to work repairing cracks, depressions, and potholes. Even the smallest crack should get fixed right away. Because the problem areas are exposed to the outdoor elements.
Cracks that are hardly noticeable now can become worse quickly. With temperature changes and the vehicles on top of them, they become bigger. Small cracks eventually grow into potholes when they get ignored.
As a property owner, you are responsible for repairing your asphalt parking lot for winter. Doing so is as simple as calling the right asphalt repair company.
Remove Any Debris
If you've ever left non-biodegradable debris in your parking lot to get covered by snow, you know why this step is important.
When debris gets trapped under snow and ice on your driveway, it doesn't go away. It becomes matted and stuck to the asphalt, even after the snow melts.
In the spring, you will come across the litter, and it will be difficult to remove. It may have also damaged your parking lot.
You can avoid this problem by cleaning up your asphalt driveway before winter. Remove all organic and inorganic materials. You can sweep it up yourself or hire someone else to do it for you.
Buy the Proper Snow Removal Equipment
An important part of preparing for winter is gathering all the materials you need for snow removal. You might already have a lot of what you need. The list includes shovels, de-icing agents, and salt.
When buying shovels for your asphalt parking lot, avoid the ones with sharp edges. They are known to damage driveways or make problem areas worse.
Preventative Maintenance
As soon as your parking lot is free of problem areas and debris, you can use a weather-resistant seal to coat it. Sealing should be done in the fall before it becomes too cold and wet outside.
If there is snow or ice on the ground during the seal coating process, it may not bind to the pavement properly.
This step to prepare your asphalt parking lot for winter needs to take place once every two or three years to protect your driveway.
Get Help for Your Parking Lot
Your parking lot is one of the first impressions you have on customers when they visit your business. You want to make sure it is in its best shape to keep them happy and safe.
KW Cornerstone in the Kitchener-Waterloo area wants to help you maintain and repair your asphalt parking lot this winter. Our expert staff can meet for a consult and address all your parking lot's needs.
As you prepare your asphalt parking lot for the winter season, you may need some help from an asphalt paving company. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and get an estimate.