A parking lot is not only an area where a customer, employee, resident, or visitor can leave their vehicle, it is often one of the first impressions one has of a commercial establishment. The quality of a parking lot can affect the safety of the establishment, as well as its appearance. Cracks, potholes, puddles, and uneven pavement can make any property look poorly maintained.
Professional asphalt paving creates a smooth surface that is made to endure the test of time and regular vehicle traffic. The team at Nasib’s Asphalt Paving—Best Paving Company in Vancouver | Burnaby | Richmond—specializes in commercial asphalt paving in Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, and the surrounding areas. We have years of experience and will analyze a jobsite, determine drainage needs, assess traffic volumes, and consider other relevant details before making a recommendation on commercial asphalt paving.
What Is the Process of Paving a Parking Lot?
A successful parking lot commences long before paving begins. The preparation work is critical to any project because even the best asphalt mix will fail on poorly prepared ground or due to a lack of proper drainage.
First, the work begins with an inspection of the property, including its current pavement, subsurface and base materials, drainage characteristics, grades, accesses, and layout. For existing parking lots, the analysis will inform the paving company whether repair, resurface, or full replacement works are needed.
After the assessment, preparatory works can begin. These are crucial since they lay the groundwork – quite literally – for the new pavement. Preparatory works typically include removing old or damaged pavement, grading, and dealing with drainage issues. With the foundation being strong, the new asphalt will resist the forces of nature and keep its structural integrity under the pressure of traffic.
The next step sees the installation of the new asphalt layer and its compaction to form a firm surface that will provide years of service. Special attention is paid to edges, transitions, drainage, accesses, and other problem areas. Parking lot line markings can be applied at this stage.
For commercial properties, a well-planned paving project is of utmost importance. It helps minimize disruptions to customers, employees, and other stakeholders.
Qualities of an Excellent Parking Lot Pavement Job
A parking lot can look impressive immediately after paving, but long-term performance depends on much more than the appearance of fresh black asphalt. The quality of preparation, materials, installation, drainage, and finishing work all contribute to the finished pavement.
Proper Drainage
Water is one of the most common threats to asphalt pavement. Both water lingering on the surface and infiltrating through it pose a danger to the integrity of the material.
A well-designed parking lot will have the ability to channel water away from the surface, either by slope or other means. This is especially true for Metro Vancouver, where many commercial properties are frequently exposed to weather conditions including rain.
As such, prior to paving, drainage should be taken into consideration as an integral part of the project, rather than an afterthought.
A Strong and Stable Base
While the road surface of asphalt is the most eye-catching, the layers beneath it are equally significant. It is vital to prepare and compact the ground properly before laying asphalt on it because it will reduce the impact of the load.
It is critical to ensure the quality and characteristics of the underlying layer; otherwise, poor compaction, unstable subgrade, or an improperly prepared base will manifest themselves in poor working conditions for the asphalt layer. This work will have to be done to prepare the site, including removing, leveling, and/or compacting the ground or the subgrade. In turn, parking lots undergo significant traffic, so the quality of their preparation is even more critical.
Attention to the Finishing Details
The final details can make a world of difference in terms of the appearance and function of the parking lot. Well-finished edges, transitions, entrances, drainage cutouts, and pavement markings all add up to a job well done.
In addition, parking lot striping lets drivers know where they’re supposed to park and how to navigate the parking lot, making it a more pleasant place for patrons, employees, and customers and maximizing the space available.
How Long Will a Paved Parking Lot Last?
There is no standard lifespan for a parking lot. Depending on the installation quality, traffic, drainage, weather conditions, soil structure, maintenance, and vehicle types, asphalt pavement may last varying numbers of years.
A well-constructed parking lot with the right base course and drainage will require regular maintenance to prolong its lifespan. Poorly drained parking lots, frequent traffic, lack of maintenance, construction errors, and extreme weather conditions are some of the factors that shorten the lifespan of asphalt pavement. Routine inspections enable the discovery of minor defects, which, if unattended, may lead to massive repairs of a parking lot. For instance, cracks and potholes should be filled immediately upon detection to prevent further damage to the surrounding pavement.
How Do You Maintain a Paved Parking Lot?
New asphalt should not be perceived as a maintenance-free surface. Proper upkeep will prolong the life of the newly paved surface and prevent costly repairs.
First and foremost, it is essential to ensure that the surface is free of debris and that drainage is properly maintained so as to prevent water accumulation on the surface of the pavement.
Cracks and potholes should be repaired promptly. Left unattended, smaller pits and fissures will allow water to get underneath the layers of asphalt, therefore causing significant damage to the pavement.
Asphalt maintenance may also include patching, resurfacing, sealcoating, water-control installations, and other services depending on the condition and the age of the pavement. Nasib’s Asphalt Paving offers a variety of asphalt maintenance services such as resurfacing, patching, water control, sealcoating, and curbing.
How Long Does Paving a Parking Lot Take?
The timeline for a parking lot project varies depending on the specific requirements of the property. Contrary to popular belief, it is not a set number of days. There are many variables that can decide how long your project will take, like a small residential job versus a large commercial job that may need a substantial amount of preparation.
Here are some other factors that can affect the timeline of your project.
Weather Conditions
Weather can influence asphalt paving because temperature, rain, and moisture can affect site preparation and paving operations. In the Vancouver area, project scheduling needs to account for local weather conditions.
Existing Site Conditions
A site which is prepared to accept paving could generally be paved faster than a site requiring substantial excavation, grading, drainage work, or removal of failed pavement.
If the parking lot has extensive areas of failed pavement, additional work will need to be done to allow the installation of new asphalt.
Size of the Parking Lot
Naturally, more space calls for more material, machinery, manpower, and time. The overall complexity can also increase due to the number of entrances, islands, drainage cuts, or other details peculiar to the customer’s plot.
However, a professional paving contractor can offer more accurate timing for your project, having evaluated the topography of your property.
More Questions You May Have About Paving a Parking Lot
How Much Does Parking Lot Paving Cost?
It is challenging to provide an exact cost for parking lot paving since there are numerous factors that affect the rates. The price may depend on the area’s size, existing pavement’s condition, excavation, base preparation, drainage, depth of asphalt, accessibility, and many other services.
A professional paving contractor should evaluate the region to give an accurate cost estimation.
How Thick Should Asphalt Be for a Parking Lot?
There is no such thing as a universal thickness for parking lots. It all depends on many factors, including traffic, weight, soil, base, and use.
A parking lot that will be used by regular passenger cars will differ from one that is used by delivery trucks, commercial vehicles, and other larger traffic sources.
Are Parking Lots Made of Asphalt?
Yes. Asphalt is a popular option for parking lots due to its ability to provide smooth driving surfaces and versatility in commercial applications. The preparation of the site, drainage, materials, installation, and maintenance are all things that must be taken into account when it comes to asphalt.
Can You Pave Over an Existing Parking Lot?
Sometimes. Whether or not an existing parking lot can be re-surfaced or overlaid will depend upon the condition of the current pavement and underlying structures.
When the existing pavement has failed because of poor foundation, drainage, or other defects, simply overlaying new asphalt may hide the damage, but will not cure the problems. An evaluation can best determine if repair, re-surfacing, or complete replacement is the most economic and long lasting solution.
Attention to Detail in Every Parking Lot Paving Project
A commercial parking lot has to be safe and appealing at the same time, which means that it should be paved correctly. However, simply throwing asphalt mix on the ground will hardly ever suffice.
Nasib’s Asphalt Paving specializes in commercial paving services, and the company is ready to address the needs of clients across Burnaby, Richmond, Vancouver, and the surrounding areas. The team can handle parking lots, plazas, shopping centers, condo and apartment buildings, schools, churches, and other commercial lots. It is possible to rely on the professionals’ knowledge and equipment during the site preparation process and when finishing the pavement to ensure that drainage, base work, traffic needs, and other essentials are taken care of. As a result, high-quality material and proper machines will be used to construct long-lasting asphalt pavements.
Get a Free Quote for Parking Lot Paving
Planning to build a new parking lot or is your parking lot made of old asphalt? Let us at Nasib’s Asphalt Paving help you decide on what the best option is for you.
We specialize in Commercial Parking lots. Our experts will assist you on all your questions and help you choose the best paving options for your parking lot. Contact Nasib’s Asphalt Paving today to set up a free consultation and get a bid for your commercial paving project including new parking lot, repairs, resurfacing or maintenance in Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby or other nearby communities.