Although asphalt driveways are durable, like any other surface that is constantly exposed to the elements, they can erode over time. Luckily, by keeping some basic tips in mind, this is less likely to happen.

To extend the lifespan of your driveway, asphalt paving experts recommend heeding the following driveway repair and maintenance advice.

Keep Water Away from the Driveway

Cracks and potholes form in asphalt due to the freeze-thaw cycle that often occurs during the colder months of the year. Water seeps into a small crack. If temperatures drop below freezing, the water turns to ice and expands. This pushes the asphalt outward. When the temperature rises again, the water melts, and the asphalt caves back in.

This doesn’t just result in potholes. It also makes the driveway more vulnerable to erosion. Any water that flows over it will continue to tear away at the pothole, making it bigger. You’ll need to contact an asphalt paving company to repair it before the damage becomes more substantial.

That’s why it’s important to keep water off your driveway as much as possible. Make sure your downspouts are directing water to other parts of your property. If the gradient of your lawn sends water streaming towards your asphalt, you may need to install buffers or drainage pipes to direct it elsewhere.

Most importantly, fill in any cracks you notice, even small ones. Again, if water leaks into them, the freeze-thaw cycle could turn a small crack into a much bigger problem.

You may be comfortable fixing minor cracks on your own, but if you’re not, get in touch with a driveway repair company to ask for assistance.

Drive Safe

Make sure that anyone who uses your driveway knows they must pull into and out of it slowly. Although water may be the primary cause of most asphalt driveway erosion, people pulling into and out of driveways too quickly has also been known to cause substantial damage.

Obviously, you should practice safe, careful driving anyway. Just make sure that everyone else who uses the driveway knows this rule.

Add a Border

To further protect your driveway from water erosion, consider adding a decorative border around the edges. If any water flows from the lawn towards the driveway, the border will direct it elsewhere.

There are several options to consider when planning this project. If you have access to natural stones, you could arrange a small wall along the edges of the driveway. Be sure to place the stones close together to reduce the size of gaps between them. Be careful when installing them near the driveway; dropping a heavy rock on your asphalt could cause damage.

You might also consider concrete pavers if you have the space for them. That said, you need to make sure you select pavers that are high enough above the driveway to have an effect. Some smaller ones might be too short to block the water from spilling over onto your asphalt.

Clean Your Gutters

When gutters are clogged, water can’t flow towards the downspout. During heavy rains, it may start to overflow. This could result in several different types of property damage. The water may start leaking into the upper sections of your home, causing water damage and, potentially, mold growth.

It can also spill over onto your driveway, causing erosion. That’s why it’s important to clean your gutters regularly, especially during times of year when you tend to get heavy rain or snow.

If erosion does result in damage to your driveway, get in touch with professional asphalt pavers to repair it. Again, you might be able to fix small cracks yourself, but for more substantial problems, you need help from driveway repair experts. They’ll fix the damage, and they’ll be happy to offer tips you can follow to prevent this kind of issue in the future.

If you run a business, curb appeal is essential to your success. You want your property to attract guests and impress clients. That’s why it’s a good idea to take a close look at your parking lot to see what types of improvements can be made. Make a list of tasks and call a paving contractor to schedule service. This minor investment will pay off big time in the long run.

When you contact the asphalt paving company, ask about the following services. They’re the kinds of upgrades that will make a big difference in your bottom line.

Pothole Repair 

Obviously, repairing any damage to your parking lot should be a major priority. Potholes and cracks send the wrong message to visiting clients. They’ll associate your company’s brand with a lack of professionalism if they see you don’t keep your parking lot in good condition. True, they may technically reach this conclusion subconsciously—most clients aren’t actively judging you based on the quality of your parking lot—but make no mistake, potholes and cracks will have an impact on how a client sees you.

If you run a retail store, or any other business that caters to guests, you may very well lose business if you don’t address this kind of damage. When shoppers have options, they often avoid businesses whose parking lots are inconvenient to navigate. They’ll go to one of your competitors instead.

Contact an asphalt repair company if your lot is damaged. Doing so could prevent you from losing customers.

Parking Lot Restriping 

Faded parking lot stripes have a negative impact on the curb appeal of your property. They simply look less impressive than bright, new stripes.

That’s one reason to get in touch with a paving contractor who also offers line marking service. But it’s not the only reason.

Parking lot lines indicate where guests should park their vehicles. When the lines are faded, people often park wherever they wish. This can reduce the capacity of your parking lot. Guests will park between spaces, leaving little room for other vehicles. With new parking lot stripes and lines, you can accommodate the maximum number of guests.

You can also protect your asphalt from damage. In larger parking lots, stripes subtly enforce basic driving rules. Drivers are rarely concerned with speeding haphazardly across a lot when the lines are faded. This can put your asphalt through a lot of wear and tear. When you have fresh, new lines, drivers tend to be more careful. It’s a purely psychological effect, but it works. The lines restrict their movement.

Adding New Spaces 

Have an expert take a look at your parking lot to determine if there is a more efficient way to arrange parking spaces. They may be able to find room for more.

Even if there isn’t enough room on your lot to add more spaces right now, there could be room on your property to expand your parking lot. Review your property boundaries, as well as the appropriate zoning codes, and see if you can have a paving contractor add more overall space to the lot.

The benefits of scheduling this service are obvious. When you have more parking spaces, you can serve more customers, boosting your earnings substantially.

Repaving 

Some smaller businesses start out with “parking lots” that consist of large gravel, dirt, or even grass areas. This doesn’t exactly convey a sense of professionalism, but it can be a budget-friendly option for small business owners.

As the business expands, it’s important to make the kinds of upgrades that will attract more guests or impress more clients. That’s why growing businesses should look into installing asphalt parking lots.

Asphalt is a durable material that will stay in good shape for years, so long as you stay on top of basic asphalt repairs and maintenance. It looks appropriate at any business, too. Whether you run an auto repair shop, restaurant, or corporate office, asphalt is an ideal choice for your parking lot.

It also looks better from the road than gravel or dirt. This helps you catch the attention of passersby who might otherwise ignore your business. The quality of your parking lots conveys a subtle professionalism that draws in more guests.

These are just a few reasons business owners should schedule service with paving contractors. If your current lot is damaged, you need to fix it to maintain your brand and boost customer satisfaction. If your current lot was made with a material other than asphalt, you can continue growing your business by paving a new one. You could even add spaces to an existing lot to accommodate more customers. Regardless of your goals, an asphalt paving company can help.

Whether you’re installing a new driveway for your home or a new parking lot for your business, it pays to research paving contractors in your area before hiring one. You obviously want someone who offers quality service, but you also want to save money.

However, saving money isn’t always about finding the least expensive asphalt contractor you can. For the best results, it’s more important to find a company that has a reputation for their attention to detail and professionalism.

Why You’ll Save Money by Hiring the Right Paving Contractor

Proper Installation

Installing an asphalt driveway or parking lot isn’t necessarily as simple as it looks. The contractors need to make use of the right equipment, ensure the surface is level, and use quality materials. If your asphalt surface wasn’t installed properly, it can have a negative financial impact in the long run.

For instance, if you own a business, curb appeal is very important when it comes to attracting customers. If your parking lot is uneven, or if the asphalt seems to spill over onto the yard in certain sections, it will have a detrimental effect on your business. While it’s impossible to determine the exact amount of money you stand to lose over the years due to an unattractive parking lot, you can be sure it’s significant.

More importantly, skilled paving contractors install asphalt driveways and parking lots carefully so they’re less prone to damage in the future. Sure, you might save some money upfront by hiring a crew that gets jobs done as quickly as possible, but in the long run, you’ll wish you’d found someone who prioritized accuracy over efficiency. If you need to constantly schedule repair and maintenance work for your surface, it will cost you a lot over time.

Helpful Advice

Typically, asphalt contractors who fail to provide quality service also fail to treat their clients with the respect they deserve. They just want to finish the job up so they can move on to the next one. They can’t be bothered with answering questions or offering advice.

The problem is, you need a paving contractor who will answer your questions. The more you know about caring for an asphalt driveway or parking lot, the easier it is to avoid damage in the future. Don’t hire someone who is in too much of a hurry to provide suggestions for proper maintenance. Research your candidates and find one who has a reputation for treating their customers respectfully.

Reliable Service

Although a properly-installed asphalt surface will remain in good shape for years, like any material, asphalt does break down over time. When this happens, you need to know there’s someone you can turn to who’ll fix the damage quickly and skillfully. If you don’t repair cracks or holes in asphalt fast, they can often get much bigger. Then you’ll have to pay even more money to have them fixed.

Don’t waste time and money scrambling to find a quality asphalt paver when you need repair service. Find a company you can rely on from the start. When the same people who paved your driveway or parking lot are also available to fix it, you’ll be able to address minor damage before it turns into a major problem.

Increasing Property Value

Hiring the right paving contractors doesn’t just help you save money in the long run. It can also help you make money if you ever decide to sell your property.

Whether you own a home or business, every aspect of curb appeal contributes to the property’s value. Don’t overlook the importance of these factors. Potential buyers make an immediate judgment about your home or commercial property based on what they see when they first arrive at the property.

If your parking lot or driveway is a mess, it will make them less likely to offer a lot of money. True, they could always repave it later, but buyers understand that doing so is the kind of expense they need to be aware of when they assess how valuable a property is. If they think they’ll need to spend some of their own money to improve the asphalt surfaces, they’ll be less willing to spend a lot of money to buy your property.

What to Look For

When research paving contractors, seek out companies that have a reputation for professionalism. If they’ve worked in the area for a long time, there’s good reason to believe they’ve done right by their former clients. Don’t rush when making this decision. If you’re willing to set aside some time for research, you’ll find the kind of asphalt contractors who’ll save you a lot of money in the long run.

If you have an asphalt parking lot, don’t wait for it to fall into major disrepair before getting in touch with paving contractors and asking about replacing it. From attracting more customers to saving money on repairs, there are plenty of reasons to repave a lot that’s taken on some wear and tear over the years.

The following are some of the more essential ones to keep in mind:

5 Benefits of Repaving a Parking Lot

Boosting Curb Appeal

When you own a business, you want your property to look its best. Even if they’re not conscious of it, most people make immediate judgments about a business the moment they see it. If your asphalt parking lot is free of damage and your grounds are well-maintained, they’ll associate your business with professionalism and convenience.

On the other hand, if your asphalt is riddled with cracks and potholes, it doesn’t matter if you deliver quality service—they’ll still perceive your company as being less-than-professional.

This can discourage potential customers from visiting. Those that do visit may not come back if they have an unpleasant experience trying to navigate your lot without running over potholes.

Even if you don’t operate a retail store, you still don’t want clients to visit your offices and find that they’re poorly maintained. Why do so many companies have office dress codes? Among other reasons, because clients may drop by, and you need to make sure your workers and facilities reflect your trustworthiness. You should keep your parking lot in good shape for the same reason.

Curb appeal is essential to your success. It helps ensure your customers associate your brand with positive traits.

Take a look at your parking lot. Honestly assess its quality. If it could look better, call a parking lot paving company and have it repaired or repaved.

Improving Employee Morale

Customers and clients aren’t the only people to notice how your asphalt parking lot looks. Your employees are also going to get the wrong impression if your lot is damaged.

Imagine an ideal candidate shows up for a job interview. Obviously, an interviewee wants to make a good impression on you, but you also want to make a good impression on them. They may have several other offers. Every aspect of your property and facilities should indicate to a potential employee that this is the type of place they would like to work at. When they pull into your asphalt parking lot, you don’t want their first impression to be negative.

You also need to think about how your current employees react to their surroundings. Every detail of the property can impact their attitude and energy level throughout the day. If they’re constantly showing up to an unsightly parking lot, they won’t feel as though they’re truly in a professional environment. This can result in unprofessional behavior and low productivity levels.

Essentially, getting in touch with paving contractors could be the surprising key to boosting worker morale and getting more from your employees.

Saving Money

Although a properly-installed asphalt parking lot will last a long time, that doesn’t mean a long time is forever. Like any paving surface, asphalt deteriorates over time, especially in high traffic areas like parking lots. Employees and customers constantly driving over it will cause damage. The freeze-thaw cycle of winter will also result in erosion.

At first, you can generally keep your lot in good condition by scheduling asphalt repair service when you notice any damage. However, your parking lot may deteriorate to the point where it is simply more cost-effective to repave it. Trying to stay on top of asphalt repairs will eventually cost more than replacing your lot with a new one. This is an especially good point to consider if your lot is very old.

Rebranding

It’s a step many businesses have to take at some point. When customers grow accustomed to your brand, to the point where they may have lost interest in your services, you need to rebrand. This doesn’t just mean installing a new sign, rearranging the inside of the building, and spending a little more on marketing to get the word out. It also means revamping your property so every element of it, from your lawn to your asphalt parking lot, encourages customers to perceive a quality of “newness.”

Start by contacting asphalt paving companies and asking about repaving your parking lot. Obviously, doing so will help you rejuvenate your brand. That said, if your rebranding attempts are successful, you’ll have a lot of new business coming your way. You want to know you have freshly-paved lot to welcome them.

If you plan on selling your home in the future, you should take steps to optimize its curb appeal. You want potential buyers to get the right first impression. At Bulldog Paving, offering asphalt paving services to clients throughout the Calgary area, we recommend schedule driveway repairs before putting your house on the market. Doing so is a smart way to boost its perceived and actual value.

The following are a few essential reasons why:

• Improving Curb Appeal: The look of your property plays a major role when it comes to attracting buyers. While you should take steps to ensure your entire house and yard look their best, it’s especially important to focus on the portions that can be seen from the street. When someone pulls up to your house, their immediate reaction should be positive. By hiring asphalt pavers to repair or replace your driveway before you sell your home, you’ll increase its value through curb appeal.
• Reducing Maintenance Costs: Smart home buyers consider factors like upkeep costs when looking at houses to buy. If your driveway is in disrepair, they’ll assume that future maintenance will be expensive. On the other hand, if your asphalt is freshly paved, buyers will be pleased to know they won’t have to schedule driveways repairs in the near future.
• Helping Buyers Save Time: Potential buyers also consider the amount of time and effort they’ll have to invest in driveway maintenance. Even if the asphalt isn’t damaged enough to warrant hiring paving contractors, they’ll still have to stay on top of upkeep to prevent it from falling into even greater disrepair. Offer them a driveway that doesn’t require that kind of attention.
• Protecting the Home’s Interior: When a driveway needs repairs, it often gets messy during the post-winter thaw, as erosion causes further damage. An overlooked (but very significant) consequence of this is the impact it can have on the interior of your home. When the pathway to your home consists of dirty, damaged asphalt, you’re more likely to track debris back in with you. Scheduling driveway repair service will improve the appearance of both the outside and the inside of your house.
• Making Your Home Look New: Although you should be honest with potential buyers when they ask how old your home is, you should also remember that subtle details can make a property feel newer than it is. One such detail is a freshly-paved driveway. A driveway that’s full of cracks or potholes reminds buyers that this home has been standing for a long time, and has likely gone through a substantial amount of wear-and-tear. A freshly-paved driveway conveys a sense of newness, further increasing the perceived value of your property

If you’re selling a home, there are many steps you can take to increase its value. Hiring paving contractors to install a new driveway is among the most beneficial. You’ll make your property look better, and you’ll be letting buyers know they won’t have to invest a lot of time or money into upkeep.

Although asphalt is a durable and budget-friendly material for a parking lot, it can break down over time if not properly maintained. To keep yours in the best shape possible as long as possible, it’s important to make upkeep a priority.

A clean, undamaged asphalt parking lot attracts customers and boosts the curb appeal of your business. On the other hand, if your parking lot is cracked and riddled with potholes, guests will get the wrong impression.

With these tips from professional paving contractors, you won’t have to worry about it. To maintain your lot, keep the following points in mind:

• Address Drainage Problems: Cracks typically form in an asphalt parking lot when water doesn’t drain away from it quickly enough. Water seeps into small, existing cracks, eroding them further. This is an especially major problem in winter. If water leaks into a crack and temperatures drop below freezing, the water will turn into ice and expand. When it does, it pushes the pavement out along with it. As temperatures rise again, the ice melts and the asphalt pavement settles back down, resulting in a pothole. Prevent this by making sure your gutters and downspouts direct water away from your asphalt parking lot. If you notice pooling water after heavy rain, you may need to install additional drains.
• Remove Debris: Once a week, have an employee sweep away any debris that has accumulated on your lot. Doing so serves two purposes. First, it improves the look of your asphalt, making your business more appealing to customers. More importantly, if enough debris accumulates on an asphalt parking lot, it can prevent water from draining away quickly. You want to remove all debris before it gets to this point.
• Keep Weeds in Check: If you see weeds growing around or through your asphalt, remove them immediately. Weeds have strong roots, and even if they look small at first, they can grow straight through your asphalt over time, resulting in cracks that you’ll have to repair.
• Install Speed Limit Signs & Barriers: When drivers speed or make sharp turns, it can easily damage your asphalt parking lot. Limit the potential damage by installing signs reminding drivers not to speed. You can further protect your asphalt with speed bumps and cement barriers to promote slower driving. Make sure all stripes and arrows on your lot are clearly visible, as people are generally less likely to drive carelessly throughout a parking lot when they have clear markings directing them.
• Inspect: At least once a month, conduct a basic visual inspection of your asphalt parking lot for any signs of damage, including cracks, potholes, and oil stains. While you may be tempted to address them on your own, doing so could cause additional damage if you’re not careful. Instead, if you do notice any issues, get in touch with an asphalt repair company. They’ll have the tools, knowledge, and experience necessary to deliver quality results.

Your parking lot affects how customers think about your business. By following these tips and consulting with reliable paving contractors, you’ll have a lot less trouble keeping it in good shape.

If you own a business, curb appeal is very important. While a clean, well-maintained property will attract customers, an ugly and messy one will drive them away. That’s why the paving contractors at Bulldog Paving, serving homeowners and businesses throughout the Calgary area, recommend making sure your asphalt parking lot is in the best possible shape. Customers will be a lot more likely to return to your shop or office if they have a freshly-paved lot to park in.

Has your asphalt parking lot seen better days? If so, schedule parking lot paving service. Doing so helps to grow your business in the following key ways:

Attracting (the Right Kind of) Attention:

Remember that your property can be one of the most effective advertising tools you have, so long as you maintain it. Customers who aren’t already familiar with your business may learn about its existence when they first pass by in their cars. The look of your property determines what kind of first impression you make. If your parking lot looks damaged, dirty, and generally unappealing, they’ll probably keep driving. If it’s in reasonably decent shape, they might not notice your business at all. However, if paving contractors have recently provided you with a fresh, new asphalt parking lot, customers will notice, and probably pay you a visit at some point in the near future.

Keeping Guests Comfortable:

Convenience plays a major role in determining whether someone will return to a business for a second visit. Something as simple as a crowded parking lot may be enough to keep them from coming back. On the other hand, if your parking lot offers ample space in a clean, comfortable environment, you’ll be far more likely to attract return guests.

Improving Employee Attitudes:

People are generally far more productive on the job when their workplace is clean and well-maintained. Arriving to work in a dirty parking lot filled with cracks and potholes will put anyone in a low mood. Showing up at an office that looks great, however, will foster a more positive attitude in your employees. Depending on the nature of your business, you might even want to assign someone the task of cleaning up your parking lot once or twice a week.

Accommodating More Guests:

Anyone who’s ever driven through an old, damaged asphalt parking lot knows that the amount of spaces in the lot isn’t always equal to the amount of spots available to park in. Some lots get so damaged that certain spaces are essentially no longer usable. Guests don’t want to park their vehicles with one tire resting in a pothole, after all. Get in touch with a parking lot paving company and ask about repairing those spaces. You’ll find that there suddenly appears to be much more room in your lot, even if you didn’t technically add any new spaces. 

At Bulldog Paving, serving the Calgary region, experienced paving contractors frequently see how something as simple as repaving an asphalt parking lot can be enough to help any business grow. To learn more about having your lot repaved, contact them online, or call (403) 651-1900.

Need an asphalt parking lot for your business?  Call us for a free estimate at 403-651-1900 today!