Should You Repair or Replace Your Parking Lot?

The lifespan of a parking lot depends on several factors. These include damages and repairs to the concrete, climate, frequency of use, and your dedication to routine care. It is estimated that parking garages and lots in the United States will generate around $11.3 billion in revenue by 2024, making the parking lot market a critically significant one. Consequently, maintaining a clean and safe parking lot is essential.  

In that case, if you’re wondering if you should fix up your parking lot or start fresh, read on.

What Is Parking Lot Maintenance?

Parking lot maintenance refers to routine checks and fixes performed on a parking lot. Cleaning, crack repair, striping, sealing, and concrete overlay are all part of preventative maintenance. Concrete deteriorates due to weather conditions and vehicle use, so parking lot pavement needs regular upkeep. Environmental factors, such as water seepage, oil leaks, weight-bearing vehicles, and sunlight, can cause concrete corrosion.

Signs Your Parking Lot Needs Repair

It’s easy to neglect parking lot care until it desperately needs repair or replacement. Typical indications that your pavement requires attention include the following.

Cracking and Ponding

Pavement cracks can be categorized into several distinct types, including alligator cracks and block cracks. Although the visual characteristics of each variety differ, a fractured concrete surface is always apparent. 

You should get crack sealing done as soon as you notice any cracks. When water collects in your parking lot without a place to drain, “ponding” happens. In time, the water will soak into the concrete and weaken it. 

Loss of Original Color

A parking lot’s brand-new appearance won’t endure forever. You should expect your pavement to lose its deep black color and take on a silvery hue once some time has passed due to exposure to sunshine and other environmental factors. It is recommended that you seal coat your parking lot every three years to keep it looking fresh and lengthen its life.

Collapse or warping

Parking lots that regularly experience high traffic volumes are particularly vulnerable to this problem. The road will collapse if the concrete is weak or the foundation is unstable. Whenever this occurs, you’ll see that some parts of your parking lot aren’t flat and can look rather wavy.

Potholes

You can’t avoid damage from potholes, so avoid hitting them as much as you can. Keep in mind that ignoring them will only make the situation worse. If the concrete is stable and there are no other problems, we may do our fast patching service.

Signs Your Parking Lot Needs Replacement

 

Although concrete parking lots are durable and can survive for quite some time, they eventually need to be replaced for three main reasons:

The Parking Lot Is Over Twenty Years Old

Concrete typically lasts between 15 and 20 years. Replacing the concrete in your parking lot may be prudent if it is getting close to or past its useful life. Large cracks, potholes, drainage problems, and similar concerns are probably what you’re up against. 

After being subjected to environmental factors, including UV rays, severe weather, excessive traffic, and toxic chemicals, for an extended period, it is natural for these issues to develop.

More Than 25% of the Parking Lot Must Be Removed

There comes a point where such fixes are no longer useful, especially if there are already problems with the building’s foundation or structure. If significant damage has occurred and more than 25% of the entire area needs to be removed, it may be time for a full replacement. The price of concrete repairs would possibly be higher than that of a brand-new concrete driveway in such a circumstance.

The Parking Lot Is Covered in Splits

If that’s the case, laying down new concrete might be your best bet. Driveways usually have fissures exacerbated by the seepage of gas, oil, de-icing soil, and other pollutants. In the winter, water will leak between the notches, freeze, and then expand, causing even more damage. 

Repairing the fractures again after a few months would be a waste of money. You may have to spend more on maintenance in the long run than on a brand-new parking lot.

What Is the Expected Lifespan of a Concrete Parking Lot?

The three essential elements determining how long it will last are the soil’s geology, the installation’s quality, and the concrete‘s maintenance. They may also depend on:

• Frost and melt cycles
• The new concrete‘s thickness
• Wind and rain patterns
• Number of trucks that use the road
• How the subgrade looked before it was covered up

Regular resurfacing can extend the lifespan of a concrete parking lot by 8-15 years. 

Why Parking Lot Maintenance Is Crucial

Parking lot maintenance aims to extend the pavement’s useful life through various repairs and treatments. The concrete used on parking lots is vulnerable to weathering and deterioration. That kind of damage can make it dangerous, as well as unsightly.

As previously noted, keeping an eye out for and fixing any damage in your parking lot as soon as possible is crucial. However, you can take measures to safeguard the property from imminent catastrophe. Maintaining a clean parking lot includes routinely repainting the lines. Plus, you should check the parking lot’s illumination every so often. 

Get in Touch with K&E Flatwork for All Your Parking Lot Maintenance Needs

There are many advantages to having a parking lot that is regularly maintained. K&E Flatwork is different from competing contractors because we prioritize our customer’s needs above everything else. We collaborate with other top businesses to achieve this goal and give you the best possible service.

We provide commercial concrete services for a wide range of industries. Our team specializes in loading docks, truck parking lots, warehouse floors, and more. Aside from unrivaled workmanship, expect prompt delivery, upfront pricing, and top-notch customer service from start to finish.

For over a decade, we have been continuously improving our products, processes, and delivery. We’re proud to serve contractors, builders, property managers, homeowners associations, retail stores, and other commercial-level clients. Feel free to contact us to learn more about our services.