Your car park's asphalt surface is designed to last. However, as it ages, it may deteriorate and get damaged. In some cases, this damage can affect the surface of the asphalt which may start to crack in places.
While you may not have major or multiple cracks on your car park, you shouldn't ignore the ones you do have. It's better to fix this kind of damage quickly. Why?
Stop Damage in its Tracks
A crack in asphalt may not look too alarming. If the crack is small, narrow and contained, then your first instinct may be to leave it be.
However, any crack in this material is potentially problematic. It means that the area has lost some of its surface integrity. The crack may not change for a time, but eventually, it is likely to get worse and cause deeper problems.
For example, if water gets in the crack, it can affect the sub-surface of the asphalt. If ice freezes inside and then melts, then the area will expand and contract. Heat and humidity can force the area around the crack out of shape. It may buck up or sink down.
Ultimately, any of these issues might make the crack bigger or damage the surrounding area. Even a small crack could ultimately turn into a more serious pothole.
If you fix cracks early, then you don't just restore the surface of your car park. You also keep it strong and weather-proof. This extends the life of the asphalt itself.
Prevent Avoidable Accidents
You have a responsibility to keep your car park safe for vehicles, drivers and pedestrians who travel across it. Damaged asphalt makes this harder to do. Even simple cracks can cause accidents. These accidents could be costly if someone sues you for not maintaining the space.
For example, if the edges of a crack rise off the ground slightly, then anyone walking over the crack could accidentally trip and fall. Deeper cracks can damage car tyres. Cracks that turn into potholes can even damage a vehicle's suspension.
If you fix cracks as soon as they appear, then your car park remains safe to walk and drive on. The earlier you do this, the easier the job will be.
If you've noticed cracks on your car park's surface, then contact local asphalt specialists. They can recommend ways to repair the damage quickly and effectively before it gets any worse.
To learn more about asphalt, contact a company in your area like Mr Asphalt.
Share14 December 2019
We have had a space out by the back of the shop for parking since the shop opened. But we noticed that fewer and fewer customers were using it and more customers mentioned the lack of parking in our area. It turned out that they didn't like parking on the back, unsealed lot as this made their shoes muddy and their car dirty. We used a concrete contractor to come and seal the carpark as well as mark out defined parking bays. The customers love it and we have noticed an increase in business. This site talks about how small businesses can create parking spaces with concreting to improve their customer experience.
