Cars, trucks, trailers, other large vehicles, and even pedestrians can cause some severe damage to a commercial property’s pavement. Over time, weathering and constant traffic can cause commercial paving like parking lots to breakdown. Commercial property managers must act quickly to resolve potholes or any other pavement problems to avoid liability for any accidents that may occur. Pavement damage can impact a variety of property types, including:
- Schools
- Shopping centers
- Office parks or buildings
- Churches
- Shipping terminals
- Apartment complexes
- Warehouses and manufacturing facilities
The Dangers of Damaged Commercial Pavement
Commercial property managers are responsible for minimizing damage to the pavement on their property. Problems like potholes and cracking can arise that cause liability issues for the property owner. Potential risks involved with potholes and other damage to a commercial property’s pavement include:
- Trip and fall hazards
- Flat tires
- Damage to the underside of vehicles
- Car collisions while avoiding potholes
- Accidents involving pedestrians
- Disorganized parking or traffic patterns due to pavement discoloration/fading
Potholes and other hazards must be dealt with swiftly to avoid any legal liabilities for vehicular damage or medical costs from a trip and fall accident. Property managers should be proactive in protecting and maintaining their commercial pavement.
How To Manage Potholes and Other Pavement Issues on Your Commercial Property
Even if a property’s pavement is in fantastic condition, commercial property managers should prioritize maintenance and regular repairs for even the most minor issues. Small cracks and tiny divots can turn into extreme hazards if they’re not dealt with quickly. Remember the following tips when taking care of your commercial property’s pavement:
1. Be Proactive
Commercial vehicles like semis and tractor-trailers can damage a parking lot because of their extreme weights. Commercial property managers should be proactive in maintaining pavement that undergoes heavy vehicular traffic. You can prevent extensive damage from occurring by implementing weight limits in your asphalt parking lot.
Well-constructed parking lots can easily withstand traffic from compact cars, SUVs, and pick-up trucks. However, they’re not equipped to undergo strain from huge semi-trucks. Property managers should ensure an alternative route for trucks to reach loading docks or tractor-trailer parking areas. Managing load levels minimizes the amount of pressure on the pavement, reducing the possibility of damage occurring over time.
2. Inform Your Tenants
If you’re planning on performing any repairs to your commercial parking lot or other paved surfaces, it’s essential that you inform your tenants. It will be challenging for your local paving contractor to perform necessary parking lot repairs if cars continue to park on the pavement. One great way to avoid this issue is to provide ample parking in an alternative location or offer parking vouchers if your paving project is expected to disrupt multiple days.
3. Act Quickly
The minute a property manager notices cracks or collapsing pavement, they must take action. Commercial property managers can call a concrete or asphalt paving company to help repair potholes and other pavement problems before they get out of control. The following are serious signs of parking lot breakdown that must be dealt with swiftly:
- Potholes
- Crack systems
- Alligator cracking
- Block cracking
- Pooling water
- Low spots or depressions
- Warped pavement
- Fading asphalt surface
These different types of parking lot breakdown can indicate further issues with the subsurface of the pavement. It’s crucial to choose the right paving partner to help resolve these issues immediately, so your commercial property’s pavement remains safe for use.
4. Resolve Issues
Once you’ve noticed pavement issues arising on your commercial property, consult with a professional paving company in your area to find the best solution. Different types of pavement damage can act as signs of other issues. For example, pooling water on the uneven surface of your pavement indicates inadequate drainage in the area. Professionals with experience in asphalt pavement repair will know precisely what treatment your pavement requires to take care of existing issues.
Infrared Asphalt Repair
The infrared asphalt repair (IRR) process is exceptionally useful in resolving common problems in commercial parking lots and paved surfaces. Property managers can utilize IRR technology to quickly fix potholes, cracks, uneven surfaces, and other commercial pavement problems.
Commercial infrared repair benefits are innumerable; it’s easy, affordable, and, most importantly, fast. The IRR process involves heating existing asphalt to an incredibly high temperature, adding new asphalt to the present pavement, and raking them together to create a smooth, seamless surface.
While there are other ways to repair your property’s pavement, most professionals consider IRR the best method for pavement repair. The process requires minimal downtime after completion, so your tenants can begin to use the parking lot or other paved structure almost immediately. For a fast and budget-friendly resolution to commercial pavement problems, utilize infrared asphalt repair.
5. Perform Proper Maintenance
Asphalt parking lots and other paved locations on commercial properties can withstand a lot. From vehicular and pedestrian traffic to constant weathering, pavement endures a lot of impacts throughout the year. Once you’ve resolved existing issues on your pavement, remain diligent about performing proper maintenance.
Commercial property managers can utilize a seal coating on asphalt surfaces. When properly applied, a seal coat can protect the pavement from the elements and maintain a fresher appearance for much longer. Seal the surface of commercial pavement every few years to ensure its longevity.
With adequate maintenance all year long, your asphalt pavement should last for years to come. However, if you let maintenance fall by the wayside and refuse to act quickly in repairing any issues, your pavement will almost certainly fail before the end of its life expectancy.