Paving Truths and Falsehoods

Rose Paving / October 22, 2014

It’s a fact that property and facility managers juggle numerous tasks simultaneously. And, with a full plate, parking lot maintenance can sometimes be deferred or even overlooked. But, we’d like to remind our readers that, as one of the most costly and extensive areas of a property or facility, it is especially important to make the right decisions at the right time concerning pavement upkeep. Understanding timing and other factors affecting parking lot maintenance will save your organization money and provide peace of mind.

Take our ‘True or False’ challenge and see if you can answer all four statements correctly.

Seal coat should be applied immediately after initial installation of new asphalt.
Every 10 to 15 years, major structural restoration should occur on your parking lot(s).
Traffic can drive over pavement immediately after maintenance has been performed.
Pavement evaluations should occur every other year.

Answers:

False. This treatment should be applied within 12 to 18 months afterwards. Waiting allows the surface to cure properly and the oils from the original pavement or newly overlaid surface to dissipate. Thereafter, seal coating should be applied on a regular basis, about every 24 to 48 months.
True. Every 10 to 15 years funds should be budgeted for major structural restoration—either resurfacing or removal and replacement. This time-frame can vary as much as five years earlier or later depending on traffic load and whether or not routine maintenance has been performed on the pavement.
False. Asphalt, concrete, sealers, and paint need time to dry or harden in order to properly adhere or bond with existing pavement. Non-compliance may compromise the effectiveness of the procedure.
False. Your contractor should collect condition data on an annual basis to monitor and verify if rehabilitation strategies are producing predicted results.

How did you score? If this was intriguing and you’d like to learn more truths and falsehoods, download our free whitepaper and start making better paving decisions. Your boss will thank you for it!