Protecting a Parking Lot from Sun Damage

Owning a business means dealing with everything from payroll to inventory to your building’s landscaping and property. Damage and repairs to the latter are inevitable, and your parking lot gets beaten up by a lot of different things. Heavy vehicles, precipitation, erosion and vegetation can all take their toll on its surface. Beyond those, though, one surprising factor in asphalt deterioration is the sun’s rays.

Asphalt sun damage in Montgomery County, MD, is a bigger problem than many people might realize. Fortunately, there are simple methods that you can implement to minimize its effects.

Heat kills asphalt

It’s important to first understand why the sun can cause so much destruction to parking lots. Anyone who’s ever scrambled across blacktop to get the mail can tell you that asphalt gets very hot. It’s an excellent conductor of heat, and its temperature can quickly shoot up to 170 degrees when the sun is beating down.

The ultraviolet rays from the sun can bond with oxygen, fraying the bonds that keep asphalt cohesive and creating inconsistencies and cracks in the surface. This can lead to asphalt sun damage that needs to be addressed.

Start things off right

If you happen to be in the market for a totally new parking lot surface, then you have the best chance at preventing asphalt sun damage. Most of our solutions to combat damage work best if they’re applied at the very base of the surface. Our industry’s technology is constantly evolving, and this means we’re always finding better tools like more efficient sealants and bonding agents to prevent asphalt deterioration.

That said, the best way to stop sun damage is by laying down a thicker mixture of material (made with more gravel and stone instead of sand) at the very bottom of your asphalt surface. This grade of asphalt is going to stay together and withstand all types of damage better, including keeping the sun’s rays at bay.

Repairs are possible

If sun damage has already taken hold of your parking lot or driveway, there are some ways that we can help repair it. Sealcoating is a great way to prevent troublesome loose asphalt in Montgomery County, MD.

Loose asphalt makes for surfaces that will soon break apart. Once this happens, you’re going to need more drastic repairs, so it’s best to nip this type of problem in the bud. Sealcoats put down by our professional technicians can help stop the oxidization process that’s brought on by exposure to the elements. This will breathe new life into your surface and help stave off the possibility that the entire surface will need replacing any time soon.

If the elements are damaging your asphalt parking lot, there’s no need to assume that you need to tear it up and replace it just yet. It’s never been easier to repair and rejuvenate these types of surfaces. The team at Maryland Asphalt has the know-how and experience to work with any damage scenario. Give us a call today for your free consultation and let us get to work shielding your asphalt surface from the sun.

Categorised in: Asphalt Repair