Commercial property owners are often bombarded with bad advice when it comes to asphalt paving and maintenance. These myths don’t just cause confusion, they can lead to costly mistakes. Whether you’re managing a shopping center, office park, or industrial facility, our Troy, MI, commercial asphalt contractor wants you to understand the truth so you can save serious money and protect your investment.
Here are 5 most common myths people believe.
Myth #1: Asphalt Doesn’t Need Maintenance for Years
One of the most expensive misconceptions is that once a commercial parking lot is paved, it’s good for a decade without upkeep. The reality? Neglecting regular asphalt maintenance shortens the lifespan of your pavement and leads to bigger repair bills down the road.
Commercial asphalt paving is an investment, and like any asset, it requires care. Routine asphalt crack repair, sealcoating, and timely pothole repair are essential. Skipping these steps accelerates surface breakdown, allows water infiltration, and leads to premature resurfacing or even full replacement. Maintenance costs a fraction of replacement and the longer you wait, the more expensive it gets.
Myth #2: Sealcoating Is Just Cosmetic
Some property owners dismiss as purely aesthetic. That’s a mistake. While sealcoating a parking lot does refresh its appearance, its primary role is protection. The application shields pavement from UV rays, oil spills, oxidation, and water penetration.
Think of sealcoating as sunscreen for your pavement. When scheduled every 2–3 years, it extends the life of the asphalt and delays the need for costly resurfacing. Without commercial asphalt maintenance like this, even well-installed asphalt will deteriorate much faster.
Myth #3: Cracks and Potholes Can Wait
Many people believe that small cracks or minor potholes aren’t urgent. This is a dangerous assumption. Water seeps into even hairline cracks, freezes, expands, and destroys the sub-base from within. What starts as a tiny issue quickly becomes a serious structural problem.
Don’t let damage grow unchecked. Schedule crack repair with our local asphalt paving contractors as soon as issues are visible. If you delay , the costs multiply. Quick fixes are far cheaper than dealing with undermined pavement that requires complete replacement.
Myth #4: Any Contractor Can Handle Commercial Work
Hiring asphalt paving contractors without verifying their commercial experience is a gamble. Projects of this size are vastly different from residential jobs. They require heavier equipment, larger crews, traffic flow planning, ADA compliance, and attention to safety and liability.
Before having a parking lot paved, verify that your contractor specializes in this type of asphalt paving. Ask for references, review past commercial parking lot paving projects, and make sure they understand the scope of work, including:
- Asphalt milling and resurfacing
- Parking lot line striping
- Stormwater drainage and grading
- Traffic signage and accessibility compliance
Choosing the wrong contractor can lead to delays, subpar work, and liability risks. You can rest assured that our team has a proven track record and many satisfied customers throughout Metro Detroit.
Myth #5: You Can Tell It’s Time to Repave Just by Looking
Appearances can be deceiving. A lot may look “okay” but still be structurally unsound. Knowing when to repave a parking lot isn’t just about surface cracks or faded lines, it’s about the integrity of the base layer and how well the pavement is holding up under stress.
If your lot shows signs of alligator cracking, widespread potholes, or poor drainage, it’s probably time for a more in-depth evaluation. Proper asphalt paving services often use core testing or ground-penetrating assessments to determine whether you need patching, asphalt milling, or full repaving. Don’t wait until customers complain or lawsuits hit, get a professional inspection before issues become liabilities.
Give Our Asphalt Experts a Call
Avoiding these myths means fewer repairs, longer pavement life, and a better experience for tenants and customers. Make decisions based on facts, not folklore, and choose companies, like our , who specialize in larger projects and know what your property really needs. Call American Asphalt Paving & Sealcoating today at (248) 879-5900 to request a quote.