Taking proper care of a business often means maintaining the asphalt surfaces that surround the property. When the days get hectic, however, it can be easy to let this responsibility slip. Our Troy, MI, commercial asphalt contractor urges you to remain vigilant and stay on top of repairs or paving needs before smaller issues grow in severity.
Here’s how you can approach a “marathon not a sprint” mentality towards your asphalt maintenance budget and spread costs over time.
Assess Your Existing Parking Lot
Before you can budget effectively, you need to understand the current condition of your asphalt lot. Our local asphalt paving contractors can perform a professional inspection and a detailed condition report that will help you identify immediate needs, like asphalt crack sealing or pothole repair, as well as what can be planned out over the next few years.
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Once you have a baseline, it’s easier to forecast costs for asphalt patching, sealcoating, and even asphalt milling or parking lot resurfacing. A maintenance strategy for one business may not work for another as it largely depends on factors like traffic volume, existing drainage, and the quality of previous asphalt paving services. Ultimately, it’s important that you don’t guess and use real data when planning it all out.
Divide Your Budget Into Different Stages
Trying to tackle every issue at once often leads to financial strain or rushed decisions. Instead, structure your commercial asphalt maintenance budget in phases. Start with safety and liability issues, like fixing parking lot potholes, , or failed drainage that can cause further damage. Next, allocate funds toward preserving what’s in good shape.
That might include:
- Sealcoating asphalt to extend lifespan and reduce UV damage
- Crack sealing to prevent water from undermining the base
- Professional line striping services to maintain clear traffic flow
- Drainage upgrades, i.e., catch basin repair, to avoid future surface degradation
By spreading out costs, you avoid blowing your budget and still keep your asphalt surfaces functional and safe.
Don’t Forget About Preventive Maintenance
If it hasn’t been stated enough already: don’t wait for damage to appear, instead plan for regular maintenance. A proactive schedule reduces emergency repairs and prolongs the life of your asphalt parking lot. Budget annually for the following:
- Sealcoating every 2–3 years
- Sealing cracks as needed each year
- Parking lot line striping when visibility fades (often every 1–2 years)
- Pothole repair or after seasonal freeze-thaw cycles
Recurring line items in your budget make it easier to justify ongoing costs and avoid surprises. These smaller, predictable expenses beat the large, unplanned costs of full replacement.
Reserve Funds for Resurfacing & Milling
Even with perfect maintenance, asphalt doesn’t last forever. After 15–20 years, you’ll likely need some form of asphalt milling and resurfacing. These are more extensive services, but they’re still far more cost-effective than ripping everything out and starting over.
Set aside a reserve fund each year for eventual resurfacing. That way, when the time comes to schedule parking lot paving again, you’re financially ready; no panic, no deferral, no cutting corners.
Ask Your Asphalt Contractor the Right Questions
A good commercial asphalt paving partner will help you build and maintain a long-term plan. Look for companies (like ours!) that offer a full range of asphalt paving services. That includes asphalt repair, sealcoating, line striping, and signage or wheel stop installation.
Ask questions like:
- Do you offer annual maintenance plans?
- Can you provide a multi-year forecast for parking lot maintenance?
- How do you prioritize repairs based on condition and risk?
- What materials and techniques do you use for durability?
Request a Quote for Asphalt Maintenance
Asphalt degrades over time and as such, is a continuous investment. Fortunately, our commercial asphalt maintenance contractors in Troy, MI, are right there with you and can help when the time comes. Call American Asphalt Paving & Sealcoating today at (248) 879-5900 to request a quote.