When it comes to maintaining your commercial property, your parking lot plays a bigger role than most people realize. It’s often the first thing visitors and customers see, and its condition reflects directly on your business. But how do you know when it’s time for routine parking lot repairs and when repaving is the smarter move? Our Troy, MI, asphalt paving contractor can help settle this.
To start, goes beyond surface fixes. While repairs like asphalt crack sealing, pothole repair, and asphalt sealcoating help extend the life of your pavement, they’re not always enough. If your lot has widespread damage or recurring issues, investing in commercial asphalt paving or some form of resurfacing may be the best option to restore both function and appearance.
Here are 5 signs it might be time to consider parking lot paving.
1. Widespread Alligator Cracking
—also known as fatigue cracking—gets its name because it looks like the scales on a reptile’s back. It often means the foundation beneath the asphalt is failing. Small cracks can usually be addressed with crack sealing or asphalt patching, but once these cracks spread across large areas, patching becomes a temporary band-aid. At this point, repair won’t cut it. Asphalt repaving is often the only lasting solution.
2. Standing Water or Drainage Problems
If you’re seeing puddles after every rain, your lot may have drainage issues caused by uneven grading or worn asphalt. Over time, standing water weakens the pavement and speeds up deterioration. In some cases, asphalt milling can help reestablish proper drainage without removing the entire lot. But if water damage is extensive, paving is likely the better fix.
3. Multiple Potholes
Potholes are more than just an inconvenience—they’re a sign of structural failure. One or two potholes can be easily managed by our local asphalt repair contractors, but if they keep coming back or show up in multiple areas, we recommend that you take a step back and evaluate the bigger picture. Persistent potholes indicate that the surface and base are breaking down, which often calls for full asphalt resurfacing or replacement.
4. Faded Asphalt and Line Striping
When asphalt starts to look gray and washed out, it’s a sign of oxidation and UV damage. If the surface is in decent shape, can restore color and protect against further wear. However, if the pavement has lost its flexibility and the line striping is barely visible, that usually means the lot is beyond surface maintenance. Having a parking lot paved again may be necessary to restore safety and visibility.
5. Previous Repairs Aren’t Holding Up
If you’ve already invested in multiple patch jobs, crack sealing, or sealcoating and problems keep reappearing, it’s likely a sign your lot has reached the end of its lifespan. Continually fixing asphalt cracks and patching trouble spots can add up. In the long run, investing in commercial asphalt paving can be more cost-effective than applying short-term solutions year after year.
Make the Right Call for Your Lot
Whether it’s time for a full repave or targeted asphalt maintenance, staying proactive saves money and prolongs your lot. If you’re not sure what level of service you need, our , can evaluate your property and recommend the best solution. Call American Asphalt Paving & Sealcoating today at (248) 879-5900 or contact us online to request a quote.