5 Tips to Protect Your Parking Lot Against Snow Damage

by | Sep 27, 2017 | Snow Problems

  • Protect from Snow Plows – Even though the intention of snow plows is to help parking lots and roads by clearing them of snow, they can also cause damage. To protect your lot against snow plows, make sure your parking lot is cleaned and rid of any loose objects (i.e. rocks, litter, dirt, etc.) that the snow plows could run over and ultimately crack your asphalt. Also make sure you put visible markers along the curbs to protect driveways and pathways.
     
  • Shovel Often and Correctly – The freezing, thawing and refreezing of water can cause extensive damage to your parking lot. That is why it is important to develop a habit of shoveling as often as it snows to decrease the amount of time this cycle occurs on your pavement.
     
  • Check Your De-Icer – De-icing agents can be rough on your pavement. For example, rock salt is damaging to porous asphalt and cement. It may be best to use a milder product instead.
     
  • Fill Cracks and Repair Puddles – Be sure to fill any cracks and repair any water puddles you see on your parking lot surface. You may want to get professional help for this. Professionals can find smaller cracks, and even the preliminary signs of cracking, and fix them before they become much larger problem areas. When snow or water gets inside cracks, it freezes and then expands. The surrounding asphalt relaxes when the ice melts. The constant freezing and thawing can cause those cracks to become longer and wider and eventually result in potholes. Repairing puddles before this process can help to reduce the threat of potholes, which will protect the longevity of your asphalt parking lot.
     
  • Repair Potholes – Repairing potholes immediately can help prevent more extensive damage to your lot. If potholes appear in your parking lot this winter, fix them as soon as possible.