Curbside Appeal is Essential--Start with a Freshly Painted Parking Lot

For businesses located on a a busy street or in a heavily occupied industrial center, it is important to stand above the crowd. A freshly striped and sealed parking lot generates positive attention. Customers are more likely to visit a business that looks professional from the outside in.

Curb appeal is important but don't forget the other positive aspects of a well maintained parking lot. A parking lot that is free of potholes and broken curbing avoids potential lawsuits and creates a clean and safe environment for customers. If a customer walks into a location after stepping into a pothole filled with water they are less likely to be in a mood to purchase and will not return after an unpleasant experience.

So what should be looked at when assessing a parking lot?

First look at safety issues.
Safety is the first priority when looking at any parking lot. Potholes and uneven asphalt should be addressed first when looking at any parking lot. When fixing potholes or uneven asphalt don't go to Home Depot and buy a bag of emulsified asphalt, throw it in the hole and think it is fixed. Have the pothole fixed properly by an asphalt contractor.

Proper techniques should be used to repair asphalt.
The proper way to fix a pothole is to saw cut around the hole with an Asphalt saw cutting machine. The best way is for the cuts to make a square whenever possible. Once the asphalt is removed the dirt underneath should be compacted before the asphalt is added. The next step is to make sure that before the asphalt is poured, the hole is prepped with tack along the saw cuts. This is important to make sure the asphalt does not unravel. When the asphalt is added make sure an asphalt roller is used to smooth the asphalt to be level with existing asphalt.

ADA regulations kept up to date.
Some older buildings have been grand fathered in when it comes to ADA (American Disabilites Act) regulations. Once a building undergoes a remodel that building now becomes subject to the new stricter ADA laws. Make sure before any building is remodeled this is checked out completely before sending in any plans. The cost of having to go back and retrofit a remodel is not something anyone wants to deal with.

A freshly striped parking lot drives customer traffic and avoids accidents.
Two goals can be accomplished by striping a parking lot. The most obvious benefit of a freshly striped parking lot, is the dramatic change in appearance that will catch customers eyes. The second benefit of a freshly striped parking lot will be the added safety of stop bars and stop stencils including arrows to direct traffic.

Traffic signs and special signs add to a professional appearance.
While looking at the parking lot also look for signs that may have been bent or run over in the parking lot. Not only will down signs look unprofessional, the jagged edges will present a severe safety hazard. Also look for possible broken cement parking blocks. When parking blocks are broken they can expose rebar that can tear clothing or cut customers legs.

Why is crack fill and seal coat important for a parking lot.
Filling cracks in a parking lot is important because it will help salvage a parking lot that is deteriorating. All asphalt parking develop stress cracks over time and filling them with a rubberized crack fill helps the parking lot last years longer than if the cracks were never treated.

Seal coat should be applied to a parking lot every three to five years. If a parking is properly sealed every three to five years it can last up to 30 years. If a parking lot is not treated it will begin to unravel and come apart in 15 years. The cost savings of seal coat can be millions of dollars, when considering how much a new parking lot would cost.

The most important thing to remember is don't neglect one of the most valuable assets a company has, their parking lot. The parking lot can make a business a lot of money or if neglected it can cost a lot of money.

sources:
www.stripe-a-lot.com