Parking Lot Drainage: Tips For Getting Water Off Your Asphalt Pavement
Dallas asphalt parking lots are constantly subject to harsh weather. In addition to receiving a steady battering from the Texas heat, expansive paved surfaces also catch and collect water. While seeing wet pavement after a heavy storm is normal, what’s not normal is seeing standing water. Water can be the death of your pavement, so it’s important to have great parking lot drainage.
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ToggleStanding water can wreak havoc on asphalt, speeding up deterioration and turning your parking lot into a hazardous mess. Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to ensure water flows off your pavement quickly and efficiently after a storm.
Why Is Parking Lot Drainage So Important?
There are several reasons to invest in parking lot drainage solutions. First, good drainage can prolong the life of your asphalt parking lot. Standing water can cause the asphalt and its binders to weaken, resulting in crack formation, low spots and common issues like alligator cracking.
Furthermore, asphalt is a porous material. The longer water sits on the surface of your asphalt, the higher the risk of structural integrity problems. Water can erode sub-base materials, causing the surface to become unstable.
Unless you want to pay for extensive damage repairs and reconstruction, you need viable parking lot drainage solutions. But that’s not all.
Poor drainage in your asphalt parking lot can also increase the risk of vehicle damage and pedestrian injury. You would be liable for any accidents on your property, putting your business at risk.
How Does the Right Elevation Improve Dallas Parking Lot Drainage?
Good drainage starts during the construction phase of your asphalt pavement in Dallas. A skilled paving contractor will take all precautions to create the proper elevation. Elevation refers to the subtle slope paved surfaces should have. In most cases, new asphalt pavement in Dallas needs a slope of at least one percent to prevent standing water.
The right elevation encourages water flow from the asphalt surface to the parking lot drains. Contractors should work to achieve the right elevation during every step of construction, ensuring your asphalt pavement has no areas where water can collect.
What Role Does Dallas Asphalt Pavement Play in Improving Drainage?
Dallas asphalt pavement will experience damage throughout its life. It’s important to address damage and continually invest in long-term maintenance, which will help improve your Dallas parking lot drainage.
Fill and seal cracks annually to prevent water from penetrating the surface of your asphalt pavement. Whenever necessary, hire contractors to perform patch repairs and fix potholes as they develop. The sooner you repair the damage, the better.
Don’t stop there. Prioritize preventative maintenance services, too. For example, you should invest in asphalt sealcoating every three to five years. Sealcoating protects your asphalt pavement against the elements and vehicle fluids, maintaining its appearance and preventing premature damage that could affect Dallas parking lot drainage.
How Can I Improve Parking Lot Drainage?
Fortunately, many parking lot drainage solutions are available. In addition to creating the right elevation during construction and keeping up with asphalt pavement maintenance, you can invest in additional improvements to address drainage problems.
One easy solution is to install curbs. Curbs can direct water flow to parking lot drains and other infrastructure. You can also consider installing catch basins. These parking lot drains have grates to allow water to flow through, channeling it away from your asphalt pavement.
Other possible solutions include French parking lot drain systems, trenches, shoulder drains and more. Consult an asphalt paving company to see which option would benefit your Dallas parking lot.
If you’re experiencing drainage issues with your asphalt pavement in Dallas, turn to HI-TEK Paving Services. We’re experts in asphalt paving, offering services like sealcoating, repairs, overlays, lot striping and more to property owners throughout Dallas.
We’ve helped countless clients install, repair and maintain their Dallas asphalt pavement since 2010. We work hard to build lasting relationships with our clients by offering excellent results, good communication and unmatched reliability.
Call HI-TEK Paving Services at (214) 908-9641 to discuss your needs and get a free project quote. We’re also available via email at kevin@hi-tekpaving.com or through our online contact form.