A Parking Lot’s Paving Process

Commercial parking lots see a lot of use, and must eventually be repaved. If you’re a business owner who needs work done on your own parking lot, you may wonder what goes into the process you’re about to start. Today, let’s take a look at an average commercial parking lot and what your road crew will do when they repair or repave your lot.

Step One: Your Part

Before your work crew arrives, you’ll need to inform your customers, employees, and anyone else who might use your parking lot. Let them know that the designated area will be off-limits until the pavers finish their work. If you can, arrange for part of the lot to be closed at a time so that you can still offer parking spaces to those who need them. Clear the lot of debris as best you can, and wait for the pavers to come.

Step Two: Get Rid of Old Blacktop

In a full repaving job, your crew will have to remove the previously existing surface to make room for the new surface. A lot of old asphalt can be recycled and used in the new layer, but old concrete will have to be removed entirely.

The team will bring in heavy machinery to tear up your parking lot and sort out what they can salvage and what will have to go to the dump.

 Step Three: Set Up for Water Drainage

Your parking lot will suffer more damage if water doesn’t drain off properly, and setting up the drainage system starts at the ground level. The pavers will drain any existing spots of water beforehand and then shape the ground with grading and sloping techniques, providing a foundation for the rest of the materials to rest on. If your crew does their job well, you won’t have to worry about water damage nearly as much in the future.

Step Four: Lay the Sub-Base

The first layer of asphalt is known as the sub-base, and it can be the crucial difference between a smoothly paved surface and a bumpy, cracked parking lot. A well-done sub-base acts as a frost barrier and provides a stable surface for the rest of the asphalt. The crew will pour the material onto the graded area, test for stability and the appropriate thickness, and compact the sub-base so that it holds up well.

 Step Five: Apply Binder and Asphalt

Your roadwork team will apply a binder over the sub-base, which will provide integration and support between the sub-base and the surface asphalt. After that, they’ll get the asphalt ready:

  • First, they’ll heat a mixture of gravel, stone, sand, and old asphalt to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Next, they’ll load it into the appropriate vehicle and set up the hopper and haul truck to pave in a straight, smooth line.
  • After the first layer, they’ll test the material to make sure the components have mixed evenly instead of becoming separated.

Step Six: Compact the New Surface

Your pavers will use one or more machines to roll over the newly laid asphalt, pushing air bubbles out and forcing the materials to hold together. If done improperly, your new parking lot will not endure the test of time, so be sure you trust the contractors to do their job well. Some companies use also use a micro-surfacing technique to cure the pavement, which will leave the surface smooth and durable for the foreseeable future.

Ready to redo your cracked and tired parking lot? If you have cracks to be repaired, potholes to be filled, or an entire lot that needs to be repaved, contact Pinnacle Paving & Sealing today for professional work at a competitive price.

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