PREPARING YOUR COMMERCIAL PARKING LOT FOR COLD
WEATHER
Winter is coming, and it’s important to prepare your parking lot ahead of time. Hazards like snow, ice, and debris can be a liability issue, and they can also discourage customers from stopping at your business. Taking the proper steps can also minimize the wear and tear on your parking lot.
Get a Professional Inspection
Before winter comes, it’s a great idea to get a professional inspection by a commercial paving company in Glenside, PA. Because of the frequent temperature changes, the asphalt will be contacting and expanding frequently. This can make small cracks bigger. Hire a paving company to check for cracks, potholes, and other issues that can be problematic in the winter.
Sealing Your Parking Lot
If it’s been a few years since your parking lot has been poured or sealed, it’s probably time to get it resealed. Resealing can reduce the damage winter does to your asphalt. It also makes your parking lot look fresh and new, which is always a plus.
Check Drainage
One of the most important things you can do before winter comes is to check the drainage of your parking lot. The main reason for this is that poor drainage allows water to accumulate in your parking lot. In the winter, this can quickly turn to ice. This ice creates a danger to your customers and causes damage to your lot over time.
You may hire a paving company to check your drainage. In fact, this is typically a part of an inspection. However, you can also do it yourself if you know what to look for. Look for areas of standing water after it rains. Notice how long it takes any water to drain from your parking lot. Check any drainage ditches for debris. If you notice any issues, be sure to correct them before the temperatures drop.
Trim Trees
This is an often overlooked step. If you have trees that hang over your parking lot, they may break in winter due to the weight of ice or snow. This can create a hazard. The good news is that this is easily prevented by trimming any limbs that are encroaching on your parking area or sidewalk.
Make a Plan
Before cold weather strikes, you’ll need to make plans to deal with inclement weather. For example, how will you maintain your parking lot if there’s snow? Will you shovel it? Hire a snowplow? Do you plan to use ice melt to prevent ice in your lot?
You’ll want a few plans in place. One for minimizing any issues caused by severe weather, like applying salt before a snowstorm, and one for handling any issues that arise because of winter weather.
The last plan you may want to consider is a backup plan. What happens if your parking lot can’t be used for a day or longer? Is there another place customers can park? Will you need to close? It’s rare that you’ll need a backup plan if you plan properly, but it’s still important to have.
Stock up on Supplies
If you plan on maintaining your parking lot yourself through the winter, you should stock up on supplies early. You’ll need snow or deicer. Shovels can be very helpful. Be sure to have cones to mark any areas that are unsafe, and safety vests so employees are visible while working on the lot.
You may also want to invest in sand or gravel. When melting the snow or ice isn’t an option, these materials will provide traction to help prevent accidents.
Commercial Paving with Local Paving PA
Our asphalt paving company in Chestnut Hill, PA can help you prepare your parking lot for winter and extend its longevity.
OCTOBER 5, 2023