Water is one of the most damaging elements to asphalt pavement.  A light rainfall alone will not affect the life of your pavement.  However, if water sits on top of your pavement for an extended period of time or seeps into the subgrade, you may have a problem.  Cracking, stripping, rutting and base failures are all causes of water damage.

The following are steps you can take to prevent costly repairs caused by water damage:

• Make sure you have a proper drainage system – Proper placement of drainage structures is an essential element to ensure your parking lot doesn’t succumb to water damage. If you have a proper drainage system, water will not pool around your lot, but will flow from the surface into nearby landscaping or gutters.
• Fill Your Cracks – Making sure any cracks ¼ inch wide or larger in your parking lot are sealed will prevent water from seeping into the aggregate base and subgrade material beneath your asphalt. Learn more about Sunland’s crack sealing process HERE.
• Apply a Sealcoat – Sealcoat applies a protective surface for your pavement, guarding it against oxidation/sun exposure, chemicals like oil leakage, and water penetration. Learn more about Sunland’s sealcoating process HERE.
• Fix Potholes – A pothole is the result of a base course that has failed, frequently caused by water damage among other issues. Asphalt patching acts as a band-aid for your pavement, fixing problems before they become costly.  Learn more about asphalt repairs HERE.

The good news is that there are ways to prevent water damage to your asphalt and Sunland’s experts are here to help! We will walk your property and identify any areas that are at risk for water damage.  We can also identify any areas that need repairs and provide a free no strings attached estimate.