There are many material choices for paving a parking lot - how do you choose? How do you know which is right for your business? Before making any decision, take time to think about the needs of your budget, the space itself, and your weather. We personally are partial to asphalt - and here’s seven reasons why asphalt may be the best material choice for your parking lot.

Low Maintenance

In general, asphalt parking lots are low maintenance - you’ll need minimal upkeep to keep it looking new. If cracks emerge, asphalt is easy to repair - you can even repair minor cracks and problems yourself.

Winter Weather Appropriate

Are you in a climate that has to deal with sleet, snow, and ice? Something you’ll need to consider is your pavement material can be damaged by those materials…or weather prevention materials. Chances are once the temperature drops, you’ll want to treat your pavement to help prevent the buildup of ice. No one wants customers falling in their parking lot, after all. The most common winter weather treatment is salt. Asphalt can withstand the wear and tear of salt treatments, where many other materials such as concrete are damaged by them.

Another reason asphalt helps during winter weather? The dark color actually helps to melt snow faster.

Withstands Weather Changes

It’s not just winter weather - in general, asphalt can withstand weather changes better than other materials. This is especially true for freeze and thaw cycles. During these times of the year, rapid temperature changes can cause water beneath the pavement to freeze and thaw many times. Some materials will crack severely from this, needing extensive repairs. Asphalt is a more flexible surface, allowing it to “give” a little more than other materials.

Durable

Looking for a durable paving material for your parking lot? Asphalt is considered one of - if not the - most durable materials. It can last for 15-20 years, but is considered a perpetual paving material as with regular surfacing and maintenance, you can make it last forever. Forget having to shut your business down for weeks at a time every few years or decades to rip it up and replace. Instead just spend a small amount of time resurfacing an asphalt pavement.

Cost

Price is a pretty important property when thinking about an asphalt parking lot. Especially as chances are, you’re paving a pretty large area. Asphalt is the most cost-efficient paving choice, and you can even shave costs by using a mixture of RAP (recycled asphalt pavement), and using asphalt millings as your sub-base. Asphalt is also considered to be the least expensive pavement material to repair.

Time

Time has to be a consideration in any project. How soon can you actually use your new parking lot? Asphalt has a shorter cure time than other paving materials, allowing you to start using it faster.

Eco Friendly Choice

Whether you’re looking to achieve LEED qualifications, or just to choose a more sustainable material, asphalt is the eco friendly choice you’ve been looking for. Asphalt follows the three R’s of sustainability - Reuse, Reduce, and Recycle - reducing waste, reusing both pour materials and old asphalt, and recycling old asphalt into new projects.

Still not sure what paving material will be right for your project? Talk to an expert to answer any questions or concerns you may have.