Not all asphalt has the same lifespan. Some goes way before its time.

Others have long and fruitful lives. To understand how long asphalt lasts, you need to know how it’s being used and how it’s being maintained.

Thinking about investing in a new asphalt parking lot for your growing business? That’s great. Asphalt is a terrific option for your next parking lot, you’ve made a good decision.

Wondering how long the typical asphalt installation will last? That’s also good. You should be wondering about it. An asphalt project is an investment. And depending on your budget, it can be a big investment in the delight and satisfaction of your customers. And any smart investor should be curious about the lifespan of their investments. 

So just how long does asphalt last?

The true answer varies a bit, and involves a few key factors, but generally speaking a properly installed asphalt project can be expected to last anywhere from 7 to 20 years depending on how it’s used, the way it was designed, and how well it’s maintained. Seven to 20 is quite the span.

And if it were my parking lot, I’d want it to be more like 20 years rather than 7. Think of it this way. The merchant who only gets 7 years out of their parking lot will be one year from installing a third parking lot, while the merchant who gets 20 years will still own his first. And the difference between the two merchants comes down to proper use and proper care. So which would you rather pay for? Three parking lots, or one?

What shortens the lifespan of asphalt?

You can tell it’s time to replace your asphalt when you begin to notice the liquid asphalt oxidize and crack. This is caused when the liquid asphalt oxidizes, becomes brittle, and strips off the aggregates, leaving just the solid materials.

Also, asphalt that is being misused has a shorter lifespan in general as the situations that arise from the misuse can have an immediate damaging effect on the asphalt. Basically, you can “break the asphalt” if you stress it beyond its limit. We think of asphalt as “the ground”. But when enough downward force is applied, even asphalt has a breaking point. 

Want to extend the life of your asphalt?

Maintain your asphalt by performing routine crack repair. Also use a sealcoat. Sealcoats are a great way to protect your asphalt from the deteriorating effects of the sun’s UV rays, heat, water and dryness.

And be sure to use your asphalt for what it was intended for. If your asphalt parking lot is rated for cars, then be mindful of where the dumpsters are and whether or not your parking lot is going to have garbage trucks driving on it. Garbage trucks are bad for parking lots that have only been rated for cars.