CALL TODAY:

813-985-9970

Author Archive

pavement maintenance

Pavement Maintenance: Tips to Keep Your Pavement in Top Condition

Pavement Maintenance: Tips to Keep Your Pavement in Top Condition

Did you know that 68% of land is devoted to parking and parking lots in large cities? 

Learning how to care for a parking lot properly will help you save money and prolong the lifespan of your asphalt. There are a few steps you can take to ensure your commercial property stays looking nice and continues to be functional.

If you own a commercial parking lot, this article is for you. We are going to tell you everything you need to know about pavement maintenance. 

Sealcoat

The sun, oil drips, and even water can do a lot of damage to your pavement. While it’s impossible to avoid these elements completely, sealcoating your pavement will minimize the damage. 

It’s recommended that you have your parking lot pavement sealcoated every two or three years. This will fill in any cracks and it’ll keep your pavement looking new. There may be issues that you’re unaware of, and sealing the pavement is a great way to treat those areas. 

Regular Cleaning

Asphalt maintenance also includes having your pavement cleaned. Your commercial lot is vulnerable to oil spills and leaks from other vehicles. It’s important that these are taken care of as soon as possible.

Debris that gets into crevices and cracks can cause a lot of damage over time. Having a professional cleaning as part of your parking lot maintenance will save you money on future repairs. 

Inspections

It’s important that you take the time to hire a professional to come out and inspect your pavement. You might not have time to go walk your large commercial parking lot to check for damage, and even if you do, you might not know what you’re looking for.

You may not notice small issues in your parking lot. Someone who is experienced and qualified will be able to see these problems and fix them before they become larger issues. 

Drainage System 

Sitting water can cause erosion, which will be a costly issue. Puddles can also become a home to insects and other bugs, which you don’t want on your property.

Having an effective drainage system can make all the difference when it comes to pavement maintenance. If this step is neglected when you’re asphalt paving, you’ll likely have issues selling the parking lot later on and you’ll increase the amount you spend on repairs. 

Repairs

If your parking lot has potholes or other damage, be sure to fix it as soon as you can.

This will not only keep it looking nice, but it will prevent further damage. 

Pavement Maintenance 

If you own a commercial parking lot, it’s time you start investing in pavement maintenance. There are many benefits to taking care of your asphalt. You’ll increase curb appeal, save yourself money, extend the life of the pavement, and improve safety. 

If you’ve just started parking lot paving or if you’ve owned a lot for a while, contact us. We’ve helped many business owners maintain their parking lots and pavement and we can help you too. 

asphalt

What Season Is Best for Asphalt Paving?

asphalt

Good maintenance on your commercial parking lot requires many things, and over time, you may need to repave the entire surface. A properly maintained paving job can last for up to 25 years. This is of course impacted by use, size, and exposure to year-round weather conditions. Choosing the best time for your business to pave a commercial surface, whether it’s new construction or a touch-up job, can impact the quality and results of the paving job.

Optimum Paving Conditions to Consider

A good paving job needs to take place during the spring or summer. A hot paving job needs temperatures that are at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit or above, though it is possible to lay asphalt in temperatures down to 50 degrees. The heat from the summer months keeps the asphalt smooth and pliable and allows the contractors more time to ensure it is smooth and even before it hardens. There is also more daylight to work by in the summer months.

A good paving condition also needs to take humidity, precipitation, and wind speed into account. With high winds, the asphalt may cool too quickly. This is especially true when the external temperature is already too close to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Problems To Avoid

In cooler weather, there is a concern that there is less time to work with the paving material. This can lead to poor quality in how the surface both looks and feels. A good paving job requires patience and time, and summer months provide plenty of daylight and ideal working conditions. Asphalt also tends to hold onto heat, which means paving in the early weeks of summer is best for the safety of the contracting crew. Temperatures that are too hot have their unique problems.

Professionals To Use

With Azzarelli Paving, you don’t have to worry about the quality of your paving job. We do our best at any temperature to ensure a smooth, well-laid product that will last for years to come. Get your estimate today by calling 813-296-6500 or emailing us.

4 Questions To Ask a Potential Commercial Paving Contractor

The maintenance needs of your commercial property don’t stop with the interior and exterior plumbing and electrical needs, or the HVAC and fire suppression systems. Your property’s parking lot needs to be included with a maintenance plan both for safety and aesthetic purposes. A professional paving company should be expected to produce high-quality paving results, but you will need to ensure you’ve hired the right team to handle your job. A few specific questions can let you know if you are making the right decision.

Are You Licensed and Insured?

Proper licensing and insurance protect you when working with a paving company. This paperwork means the company is legitimate and committed to doing business professionally. Go through the extra steps necessary to obtain proof of both.

What Sector Do You Work With?

There is a great deal of difference between residential and commercial paving projects. Finding a company to specialize in commercial paving is important, as factors like traffic flow, handicap or directional markings, and completion timeline are extremely important for your business operations.

How Much Experience Does Your Company Have?

The more experienced a company, the better the chances of high-quality results. Experience is a great teacher, and a professional paving company that’s been around for years can handle any surprises or challenges that come up during the job.

Do You Have a Portfolio and Referrals To Review?

A reputable company will be willing to show you the work it has done for other clients. You can also read reviews online or check the Better Business Bureau listing to get an idea of how the company does business. Make sure you talk to at least three prior clients.

Tampa’s Professional Paving Choice

If you want to work with a company that gives you plenty of information for these questions and peace of mind over your paving project, Azzarelli Paving is the team to call. We are experts in commercial paving with decades of experience. Give us a call at 813-985-9970 to find out more.

The Top Do’s and Don’ts of Parking Lot Aftercare

Regular aftercare is part of keeping new asphalt looking fresh and attractive. With the proper maintenance, you can prolong the life of your parking lot for up to 30 years. To get the best return from your investment, find out how to protect your parking lot and keep it functional for years to come. 

The Top Do’s of Parking Lot Aftercare 

Following simple guidelines will help keep your parking lot as fresh as when it was resurfaced. 

Provide the proper time for asphalt to cure. 

Asphalt takes up to a year to fully cure. Install speed bumps and enforce a weight limit to prevent damage.

Schedule regular sealcoating and maintenance.

Regular aftercare is a prevention plan to ensure that your parking lot remains in top shape. 

Clean your lot to avoid chemical degradation of the asphalt. 

The chemical build-up from oil and fuel leaks can degrade the binding compounds in asphalt. Regular cleaning will help prevent damage to the surface of the lot. 

The Top Don’ts of Parking Lot Aftercare 

Maintaining your parking lot includes proper care without cutting corners on time or attention to detail. 

Do not disturb the freshly laid asphalt for 24 to 72 hours. 

While it takes a year for asphalt to completely cure, it can take up to 72 hours to harden fully. Hot Florida temperatures can extend the curing time for even longer. 

Do not wait to patch minor flaws.

Patching minor flaws, like cracks, holes, or fissures, can keep your parking lot in good health until it’s time for regularly scheduled maintenance. 

Do not let landscaping overgrow into the parking lot. 

Neatly managed landscaping is essential for curb appeal and a well-kempt parking lot. Keeping weeds and other plant roots away from the asphalt will prevent cracks and breaks.

Paving with pride since 1983, Azzarelli paving and site development is ready and waiting to provide a free estimate for your lot today. Contact us today at 813-985-9970 or online for more details.

Protect Your Company from Lawsuits with Quality Paving

In today’s society, lawsuits can come from many directions, including a parking lot in poor shape. Instead of worrying about troublesome and expensive litigation, you can take steps to shield your business from legal problems by maintaining your lot to high standards. Not only are you less likely to get sued, but you also reap the benefits of a beautiful lot, happy customers, and cost-efficiency.

Our team at Azzarelli Paving will help you reach compliance when it comes to ADA requirements. We will also level your asphalt surface to prevent slips, falls, and vehicle damage.

The Risks of Potholes and Cracks

Not only do flaws in the surface of your lot look bad, but they can also result in legal action against your company. This can have severe consequences on your company’s balance sheet. As lawsuits continue to increase throughout society, a quality paving job can mitigate risks in many ways:

  • Eliminate the dangers that come from cracks in the surface
  • Reduce the possibility of vehicle damage from potholes
  • Decrease the risk of personal injury from trips
  • Safeguard against accidents due to faded striping or bad lighting

The cost of repairs to your parking lot is less than even a small lawsuit. Fixing cracks and potholes will cost you a few hundred dollars, while litigation expenses can run into the tens of thousands of dollars or more.

The Dangers of a Neglected Parking Lot

Your company stands to lose a lot from a poorly-maintained parking lot. The risks for premises liability are real. Proactive maintenance limits hazards that can wind up costing you a bundle. Timely repairs, sealcoating, and even repaving your lot offer solid protection from legal action and give you peace of mind.

Contact our team at Azzarelli Paving at 813-985-9970. We specialize in asphalt paving and parking lot maintenance for Florida companies.

Your Guide to Asphalt Milling

asphalt milling

When it comes to asphalt repair, asphalt milling is one of the most versatile and affordable options. At Azzarelli Paving, we understand the importance of a functioning and level asphalt parking lot. Understanding the importance of asphalt maintenance can help prevent further structural damage to your commercial parking lot through the milling process.

Understanding Asphalt Milling

Asphalt milling involves removing the surface layer of asphalt to repair internal structural damages where the affected area is leveled, and a new surface layer is installed. When it comes to asphalt maintenance, there are several types of milling depending on the kind of damage your parking lot suffered; this includes:

  • Fine Milling: Fine milling removes the damaged surface and repairs the foundational defects before placing an overlay on top
  • Micro Milling: Micro milling removes the crumbling and damaged asphalt, along with old surface treatments to reveal untarnished asphalt
  • Planing: Planing involves creating a level plane for commercial and vehicular use. We remove damaged pavement and use it for the new aggregate to create a level surface

Any form of asphalt repair and maintenance is an investment that boosts the value of your property. Milling tends to be one of the most affordable forms of pavement restoration and asphalt maintenance.

Knowing When Asphalt Milling Is Necessary

When there are cracks on the surface of your pavement, it could indicate there is a structural issue at hand. When contractors remove the surface layer, they can assess the pavement, find the source of the problem, and fix your pavement from the inside. You may repair cracks on the surface in some cases, but it doesn’t necessarily solve the problem as the gaps may reappear later. Asphalt repair and milling help you find out what’s going on and can save you money on repairs down the road.

When you see cracking asphalt in various spots, you may have a structural issue. It would be best if you also considered asphalt maintenance when you see shoving, rutting, gradient defects, or uneven pavement. If not addressed, you could risk vehicular damages or injury.

If you want to ensure the structural integrity of your pavement, asphalt milling may be necessary. At Azzarelli Paving, we understand when milling is essential. Contact us by calling 813-296-6500 or email us today for more information!

How to Design the Perfect Parking Lot

parking lot

Parking Lot Design Tips

As a driver, you may have found yourself in a tight spot at one time or another in a parking lot. Maybe there isn’t enough room in the parking space, or perhaps it’s a high traffic area and accidents frequently occur. If you own a business, having a parking lot that is easy to navigate will leave a lasting impression on employees and clients. The last thing you want is a bad review because your parking lot is lackluster. Your lot should be practical, precise, and sufficient.

Predict Your Traffic Flow

Before you can prepare your parking lot, you need to know what types of vehicles will be using the spaces. Do you expect a lot of big rigs? Will people mostly drive standard cars? Knowing this kind of information can help improve traffic flow and assist with each spot’s spacing, curbing, and angling. According to the ADA, businesses are required to have accessible parking that also meets the legal requirements. This will help with the installation process.

Be Precise in Your Measurements

Contractors need to survey your parking lot ahead of time. We will assess the distances and angles before establishing boundary lines. Every parking lot is different and you need to keep entry and exit positions, environmental conditions, and code requirements in mind.

Ensuring that your parking lot is safe will help your clients and employees feel comfortable parking in your lot. If it takes too much time to find a spot, some people will feel discouraged and give up.  Spaces set at 45 or 60 degrees help keep the traffic flowing and make it easier to pull in and out of spaces. Your angles also influence the dimensions of the driving aisles.

Keep It Attractive

Your parking lot does not have to be an ugly, gray area. It can be appealing and functional. When you make the space engaging, you can lift your customer’s mood when they arrive.

Your parking lot is a critical part of your business. A bad parking lot can deter potential customers and clients. At Azzarelli Paving & Site Development, we have been synonymous with road construction since the 1950s. Consult with us today to design a practical parking lot for your building.

Is Sealcoating or Repaving the Answer for You?

So you have found yourself standing in the parking lot or the driveway of your workplace, recognizing that the surface of the asphalt is not conducive to business or safety. You ask, what must be done to make it acceptable and functional? Should you have it sealcoated? Is the damage so significant it must be repaved? To make that decision, you may want to understand the difference between these processes.

Sealcoating to Preserve a Workable Surface

It does not take long in our area for the sun and weather to dim the dark luster of asphalt. If the issue with your paved area concerns its appearance—gray coloring with a few spots that require repair—sealcoating may restore its appearance. As a rule of thumb, if significant damage in the form of cracks, holes, and deterioration does not cover more than two-fifths of the total surface, you may be able to rely on a sealcoat.

Paving Over Your Problems

If there is significant damage to 60% or more of the surface, repaving may be your best solution. It is important to note that repaving does not mean you must remove the entirety of the pavement and start from scratch. A full replacement is only necessary when the underlying foundation itself has been compromised. It may be possible to restore your parking lot or driveway with an overlay, which is essentially an additional layer of asphalt applied to the existing surface.

Calling Azzarelli as the One Sure Solution

Regardless of whether you can successfully repair your pavement with a sealcoat or an overlay or more work is needed, you can be sure of the professional expertise of Azzarelli Paving & Site Development. We can assess your situation, explain your options, and make your pavement look brand new again. Contact us today for a free estimate!

How To Budget for Your Commercial Parking Lot

parking lot

At Azzarelli Paving, we understand the importance of your annual budget. Some expenses are easier to plan for than others, such as electricity, rent, office supplies, and other annual expenses. However, knowing your asphalt paving maintenance costs for the year may not be as easy to predict.

Determine the Maintenance You May Require

Before you can budget for asphalt management, you need to go out and inspect your parking lot. Do you see any obvious damage, such as cracks or potholes? If you have interlocking cracks or alligator cracking, it could indicate a foundation problem. Cracks of this nature cannot be filled. Instead, you would have to budget the costs of having the damaged areas removed. Your contractor would repair the foundation and install new pavement.

If your pavement has turned gray with age, you are probably overdue for seal coating. Sealcoating is necessary to protect your pavement and to extend its life. If this is the case, there is a good chance your striping has faded and will need to be repainted.

Once you inspect the lot, think about your lot’s age. If your pavement is over ten years old, it may be time to renovate it. This depends on how well you maintained the asphalt over the last decade, you may only have to renovate the most used paths.

Discuss Your Project With the Professionals

We are here for you if you need help assigning value to your projects. We can conduct routine inspections and preventative maintenance. We can also help design a pavement management plan that can help maximize your asphalt’s lifespan.

Get in touch with Azzarelli Paving today for parking lot maintenance, milling, seal coating, and repairs!

Essential Elements of Parking Lot Safety

parking lot safety

Create a Safe Parking Lot

While you definitely want your parking lot to look nice for your customers, it is also critical that the area is a haven for everyone. An unsafe lot can lead to trips and falls, vehicle crashes, theft, and property damage. These, in turn, can lead to headaches for your business in terms of lawsuits, complaints, and loss of income. At Azzarelli Paving, we make sure your parking lot looks its best and that it provides a secure space for drivers, walkers, visitors, and employees. We have been paving in the central Florida area since 1983, and we have what it takes to help you get the most out of your parking lot.

The Importance of Regular Maintenance

Over time an asphalt surface will develop cracks and potholes. These will eventually make a parking lot look shabby and unmaintained. As these deformities expand, they become stumbling blocks for those walking in and out of your building. They can also cause drivers to veer out of lanes, increasing the chance for accidents. At Azzarelli Paving, we recommend  a plan with the following features:

  • Routine inspections to identify problems
  • Timely repairs to cracks and potholes
  • Asphalt seal coating to increase parking lot lifespan
  • Striping for ADA compliance and clarity

The heart of a safe parking lot is a smooth asphalt surface. A regular maintenance plan is the best way to catch small problems before they become safety issues.

The Benefits of a Nice Parking Lot

A well-maintained lot invites clients into your property and puts a shine on your company’s brand image. It also ensures that customers will be able to easily reach your front door. Elderly customers and those with disabilities will especially appreciate a professionally maintained lot.

At Azzarelli Paving, we provide a variety of valuable services for your pavement. Call 813-296-6500 or email us today to learn more.

GET IN TOUCH