Parking lots are a lot like plants — large, flat, black plants that you drive on over and over and over again. They need care and regular attention to maintain its beauty and form. Below are 5 tips to help make sure your parking lot is the envy of the block.

KEEP IT CLEAR
Maintaining proper drainage is one way to add years to the life of your parking lot. Standing water will seep into the base of the pavement and challenge its stability. Make it a habit of clearing out any water for optimal function and life.

KEEP YOUR BLACK TOP FROM GOING GREEN
While parking lots are a lot like plants, you don’t want them sprouting any. Quickly getting rid of any weeds growing from the cracks will also help to maintain your lot’s life. Any plants left untreated can potentially grow roots that can be very harmful to your pavement’s surface, as well as create a tripping hazard for those that use it.

FILL IN THE CRACKS
Not all cracks require filling. Small cracks should not be harmful to your pavement if kept clean and clear, but for those that are sufficiently deep and wide, we suggest sealing them as soon as possible. Our professionals here at Seal Pros Hawaii are masters of crack sealing, give us a call to help you out with that!

REMOVE ANY OIL
Apart from any inevitable and unattractive pavement stains, continuous drips and standing puddles of automotive oil will break down the integrity and weaken your parking lot’s surface. There are a few DIY methods of removing such stains, refer to this previous blog post for more info. Whatever method works best for you, be sure to get in there before the stain makes its way through the surface and into the base, that’s where the trouble starts.

SWITCH UP YOUR STRIPES
Occasionally redirecting the lanes on your parking lot and striping new stalls will switch up the spots that receive the most traffic. Revealing fresh lanes to drive over daily will more evenly disperse the wear and tear over the years and help to give as much life to your pavement as possible.

We hope these parking lot maintenance tips are helpful to you through the rest of this busy and wet holiday season. We want to wish you all a Mele Kalikimaka and Hau’oli Makahiki Hou, thank you for your continual love and support!