When Tennessee Storms Strike: Making Smart Decisions About Your Parking Lot’s Future
Tennessee’s unpredictable weather patterns can wreak havoc on commercial and residential parking lots, leaving property owners facing critical decisions about repair versus replacement. The Tennessee region including Nashville and its neighboring cities of Brentwood, Clarksville, Franklin, Gallatin, Hendersonville and Murfreesboro experiences regular intense weather events. The weather conditions of Nashville can cause damage to multiple aspects of your home starting from roofing shingles and extending to gutters and vents and siding and structural parts. Understanding when to repair and when to replace your storm-damaged parking lot can save thousands of dollars and ensure long-term durability.
Understanding Tennessee’s Severe Weather Impact on Parking Lots
Tennessee averages over 25 tornadoes annually, making it one of the most active states for wind-related roof damage. This severe weather doesn’t just affect roofing – parking lots face significant challenges from tornadoes, floods, blizzards, droughts and other severe weather events. And Midwest weather patterns often change drastically in a short period of time.
Storm damage to parking lots manifests in several ways. Asphalt and concrete parking lots damaged by moisture endure distress that could lead to cracking, stripping, raveling or rutting. When your parking lot traps moisture beneath the pavements, low temperatures can freeze the water and cause the ground to heave. This is called frost heave and commonly occurs beneath parking lot pavements that lack proper drainage and maintenance.
Conducting a Thorough Post-Storm Assessment
The first step after any severe weather event is conducting a comprehensive damage assessment. Conducting a pavement assessment will allow you to discover any issues in your parking lot, including potholes, cracks, and drainage problems. A parking lot maintenance company will conduct a visual assessment for your entire parking lot. A visual assessment can identify any pavement surface distresses that may result in long-term damage. These professionals will rate the condition of the pavement while also taking photos and writing down descriptions of the various pavement issues.
For more detailed analysis, you can learn even more detailed information about the overall pavement structure by letting an asphalt company drill various four-inch cores into the pavement. Inspecting each core for signs of decomposition can provide you with valuable information and can help you determine future maintenance activities.
When to Repair: Cost-Effective Solutions for Minor Damage
Parking lot repair is often the most economical choice when dealing with isolated damage areas. Parking lot repair, typically involving patching and crack filling, is a cost-effective way to maintain the integrity and longevity of asphalt parking lots when done proactively. This approach is ideal for lots with isolated areas of damage, such as small potholes or cracks, where the overall surface is still in good condition. Asphalt parking lots are particularly suited for repair if they still have a solid foundation.
The repair process involves several steps: The patching and repair process for asphalt parking lots typically involves assessing the damaged areas, cleaning out debris, and then applying a patching material. First, any loose material is removed from potholes or cracks, and the area is thoroughly cleaned to ensure proper adhesion.
Regular maintenance can significantly extend your parking lot’s lifespan. Completing repairs, like timely crack repair, can extend the lifespan of a parking lot from 15 years to roughly 30 years. A yearly schedule of crack sealing is best to prolong the life of your lot.
When Replacement Becomes Necessary
Sometimes, storm damage is so extensive that replacement becomes the only viable option. Parking lot replacement is considered when the existing asphalt lot has extensive structural damage, such as deep cracks, large potholes, and significant foundation issues that repairs or resurfacing cannot address effectively. A full replacement involves removing the old pavement entirely, regrading and sometimes reinforcing the foundation, and laying down a new asphalt layer. Property owners should consider replacement when their parking lot’s condition affects usability and safety or when the cost of constant repairs exceeds the investment in a new lot.
The answer to whether you should repair or replace essentially comes down to the condition of the lot’s base. Resurfacing is only as good as the surface it is layered on top of. If your parking lot is failing due to an underlying design, structural, sub-soil, or construction issue, none of the resurfacing options listed above will solve the problem in the long term.
Parking lots that have been in operation for over two decades (and those lots with damage stretching over one-quarter to one-third of the total square footage) typically require removal and reconstruction.
The Middle Ground: Resurfacing Options
For parking lots that need more than basic repairs but don’t require complete replacement, resurfacing offers an excellent middle-ground solution. For most parking lots, which need more than a fresh coat of sealcoating but don’t need to be fully repaved, resurfacing is “just right.” Parking lot resurfacing adds a new layer of asphalt about 2 inches deep. This makes the parking lot look like new by repairing wear and tear that accumulates over years of use and is a cost-effective way to add up to 15 years of lifespan to your parking lot.
Working with Local Professionals in Wilson County
When facing post-storm parking lot decisions in Middle Tennessee, working with experienced local contractors who understand regional weather patterns is crucial. Tristar Paving, a family-owned business serving Wilson County and Nashville, brings over 50 years of paving experience. We provide expert services for both residential and commercial properties in Nashville, TN. Our team takes pride in delivering high-quality work with a focus on customer satisfaction.
For property owners seeking professional Parking lot paving Wilson County, TN services, Tristar Paving offers comprehensive solutions from assessment through completion. Tristar Paving specializes in both residential and commercial asphalt paving, offering tailored solutions to meet your needs in Nashville, TN. From new driveway installations to large parking lot projects, we handle every job with precision and care. Our skilled team works efficiently to deliver exceptional results that enhance your property’s appearance and value.
Making the Right Decision for Your Property
The key to making smart post-storm parking lot decisions lies in thorough assessment, understanding your options, and working with qualified professionals. Remaining proactive and keeping your parking lot in excellent condition is a top priority for any property. It is imperative to schedule or conduct a pavement assessment on a yearly basis to ensure that your parking lot always remains in top-quality condition.
Remember that delaying necessary repairs can lead to more extensive damage. When damaged asphalt isn’t repaired swiftly, seriously detrimental results occur. Networks of extensive alligator and block cracks are unsightly and ultimately allow water to damage the structure’s subsurface. Putting off essential pavement repairs prolongs issues and potentially creates even further damage.
Whether you’re dealing with minor storm damage that requires simple repairs or extensive destruction that necessitates complete replacement, the most important step is acting quickly. Professional assessment and prompt action will protect your investment and ensure your parking lot serves your property well for years to come, regardless of what Tennessee weather brings next.