Is Regular Industrial Asphalt Maintenance Worth it?
As much as we’d love it to – freshly laid asphalt won’t stay pristine forever, but it’s lifespan can be extended with diligent maintenance. Whether your commercial asphalt is used in a car park, hardstand or driveway, regular asphalt maintenance has the potential to increase its longevity. Among business owners, this fact is well known, but one question remains “Is it worth it?”.
As leading asphalt experts in Perth, with over 40 years of experience, we are confident in recommending asphalt maintenance as a cost-saving best practice for business owners, and in this article, we are going to share why. To help you understand the associated costs between commercial asphalt maintenance and asphalt neglect, we are going to go step-by-step comparing the costs of each and run a final comparison to determine the winner. We are also going to discuss how asphalt maintenance compares to other types of paving solution maintenance such as gravel and concrete; to help you understand why we confidently recommend asphalt as the top solution for Perth businesses.
How long does asphalt last without maintenance?
Asphalt is a durable material designed for continuous wear and tear from vehicles and has the potential to last upwards of 20 years before requiring frequent repairs. However, this potential lifespan can be hindered by neglect or poor due diligence. If you neglect the commercial asphalt on your property, you may see deterioration in your asphalt beginning to show as early as five years in.
The Costs of Commercial Asphalt Maintenance
Asphalt maintenance varies—some tasks come with a price tag, while others are free. Certain maintenance is only needed when issues arise, while others require ongoing attention throughout the year.
Preventative low-cost maintenance
You would be surprised what a large difference low-cost maintenance can make to your industrial asphalt. Something as small as giving things a quick sweep can, over time, help keep your industrial asphalt car park, driveway or hardstand in its best condition.
Routine visual inspection
Every now and then, look at your commercial asphalt and check for signs of cracking, potholes, rutting, staining, or any other visible damage so that you can take action as soon as problems begin to form. Small damages like potholes are much easier to manage when dealt with early, and swift action will go a long way in increasing the longevity of your asphalt.
Sweeping and cleaning
Asphalt looking a bit dirty? Keeping your commercial asphalt area clean can stop excess damages from forming. This includes sweeping away grime, oil, dirt and leaves that build up on the surface.
This becomes especially important after a storm or heavy rain as the water risks bringing any unwanted elements into the asphalt through hairline or minor cracks.
Estimated cost: $20-$60 for cleaning materials. While most minor stains can be cleaned with household ingredients, you may want to invest in a solvent-free degreaser or other specialty items to remove difficult patches. To learn more about asphalt stain removal you can read our 3 Tips to Maintain Your Asphalt Driveway.
For larger areas, a mechanical sweeper can be hired (usually with an experienced operator). These machines can sweep up to 2,000m2 an hour, depending obviously on how much debris or swept waste is created and the layout of the job.
NK Asphalt has used C & H Sweeping since 1996 and can fully recommend their services. Their contact details are:
Phone: 9359 1665 Email: info@sweeping.com.au
Leaves, sand and vegetation damages causing minor cracking at a commercial car park in Koongamia, Perth WA.
Repair maintenance
A small dent here or there doesn’t mean it’s time to replace your entire car park, driveway or hardstand. Fixing problems as they arise can extend the lifespan of your commercial asphalt by ensuring its usability and stopping the problem before it grows any bigger.
If you have any of the below issues, have these repaired promptly to guarantee a longer lifespan.
Potholes
When potholes appear, they should be repaired as soon as possible. Leaving potholes for an extended period can cause them to increase in size and lead to larger, more costly repairs being needed.
Estimated cost:Variable, depending on the size of your pothole and your preferred method of repair. Larger potholes can become an expensive bill but remember, the trick is to act quickly and keep them small.
Potholes and damages at an asphalt commercial car park in Koongamia, Perth WA.
Small cracks
Small cracks don’t require a full reinstallation of the asphalt and a temporary solution should be implemented to avoid further damage caused by water ingress into the cracks and impacting the deeper basework layers.
Cracking can also be a sign of a larger problem, such as issues with vegetation, subgrade movement or insufficient drainage. If you notice cracking in your asphalt, look for a potential cause.
Estimated cost: Variable, depending on your approach to the crack and the extent of the issue.
Professional Maintenance
If you want to get the most out of your commercial asphalt then professional maintenance is available. These services may increase the cost of your maintenance, but can be worthwhile in improving the longevity of your driveway.
This is especially true if your asphalt is installed in an area that is more prone to damage by:
- High-traffic areas where your industrial paving undergoes constant wear and tear
- Areas with extreme weather which can increase its risk for rain or temperature damage
- Areas with lots of vegetation which can disrupt the foundation
- Unstable ground conditions (e.g., clay subgrade)
Proper installation
One of the most important steps in ensuring the longevity of your industrial asphalt occurs before the asphalt has even been installed.
When having your asphalt installed, ensure the following are included in the installation:
- Drainage solutions such as kerbing and soakwells and adequate run-off where applicable
- The use of high-quality materials that guarantee a lasting, durable finish
- A thorough consultation of the industrial installation area to ensure that you are forewarned about any potential issues regarding the ground conditions, vegetation, traffic density and size of vehicles using the area
One of the main reasons why our commercial asphalt car parks, driveways and hardstands stand the test of time is that we don’t cut corners during the installation process, ensuring our clients have everything they need for an optimum long-term result.
Estimated costs:Depending on your asphalt contractor, area size, and requirements the cost of commercial asphalt installation can vary greatly but we can help by providing a free measure and quote.
Installation of a brand new soak well at Hambleys IGA and Tavern in Queens Park by NK Asphalt.
How Does the Price of Asphalt Maintenance Compare to Other Paving Options?
Gravel Maintenance vs. Asphalt Maintenance
Gravel driveways have built a reputation for their high maintenance. Unlike asphalt, gravel driveways are prone to surface loosening under traffic. For this reason, gravel driveways and car parks often require frequent regrading, pothole repairs, material replacing and re-waterbinding. Additionally, gravel is also prone to vegetation and weeds, which means extra maintenance will be required for gravel surfaces in comparison to an asphalt sealed surface.
Concrete Maintenance vs. Asphalt Maintenance
Just like commercial asphalt, commercial concrete solutions require simple care and maintenance to ensure longevity. However, asphalt and concrete differ in the rate of their ongoing care and what is expected to maintain a car park, hardstand or driveway solution.
While both surfaces should be regularly cleaned, concrete can require fewer small repairs over its life span with the trade-off being that when maintenance is required, these jobs are typically larger, more costly and more visible. While asphalt materials are easy to quickly patch up on a small scale, the cracking and movement that comes in concrete driveways is not as easy to manage and can indicate, or be the beginning of, much larger problems and failures.
The Costs of Asphalt Neglect
We’ll give you a spoiler – maintaining the commercial asphalt you already have is going to put you miles ahead financially of having your industrial pavement replaced or resurfaced. Here’s why:
Constant asphalt surfacing costs
Ignoring your car park, hardstand or commercial driveway can decrease the longevity of your asphalt, depending on the quality of the original installation and location. For commercial property, this reinstallation can be costly as large areas are usually involved.
Preventative issues become major expenses
Not dealing with small repairs can lead to larger structural damage down the line. When you ignore potholes and cracks, you allow water, oil, and dirt into the structure of your pavement, which can cause damage to the entire structure.
By neglecting your driveway, you can turn small quick fixes into major problems that render your commercial asphalt area unusable and unsafe for vehicles and pedestrians.
Accidents and injuries
When you neglect your industrial asphalt paving, you invite liabilities into your business.
Uneven paving, potholes and cracks all have the potential to cause accidents for both vehicles and pedestrians. This can become a huge financial liability for your business as it may lead to:
- Personal injury lawsuits in the event of an accident
- Increased insurance premiums due to increased risk
- Reputational damage to your business or institutions
Is It Worth Investing in Asphalt Maintenance?
Our commercial asphalt solutions are made with quality materials, installed with expert knowledge, machinery and skill, set to last for many years to come.
This means that most of the time, you can set and forget. Your asphalt doesn’t require daily check-ins and you’ll find yourself driving in and out of your commercial car park, driveway or hardstand every day with ease, but it can’t last forever. When you do begin to experience a problem with your industrial asphalt solution, acting quickly and proactively are the steps that are going to save you the most money.
Experience Easy Maintenance With Commercial Asphalt
Commercial asphalt maintenance is easy, inexpensive and worthwhile.
Whilst an asphalt driveway does eventually require minor ongoing maintenance to some extent, its low expense and low effort benefits makes it a top choice among many business owners looking for a hands-off car park, driveway or hardstand solution.
Installing asphalt for over 35 years since 1989 throughout Perth, we’ve seen how local businesses benefit from using asphalt on their property, and the ease of its ongoing minimal maintenance. That’s part of why we get great word of mouth on our installations and see happy clients time and time again, along with referrals to their friends and business associates.
If you are a business owner interested in using asphalt on your property or would like to learn more about how asphalt can benefit you, please don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team.
Get a Perth Asphalt Quote
If your job is 150m2 or more and in the Perth or surrounding areas.
