Blog Article

Well, it’s finally summer after a frigid and miserable spring, and thanks to the weather our roads and parking lots paid the price with some pretty impressive potholes. If you chose not to repair potholes in your parking lot this spring, you’re not alone. But there are several reasons not to wait, even when the weather is uncooperative.

Five great reasons to fill potholes in the spring

1) Our freeze-thaw cycle ends in the spring. Michigan’s freeze-thaw cycle may seem welcome when February turns from frigid to almost balmy, but all that melting snow is quietly going about the business of draining through pavement cracks, filling space and then refreezing and expanding as temperatures drop again. When next it thaws, a week or a month later, the water drains away, leaving a void. Each time this cycle is completed, more damage is done until the pavement is weakened. Add to the damaged pavement the weight of traffic day in and day out and in no time at all, a pothole is born. If you choose to wait until summer for repairs, that pothole (and the damage) is still growing.

2) Technological advances in pavement design. As much as we love hot-mix asphalt, hot-mix asphalt doesn’t like the cold so it’s not too surprising that technology has come up with ways to improve on HMA for use in the colder months. Those improvements include new polymer-modified pavements that are durable and resist cracking and pothole formation in winter and softening in the hot summer months. Even in the coolest of springs, like that of 2018, polymer-modified payment can make it easier to fill potholes before they become craters.

3) Reinforce emergency repairs. If you performed some wintertime do-it-yourself cold-mix asphalt emergency repairs in your lot or driveway, they may need to be replaced with HMA as soon as spring weather allows. This is a good idea for long-term durability and it offers professional pavers the opportunity to observe the overall conditions and fill cracks before they become problems. When you seal cracks in your pavement you short circuit water-based erosion and help stop sand and rocks from floating to the surface. Asphalt crack filling also helps minimize crack growth and reduces the number of new cracks. When you fill cracks before they grow large you are prolonging the life of the pavement and delaying the need for costly resurfacing.

4) Litigation and/or reputation damage due to potholes. It’s the rare Michigander who has never hit a good-size pothole and wondered what it might have done to their car. And many, many of us have found out the repercussions can be costly in repairs. While we may gnash our teeth at the state, county or city for not filling the potholes, business and property owners will also feel the heat when their parking lots look like Swiss cheese and feel like a two-track through the woods. Even though Michigan law considers potholes “open and obvious,” meaning the property owner may be protected from liability, a few people with damages caused by your potholes can do substantial harm to you and your business thanks to social media. Imagine a Facebook post warning people to stay away with a photo of your business complete with potholes. Enough said.

5) Lot longevity. Like any capital investment, your parking lot will serve you longer when it is maintained on a regular schedule. Preventative maintenance by an experienced and knowledgeable company is the most intelligent thing you can do to save yourself, your vendors and your patrons from having to deal with potholes and general deterioration of your parking lot. A well-maintained parking lot also looks good, increasing the curb appeal of your business and showing that you care as much about what’s outside your business as you do about what’s inside. Crack and pothole filling, seal coating and other services can keep your lot and your business looking great for years to come.

Michigan Paving & Materials Company is a leader in all aspects of asphalt paving and supply. In the business for more than 50 years, we operate Michigan’s largest liquid asphalt terminal and take care to provide what you need, when you need it. If you have questions or concerns about your parking lot or driveway, contact us for answers today!