Many property owners in Central Texas prefer asphalt pavements to concrete ones, and there are several excellent reasons for this. Cost is one reason; an asphalt pavement is much less expensive than concrete. Speed is another reason; you can begin using an asphalt pavement sooner than a comparable concrete one. Safety is yet another area in which asphalt pavements have an edge over concrete. When it comes to curb appeal, asphalt wins that category as well. Before you finalize your asphalt paving budget, you should take the time to evaluate the specific paving services you will need. The main categories are construction, patching and repairs, and resurfacing. However, you should also consider the asphalt maintenance services that you might need.

How Do I Create an Asphalt Paving Budget for Pavement Construction?

Whether you are building a new parking lot or rebuilding an existing one, your cost will include more than just asphalt paving. Your paving contractor will need to clear the site, for example. For a new pavement, this may involve removing unwanted trees or shrubs, leveling the site, or performing excavations. For a reconstruction, site clearing will include demolishing the existing pavement and removing the rubble. The best way to make sure that you budget correctly for your new or rebuilt pavement is to ask a highly experienced parking lot paving contractor for a detailed estimate.

How Do I Budget for Patching and Other Parking Lot Repairs?

Most asphalt paving contractors consider crack repairs as maintenance procedures, reserving the category of repairs for more serious issues. Typically, a parking lot repair involves grinding off a few inches of the pavement’s depth to take out the damage, then installing fresh asphalt to restore the depth. If the depth of the pavement removed does not expose the base, your parking lot paving contractor will refer to this as partial-depth patching. If the pavement removal does expose the base, this would be called a full-depth patch. Patching is the normal repair method for alligatored asphalt, potholes, and similar types of damage. Your pavement’s history and an evaluation of its current condition can help guide your budgeting efforts.

How Do I Establish an Asphalt Paving Budget for Resurfacing?

Asphalt overlaying, also known as resurfacing, can be an effective way to delay a reconstruction. Your parking lot paving contractor will grind away up to three inches of your pavement’s depth, then replace it. This keeps your curbs and other parking lot features at their correct heights. In terms of performance and appearance, few people can easily spot the difference between asphalt overlays and new pavements. In terms of cost, an overlay is substantially less than a reconstruction. Typically, the high-traffic areas of a parking lot need to be resurfaced about every 10 or 12 years. However, lots that are only lightly used may last 15 or even 20 years before requiring an overlay. It is also possible to resurface all or only part of your parking lot. Ask a reliable parking lot paving contractor for assistance with this budget item.

How Do I Budget for Asphalt Paving Maintenance?

Parking lot maintenance companies recommend two critical procedures for ensuring healthy asphalt pavements.

1. Sealcoat a new parking lot pavement before its first anniversary. Unless your contractor advises differently, reapply your sealcoating every two years. Bear in mind that you will need to reapply your parking lot stripes and markings after sealcoating. Sealcoating protects asphalt pavements from damage caused by the sun, vehicle fluids, and corrosive chemicals.
2. Inspect for cracks every spring and fall, then have your contractor repair any that are at least a quarter of an inch wide. Timely crack repairs can avert significant base damage from water penetration. Base damage is a leading cause of alligator cracking and potholes.

If you have any questions about creating a budget for your paving needs, feel free to ask the experts at RDC Paving. We provide asphalt and concrete services to customers throughout the greater Austin area. Our services include asphalt overlays, driveway paving, asphalt crack repairs, asphalt paving, parking lot striping, asphalt repairs, concrete repairs, asphalt milling, concrete ADA, asphalt sealcoating, and the construction of concrete curbs, concrete driveways, concrete parking lots, concrete ramps, and concrete sidewalks. We are famous for our superb workmanship, superior service, and unmatched professionalism. You can request a free, no-obligation quote by completing the online form, or you can call 512-920-9155.