Parking Lot Construction – What Are The Basic Steps?
Parking lots can be relatively easy to construct in comparison to many other projects; however, unless the right process is used, it can turn into a disaster.
To build a parking lot that will last without needing to be replaced again within a year or two, customers must hire a contractor who understands proper site preparation as well as the correct installation of asphalt or concrete.
When planning a parking lot installation, whether as a new project or replacing an old or damaged one, site owners should plan on their contractor following a process that includes these basic, yet essential steps.
1. Designing and Planning The Parking Lot
Whether installing a brand-new parking lot or repairing an old one, it is a construction job that starts with detailed panning, just like any other job.
Project owners should meet with their parking lot contractor, lot designer, and asphalt or concrete supplier to discuss and finalize the plan, ensure all permits have been obtained and the location of underground utilities have been marked, and confirm the steps that will be taken to install the new lot.
2. Preparing the Parking Lot Installation Site
The basis of all parking lot work starts with good site preparation so the ground is capable of supporting the parking lot without shifting beneath it and causing the surface to break up sooner than it should. Where old parking lot installations exist, this means milling the surface to remove old asphalt and removing old, broken concrete so the base soil layer is accessible once more and can be prepared all over again. If the lot area has never been used, standard site preparation techniques to clear the ground and topsoil should be used as needed.
3. Grading and Leveling The Parking Lot Area
Once the sub-base soil layer has been prepared, parking lot contractors will then grade and level the ground by constructing a base layer on which to install the top layer of asphalt or concrete.
During this step, fine crushed stone or screenings are installed and compacted, leveled, and any potential drainage issues addressed, leaving a flat and level surface onto which the parking lot material can be installed.
4. Pouring the Asphalt or Concrete
After much attention has been paid to getting the sub-base and base layers prepared, graded, and leveled, only then can parking lot contractors pour concrete or asphalt to create the main surface layer.
With these strong, well-prepared bases beneath them, top surface materials will install easily and remain durable for years after they are set and finished.
5. Finishing The Applied Parking Lot Surface
Finally, after the asphalt or concrete is installed, their top surfaces must be finished and then left to cure.
For asphalt parking lots, the top layer must be compacted down a second time while the asphalt is still fresh and then left to cure and harden.
Concrete parking lots must be finished using screeding, a method of scraping the top surface to level it and remove low spots, and then sprayed with a curing compound to speed the drying process.
During this step, concrete contractors must also cut seams in the concrete to allow for safe expansion and contraction without damage to the concrete.
Parking Lot Construction - An Easy Yet Detail-Oriented Process
Whether installing a parking lot in front of a small business or resurfacing an entire shopping center, using the right technique matters.
An experienced contractor must put the required time and effort into preparing the parking lot surface to ensure the rest of the job goes as planned.
Property owners looking for the most cost-effective parking lot work should find an experienced contractor who uses the correct procedures and does not cut corners to save money.
A long-lasting parking lot surface is one that was built the right way!