Asphalt is a terrific substance for paving parking lots and has been used for much longer than most people realize. In fact, according to Unique Paving Materials, the first known use of asphalt for road construction was in 625 B.C. Its use endures because asphalt is a durable paving material that any experienced asphalt contractor can apply. If you're installing or replacing a parking lot, here are a few reasons why asphalt is the ideal material to use.

It's Easy to Lay

An experienced asphalt contractor can lay material for a parking lot in a day or so depending on its size. When the site is prepared properly, the contractor brings asphalt materials to the work site, ensures it's at the proper temperature and consistency, and lays the material. After laying the material, the contractor's crew compacts it and smooths out the surface. Once that step is done, the material must cure.

It Cures Quickly

Asphalt cures much faster than concrete and can be used within a couple of days of installing it. When the material is fully cured, a final seal coat goes on top to protect it against weathering and wear and tear from vehicles. Once it's fully cured, a final seal coat goes on top followed by the striping for the parking spaces. A properly laid and striped asphalt parking lot is attractive and easier for visitors to navigate.

It's Durable and Easy to Maintain

An asphalt parking lot is easy to maintain by replacing the seal coat every couple of years. The seal coat protects the asphalt beneath it from the weather and helps prevent cracking and the formation of potholes by making it impervious to water. You can give the parking lot a visual inspection, use a sealer on any cracks that might appear, and fill in any low spots or damaged areas with a patch made from asphalt.

It's Made From Reusable Material

When it's time to replace an asphalt parking lot, the asphalt contractor can reuse the old material. Instead of breaking it up and sending it to a landfill, the old asphalt material is crushed and ground into reusable material that's added to the asphalt mix. Reusing the old asphalt helps keep costs low and ensures there's relatively little waste when compared with other paving materials like concrete.

Are you interested in a free estimate for paving your parking lot or driveway with asphalt? Contact our team at Fuller & Sons Blacktop Paving today!