How Does Heat Affect Your Asphalt Parking Lot?

The Las Vegas area is famous for having very few cloudy days, extremely hot summers, and relatively high levels of ultraviolet radiation. Although the city’s elevation and low humidity levels help to mitigate summer weather somewhat for humans, these factors offer little help for your asphalt parking lot. Without the proper protection, your Las Vegas parking lot could incur damage during the area’s long, sunny, hot summers.

How Does Ultraviolet Radiation Affect an Asphalt Parking Lot?

You are probably aware of the potential damage that the UV rays emitted by the sun can do to your skin. These same rays can also have a detrimental effect on your asphalt parking lot.

1. Exposure to harsh sunlight can fade your stripes and pavement markings. If your line striping and markings are to be truly useful, people need to be able to see them clearly. You should contact your parking lot maintenance contractor to repaint your lines and markings if the UV rays fade their original visibility by more than 25%.
2. New asphalt pavements have a rich, black color that most people find aesthetically pleasing. If your pavement is unprotected, the sun will bleach its color, leaving it an unsightly gray or brown.
3. The sun’s UV rays will also steal moisture from your asphalt pavement. Asphalt needs a certain amount of moisture to be able to flex under loads, then rebound after the load passes. If your asphalt pavement loses its moisture, it will become brittle, making it more likely to break instead of flex.

What Does Excessive Heat Do to Parking Lot?

Excessive heat can increase the likelihood of damage from UV rays, but it can also cause some special problems on its own.

1. Asphalt expands when hot, then contracts when it cools. In Las Vegas, summer temperatures can often exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the day before dropping 20 or 30 degrees overnight. This movement can result in the three-dimensional increase of existing cracks, or it can create new ones. Heat expansion can also cause the edges of your pavement to curl.
2. In conjunction with the sun’s rays, excessive heat can make your pavement dry and brittle. This increases the likelihood of cracks and other pavement damage.
3. Conversely, extremely hot temperatures can soften asphalt pavements. The tires on the vehicles using your parking lot will probably have become hot as well. As a result, your asphalt parking lot could become more prone to rutting, tracking, or raveling.

What Type of Las Vegas Asphalt Parking Lot Maintenance Will Help Reduce Damage From Hot Weather?

Professional parking lot maintenance in Las Vegas is a critical part of obtaining a long life for your asphalt pavement with the fewest repairs possible. Here are some important tasks to ask your parking lot maintenance contractor to complete.

1. The first item on your parking lot maintenance plan should be asphalt sealcoating. Sealcoating is a highly effective sunscreen that blocks UV rays to prevent them from robbing your pavement of its moisture and its color. Sealcoating also helps protect against damage from automotive fluids. It would be wise to ask your parking lot maintenance contractor to sealcoat your parking lot before the brutal heat of summer arrives.
2. Timely crack repairs are also important for an asphalt parking lot. Make sure that your parking lot maintenance contractor repairs significant cracks every spring and autumn. During the summer, you should call your parking lot maintenance company right away if you notice new or rapidly growing cracks.
3. Try to avoid leaving heavy objects or vehicles stationary on an asphalt pavement during hot weather. Pallets of material, heavy vehicles, and other weighty objects should be relocated every few days.

When you need superior Las Vegas asphalt parking lot maintenance, contact Affordable Striping & Sealing. In addition to parking lot maintenance, we offer traffic signage, parking lot striping, public works, parking lot layout, road markings, sealcoating, and asphalt crack repairs. We have an impeccable reputation that is based on the extremely high quality of our work, our integrity, and our commitment to customer service. For a free quote, call 702-222-9009, email Vegas@AffordableStriping.com, or complete our online form.