Resurfacing Vs Replacing Your Parking Lot Asphalt

Asphalt parking lots need to be maintained frequently to retain their appearance and functionality. The protective layer of asphalt will gradually degrade due to aging, exposure to sunlight, wear and tear from traffic, or other factors. When this situation occurs, the two most likely actions you can take are to recycle the top layer of asphalt or overlay the entire thing. Each of these two strategies has its advantages and disadvantages.

Asphalt Resurfacing

Resurfacing means placing a new layer of asphalt on the existing surface; therefore, it is a topping process. It can be a more cost-effective strategy to rejuvenate old asphalt to a newer one bearing a better appearance and performance.

Reasons to consider resurfacing include:

– Cost Efficiency – It is less expensive to add a new layer of asphalt than to remove the parking lot and replace it with a new one. Costs for resurfacing are around $2 to $4 per square foot.

– Short Duration – Resurfacing takes a relatively short time, usually between 3 to 5 days because there is no need to take out the existing asphalt. The parking lot can be opened immediately after they have put a new finish on the tarmac, which has cooled down.

– Less Disruptive – The act of resurfacing only involves replacing the top layer. Therefore, it causes little or no disturbance to the area. The base material has not changed, hence the structure is still in place.

– Buys Time – A resurfaced lot can be helpful in adding 5 to 10 years to the lifespan, with appropriate care. Hence, it buys time before you must undertake the replacement process. This means extending the lifespan is at a lower cost than getting a completely new product.

While resurfacing has advantages, there are also downsides:

– Band-Aid solution – It only hides issues that may be causing the symptoms in the first place. When a problem is repaired at the base, it will take time before it manifests again, especially when it has been replaced already.

– Finite Outcome – In the case where the existing asphalt surface is in poor condition, the resurfacing process may not sufficiently enhance the appearance or functionality of the road.

Full Asphalt Replacement

Three are some situations, however, in which the reconstruction or, in other words, the removal of the worn layer of the asphalt, is the only solution.

Reasons to consider complete replacement include:

– Remedies Defects at Foundation Level – Replacement work affords the opportunity to eliminate any defects that the asphalt may have in the base materials of the aggregate below it, unlike resurfacing. This provides long-lasting fixes.

– Longer Lasting – A new parking lot can cost more, but getting a completely new one can save money, as a resurfaced parking lot can last for only 10 to 15 years, with maintenance.

– New Surface Means No Sign of Cracks, Pits, Patches, and Color Variations – When the replacement is done, it is evident that the area is new, smooth, and the same color without cracking, pitting, patchy, or color difference.

Despite its advantages, asphalt replacement has downsides as well:

– Higher Initial Cost – While individual parking lot paving costs may range between $5 to $10 per square foot, it’s worth noting that complete parking lot replacement will cost the same range.

– Drastic Measure – The process of excavating and recycling the entire asphalt surface is disruptive to regular activity. Local areas could also be affected. It may take several weeks, or even months, to fully develop.

– High Risk with Additional Cost –Whenever the old asphalt is removed, it is easy to encounter some other problems like the problems with the gravel base or the drainage system, which will cost even more.

The decision to resurface or replace an asphalt pavement depends on certain factors

So how do you determine what’s best for the parking lot: the logical, methodical, and comprehensive approach or the creative, unstructured, and more efficient approach?

Here are vital factors to consider:

Age of the Lot

If your asphalt surface is still reasonably strong but is beginning to show wear, then resurfacing could hold the key to extending its lifespan. Large parking lots with more than 25 years of age are presumably better candidates for complete replacement.

Degree of Deterioration

The degree of cracking, raveling of aggregate, formation of potholes, or any form of distress must be observed. More than 25% of the area distressed might serve as a basis for determining that replacement is more feasible than resurfacing.

Drainage

Drainage systems that are inadequate expedite the depletion and render slabs amenable to neither coating nor overlaying. Ensure that water drains in the proper manner and does not stand on the asphalt.

Traffic Volume

The number of daily vehicles also determines the durability of the pavement asphalt. Some, like busy sales and commercial sites, could get more value out of putting their money into total replacement rather than resurfacing that might only last as long as five years. 

Cost Considerations

Check the difference in prices of a resurfacing procedure against that of a replacement procedure. You will want to weigh this against your budget and the projected lifespan of the parking facility that you intend to own/operate.

When the expenses of routine check-up and maintenance are included, the replacement cost offers long-term value and competency. For lots that are mostly intact but showing signs of wear, resurfacing is the best option that may help add a few more years of functionality before a total overhaul is required. Consult with professional pavers to see how they can address your situation and come up with the right solution.