Over time, you gradually begin to notice that your business has a damaged asphalt parking lot. However, with so many things on your daily list of concerns, you don’t give it much thought. After all, how could a seemingly minor problem like that hurt your bottom line?
As it turns out, damaged asphalt in your commercial parking lot can lead to some pretty serious consequences. In fact, it can eat away at your short- and long-term income in more ways than one. Let’s take a closer look at what can happen if you don’t keep your asphalt parking surfaces well-maintained.
Loss of Your Valuable Business Image
Whether you know it or not, potential customers start judging your business well before they enter the premises. That critical judgment starts with an assessment of your building’s visual appeal. In turn, any visual first impression of your business will almost certainly include the condition of your parking facilities.
A smooth, properly maintained asphalt surface helps project a prosperous and trustworthy image. In stark contrast, a cracked and rutted surface can make even the most successful company look unreliable, or even worse. Given the choice, your prospective customers will probably consider making their purchases elsewhere. All told, the negative impact on your reputation can end up costing you far more than a professional asphalt repair.
Legal Costs of Injuries On Your Property
When they begin to break down, asphalt surfaces can create significant health and safety hazards for your customers. As a rule, the greatest potential dangers are falls caused by slipping or tripping. Many of the injuries caused by such falls are relatively minor. However, in a substantial number of cases, they may involve broken bones or other major medical issues.
If you fail to keep your asphalt lot in good condition, you open yourself up to a host of unwanted legal problems. That’s true because anyone injured as a result of that failure could sue you for damages. In a worst-case scenario, you may find yourself paying for everything from surgical fees to lost wages.
Loss of Resale Value
If you’re like a lot of business owners, you may have plans to change locations at some point in the future. Or you may be forced to move for any one of a number of reasons. In either situation, your ability to survive and thrive can depend on the resale value of your current holdings. And that value will definitely be affected by the condition of your parking lot.
Depending on the size of your lot, resurfacing or other repairs may impose a considerable financial drain on interested buyers. If those buyers can find other comparable properties in better shape, chances are you’ll fall off their list of options. On the other hand, a well-kept asphalt surface can help generate interest in your property. Why? Just like potential customers, potential property buyers often place an emphasis on visual first impressions.
The Need to Make Expensive Asphalt Repairs
If you don’t protect and maintain your asphalt lot, its surface can eventually develop something called alligator cracking. This is the industry term for an extensive pattern of cracked asphalt that resembles an alligator’s skin. Such a pattern develops as a result of repeated infiltration of water into the base material underneath the asphalt. In time, the trapped water will change the consistency of the asphalt and make it prone to widespread fracture.
Alligator cracking has two major causes: seepage directly through the asphalt and penetration of existing cracks. Experienced repair specialists can help you steer clear of both problems by applying a coat of protective sealant. If you don’t take this step, the cracking can get worse and worse, ultimately making your lot unusable. At that point, you’ll need to strip everything away and have the affected area rebuilt from scratch.
Garrett Concrete Can Help
If your lot has already developed signs of significant damage, Garrett Concrete can save the day. From a comprehensive assessment of the situation to high-quality, cost-effective repairs, we do it all. When we’re done, you’ll have a safe, long-lasting parking lot that puts your business in the best possible light.
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