Your asphalt pavement won’t retain its appeal or integrity without some intervention. And while the time will eventually come for a complete repaving project (or a full-depth reconstruction), you shouldn’t have to worry about these costly affairs for decades, so long as you keep up with regular asphalt maintenance. Of course, this maintenance comes at a cost, too (though a much lower cost than major repairs and replacements), so you must make sure every aspect of asphalt maintenance is within your budget for a given period of time.
Let’s go over the top costs to budget for regular asphalt maintenance so you can save time and money in the long run.
Top Costs to Budget for Regular Asphalt Maintenance
Filling Cracks and Potholes Throughout the Year
No asphalt surface is immune to cracks or potholes, especially in New England where environmental conditions can vary quite a bit. When these issues first form, they don’t pose major threats to your driveway or parking lot as a whole, but neglecting them will eventually lead to larger issues. So, it’s easier and cheaper to tackle this pavement repair early on. And because cracks and potholes can form at any time of the year (though they’re most common during the winter), it’s good to have a plan in place (and materials on hand) to address them wherever they occur. Fortunately, asphalt fillers are relatively cheap ($10-$50 per gallon) and provide a durable seal when applied properly. Repairing potholes should be left to asphalt experts, but even these projects are relatively painless (usually between $100 and $400) in small doses. The better you are at sealing these breaches at their earliest stages, the fewer you’ll have to worry about.
Sealcoating Every Two to Three Years
One of the best ways to stave off the need for a total redo on your asphalt paving is to sealcoat the pavement periodically – this provides a protective layer over the existing asphalt to shield it from harmful UV rays, moisture, abrasion, and more. This isn’t an annual process, but rather something to invest in about every 2-3 years. While most budgets are quarterly or annual in nature, it’s worth breaking down these less frequent sealcoating costs into annual expenses so you’re prepared to cover these costs when the time comes. A professional sealcoating job ranges from 8 cents to 30 cents per square foot, only coming to $50-$200 for an average-sized parking lot (these numbers can still vary depending on your location, who you hire, any additional services required, etc.). Even at the higher end of this spectrum, sealcoating your pavement every three years would require an annual budget of about $60-$80.
Periodic Line Striping
Though not as often a concern for asphalt driveway maintenance, line markings are crucial components of any parking lot, and these painted lines need to be refreshed every so often so they remain visible for all occupants. Neglecting this task is a major liability, putting people in harm’s way and putting your business at risk of falling out of compliance. Like other asphalt maintenance tasks, the cost of line striping varies based on several factors. According to HomeAdvisor, such a project will cost anywhere from $300-$700. If you maintain a clean parking lot, you might not have to repaint those lines for 4-5 years, meaning you only have to budget for about $100 per year to cover this cost. That said, it’s often best to refresh these markings more frequently (every 2-3 years, usually following sealcoating), so your annual line striping budget might fall between $160 and $250.
Reliable Asphalt Paving Near Me
When putting all these asphalt maintenance costs together, the average property owner can expect to spend somewhere around $300-$1,000 per year (once again, the actual cost might be far lower or higher depending on your particular needs and challenges). Consider that this number is much lower than the cost to repave or completely dig up your pavement. Before you start creating your asphalt maintenance budget, however, partner up with a reputable asphalt paving provider in your area, and prioritize those that offer solid warranties, flexible scheduling, maintenance programs, and efficient workmanship. For all these perks and more, look no further than Cassidy Paving. Let us help you come up with an asphalt maintenance budget and plan that works for your business.
Call us today at 866-978-9788 for a free estimate on your next paving project.