From local school districts to college campuses, educational facilities all face the challenges involved with maintaining their properties without exceeding their budgets. Unfortunately, this often means that preventive maintenance is replaced by “breakdown maintenance.” This means that routine maintenance is not performed, allowing damages to accumulate until the asset is no longer functional. Once the asset can no longer perform, it will require costly repairs to restore its functionality; at times, repairs will not be possible and the asset must be replaced.
You may be wondering what preventive maintenance has to do with your pavement. If you think that routine maintenance is just for the HVAC unit or computer system, you could be setting yourself up for an unwelcome surprise. Neglected pavement will have many years shaved off of its useful life, making it more costly in the long run than having professional maintenance performed on a routine basis. Furthermore, maintenance costs are predictable, allowing you to easily budget for them instead of scrambling to find funds to replace a pavement that has become so deteriorated that it presents a safety hazard.
The Need for Proper Maintenance of Pavement
What Type of Pavement Maintenance Is Needed by Educational Facilities?
The specific procedures needed depend on the types of pavement that are on the school’s property. For example, on a large campus, there may be multiple parking lots and networks of sidewalks connecting the buildings. A public school may have a sports court or paved play area, a single parking lot and a driveway for dropping off students. Regardless of the specific pavements you have, there are a number of common procedures that can help keep your pavement healthy, safe and attractive.
• Patching, crack sealing and pothole repair are essential if you want to protect your pavement. Damaged pavement will continue to grow more damaged, and eventually, it will not be possible to repair it. As water seeps through openings in the pavement, it will damage the pavement’s foundation. The only way to repair a foundation is to remove the existing pavement so that the foundation can be rebuilt. Timely repairs can help you avoid additional expenses.
• Asphalt overlays can be a cost-effective way to restore existing pavement to like-new condition. Overlays can be placed on top of concrete pavement as well as asphalt pavement. The extent of the pavement’s damage and the stability of the foundation determine whether an overlay is possible as well as whether it is the best option.
• Sealcoating is critical for prolonging the life of asphalt pavement. The sun and oil, gasoline and other automotive fluids can cause the pavement to deteriorate before half of its expected life has passed. Sealcoating acts as a barrier against these harmful elements.
• Concrete is often the preferred choice for sidewalks, ramps and curbs. Like asphalt, concrete needs proper maintenance to achieve its maximum life.
• Freshly painted pavement markings and parking lot stripes can improve safety. Crosswalks, fire lanes, handicapped parking spaces, arrows indicating the flow of traffic and no-parking zones should be clearly marked.
At Alpha Paving, we have witnessed the problems that have arisen when neglected pavements have failed. We are a full-service paving company serving educational facilities throughout Central Texas. Whether you need asphalt sealcoating, an overlay, new pavement, parking lot markings, pavement repairs or concrete work, we can help. We deliver exceptional work at competitive rates. If you would like to receive a free estimate, submit our online form or call us at (512) 677-9001.