Houston Concrete Parking Lot Construction

Lighting and reflection

All concrete is a much lighter color when compared to dark asphalt. This lighter color has the ability to reflect more light, which is a good thing. The additional reflected light reduces the cost of luminaries, so the parking lot owner will not need to illuminate the space with as much lighting when compared to illuminating an asphalt parking lot.

As you can imagine, this will lead to energy savings every year. As a parking lot owner, you will be able to cut down on your energy expenses because you will not need to illuminate the parking lot with as many lights sucking up as much energy as possible.

Back in 2011, Walmart, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and the Department of Energy collaborated on a study. They determined that Walmart was capable of using less LED lighting and wattage because of the higher reflectivity of the lighter shaded concrete.

Surface Integrity

Another important consideration is surface integrity. Ultraviolet light tends to break down the molecular chains within asphalt.

You combine this with moisture, and the molecular chain breaks down even further, leading to gradual surface degradation.

In fact, if you have a parking lot made of asphalt, you’ll periodically need to resurface and seal coat the lot much more often than you would if you had a concrete parking lot in place.

Heat Island Effect

There is an unfortunate occurrence in asphalt parking lots called the heat island effect. This will have a major impact on satisfaction on the hottest days of the summer. This additional heat radiates off of the asphalt and creates extremely high temperatures.

Concrete parking lots, on the other hand, do not get nearly as hot as their asphalt counterparts. In fact, the heat island effect doesn’t exist on concrete parking lots. Your customers and employees remain happy and satisfied because they aren’t burning up during the hot summer months due to the heat island effect of an asphalt parking lot.

Solubility

Want to know another benefit of a concrete parking lot? Believe it or not, a concrete parking lot is not soluble. On the other hand, an asphalt parking lot doesn’t possess the same capabilities.

How will this affect asphalt parking lot owners?

Simply put, the asphalt parking lot owner will likely experience premature deterioration due to water exposure. These parking lots need proper drainage because otherwise, they begin to deteriorate and fall apart quickly without it.

With a concrete parking lot, this is never the case. Since the material is not soluble, it is not going to begin deteriorating prematurely due to improper drainage or water exposure.

Houston Paving and Sealcoating

As time passes, the line painting on an asphalt parking lot will become exposed to the elements, including water, vehicle traffic, oil, transmission fluid, and other forms of degradation. This will create wear and tear, which will cause the parking lot paint and striping to fade.

Because of this phenomenon, it’s actually beneficial to have your parking lot re-striped every 1-3 years. Additionally, it makes sense for commercial parking lots to add asphalt sealcoating to prevent your parking lot from wearing down due to chemical spills, oxidation, and the weather.

Without the correct protection in place, the surface of your parking lot will oxidize if left unprotected. This will cause the lot to lose its resiliency and become brittle. Subbase damage and cracks will begin to form and before long, your asphalt parking lot will be filled with potholes.

Forget about dealing with costly pothole repairs in the future. It can be avoided in most cases if you have your parking lot sealed every 3 to 5 years. This is something for all current and future parking lot owners to keep in the back of their minds.

Sealcoating benefits include:

• Prevents chemical damage, oil damage, and gasoline damage
• Halts oxidation from ultraviolet radiation exposure 
• Keeps weather damage at bay are severely slows it down
• Helps your asphalt pavement maintain its curb appeal
• Keep your investments safe and protected

Examples of Striping

• Playgrounds
• Entrances and exits of buildings
• Loading zones
• Parking lots
• Parking garages
• Indoor warehouses
• Fire lanes
• No-parking zones
• And more

The Benefits of Concrete Parking Lots

Today, I’ve shared a number of reasons why concrete parking lots are far superior to their asphalt counterparts. I’ll also tell you about other reasons why concrete parking lots are a great choice. My favorite reasons include:

Affordability

Concrete parking lots are incredibly affordable when compared to asphalt. The material is durable, has a longer life span, requires fewer concrete parking lot repairs, and actually doesn’t even cost more than asphalt. Combine these wonderful benefits and realize that concrete is a far superior material and definitely an affordable choice.

Parking Lot Longevity

Typically speaking, the majority of asphalt parking lots tend to require repairs within 5-7 years. Concrete parking lots, on the other hand, are known for lasting much longer.

In fact, you can install a new parking lot right now, and it will remain intact within 20 years. But many will remain strong for 30, 40, and even 50 years after installation!

Why? This material is strong and durable, much more so than asphalt. It’s built to last and designed to remain durable for many years to come.

Customization

Concrete’s design capabilities are practically never-ending when compared to those of asphalt. Additionally, concrete is inviting, bright, and clean, and you can stamp it into just about any shape or pattern that you desire.

For most people, customizations aren’t necessarily going to be important. But if you’re trying to design a specific concrete parking lot, using this material is definitely the best way to go because it’s a much better choice than asphalt in this regard.

Sustainability

Right now, much of the world is focused on environmentally friendly, sustainable products. The great thing about concrete is that it’s highly sustainable, completely recyclable, and, out of all of the construction materials, it’s the most recycled material of all.

Why is it environmentally friendly? The right cover is highly reflective, so it helps with energy conservation and the need for fewer streetlights. The service remains cooler so the surrounding buildings do not need to use as much air conditioning during the summer.

Even better, concrete is made with naturally recyclable materials including sand, water, and aggregates. Plus, it’s durable which really makes it even more sustainable. It doesn’t require as many repairs, which reduces air pollution, fuel consumption, and less traffic within the parking lot itself.

Are you in need of a new concrete parking lot in the future?

Please call our company at your earliest convenience. We will gladly provide you with a consultation to help you with your concrete parking lot construction and design needs.