When it comes to shopping center parking lots, longevity is a key concern for most owners. They want their investment to last as long as possible and be able to hold as many customers’ cars as possible.
The key thing that matters when it comes to a parking lots’ longevity is the materials used to make it. However, construction materials are not the only factor that determines the longevity of a shopping center parking lot.
Let’s discuss how long these parking lots last and what factors determine their longevity to give you a better idea of what to expect in terms of longevity.
How Long Does A Shopping Center Parking Lot Last?
Typically, parking lots can last anywhere between 15 to 50 years, depending on a number of factors like construction material, frequency of usage, parking lot maintenance, and more.
Here are all the factors that impact the lifespan of your parking lot. You can use this information to make sure that your parking lot lasts as long as possible.
Construction Material
There are two main material options when constructing parking lots, asphalt and concrete. For the longest time, shopping centers used asphalt parking lots as most other businesses did, due to its lower costs.
However, in recent years businesses have realized that concrete is a far more economical solution due to its longer lifespan and lower maintenance. Where an asphalt parking lot may typically last between 15 to 30 years, a concrete parking lot can last between 20 to 50 years under the right conditions.
Businesses that have a lot of foot and vehicle traffic, like shopping centers, should always consider concrete over asphalt for their parking lots. Not only will it better withstand the higher traffic and wear, but it also requires less maintenance in terms of repairing damages.
Fewer repairs and a longer lifespan mean more savings in the long run for any business. However, regardless of the construction material used, a parking lots’ lifespan can get cut short and fail prematurely due to other factors.
Frequent Usage
Typically, concrete can easily outlast and outperform asphalt in terms of frequent usage, traffic, and heavy vehicles. Despite its strength, frequent usage can still impact its lifespan. Since shopping centers tend to have a lot of visitors, sometimes thousands per day, traffic is intense.
This means that parking lot usage in shopping centers is almost always stretched to the limit. Moreover, there are plenty of heavy vehicles coming in regularly, like trucks that unload cargo. However, most shopping centers have a separate loading area for these trucks. Still, all sorts of heavy vehicles frequent a shopping center parking lot like RVs, trucks, and buses.
Parking Lot Maintenance
Maintenance is key for the longevity of any parking lot because any paved surface will not last long without regular maintenance. While quality sealant is applied after paving a parking lot, professional resealing every 2 to 3 years is important to maintain it.
Shopping centers often require it sooner, due to the heavy traffic and usage that they incur. It is always recommended to opt for seasoned professionals like Sunshine Services Unlimited for resealing and maintenance in South Florida.
Weather
Weather, especially extreme weather, is another key factor that impacts the lifespan of a parking lot. Heavy snow, freezing, rain, heat, and direct sunlight can all result in cracking the pavement and deteriorating parking lots.
Moreover, the weather is something that is mostly out of your control unless your parking lot is indoors or you are willing to cover the lot.
Proper Installation
Most people overlook installation as being a key factor that determines the lifespan of a parking lot. Regardless of whether you opt for an asphalt or concrete lot, you need to pick experienced professionals who know how to use the right installation techniques, tools, and supplies.
Things like thickness, proper drainage, quality supplies, and expert workmanship all come into play. Shopping centers typically require greater thickness and strategic draining due to their higher usage and traffic numbers.
Conclusion
Depending on the mentioned factors, a shopping center parking lot can easily last up to 50 years under the right conditions. Things like quality construction materials, proper installation, limited usage, parking lot maintenance, and weather all play a huge role in expanding the lifespan.
We highly recommend opting for experienced professionals like Sunshine Services Unlimited for the best maintenance and lasting results for your parking lots.
If you want to learn more about how long shopping center parking lots can last or about the best professional installation, maintenance, and repairs in South Florida, please visit our website today.