Although summer is only just winding down, it won’t be long until winter has arrived, covering your parking lot in snow and ice. Don’t miss parking lot maintenance as part of your fall maintenance plan. By tackling this part of your outdoor maintenance in the fall, you will avoid the inconvenience and dangers of addressing these issues during the frigid winter months. Giving your parking lot the attention it needs early will result in a smoother and safer winter experience.

Update signage

Fall is a great time to give your lot a mini makeover by restriping the parking lines, changing or updating signage, and making sure everything is clearly marked. With the limited visibility that winter weather can bring, it’s best to make sure that visitors and staff are sure of where they need to park. Once spring comes, it’s a good idea to take a look at this again in case your snow removal service scrapes away the lines over the winter.

Repair asphalt cracks

With the extreme winter weather, a freeze-thaw cycle occurs, so your asphalt will expand and contract with these weather changes. With this expansion and contraction comes the possibility of cracking. Get your surface in tip-top shape by filling existing cracks so they don’t worsen when the weather gets cold.

Make a plan for plowing

Be ready for that first snowfall with a plan. Will you have someone plow your lot onsite? If so, be sure you have the equipment and someone available who’s ready day or night. Does it work better for you to hire an outside contractor? This option provides you with dependable snow removal, but it may not fall within your budget. No matter which option you choose, make sure that all curbs and speed bumps are clearly marked so whoever is plowing your lot has clear direction.

Stock up on salt or sand

Don’t forget those walkways. Limit the risk of slipping and falling by stocking up on what you need, keeping it close to where you’ll use it, and assigning this task to a full-time staff member. You may also want to consider something other than road salt, which can erode the surface of your walkway and have negative environmental effects. Road salt is not biodegradable and can be absorbed into the soil, affecting runoff; there are several more sustainable options out there, if that’s the route you choose to go.

Winter provides its own challenges to the exterior of your building, but you can mitigate potential parking lot issues with preventative fall maintenance and planning ahead.