What’s the Typical Lifespan of an Asphalt Parking Lot?

When a parking lot gets paved or repaved, how long will that parking lot paving job last? If the proper maintenance and preventative care measures are in place, it could last upwards of 35 years. But there is a whole life cycle to consider, with different things to watch out for in different phases of the parking lot’s life.

There’s a lot more to know about parking lot paving than just how much it costs or what it looks like when the job is finished. Here are some details on the lifespan of an asphalt parking lot, as well as what you can do to get the most life out of it.

How long does parking lot paving last?

Let’s look at the lifespan of a parking lot in terms of the traditional phases of life. This will not be a perfect analogy, but it may help you remember that the life of a parking lot is long, and just like our own lives, it will have different needs in different phases of life as it ages.

Years zero through five of an asphalt parking lot are its youthful innocence, before it enters adolescence. In these years, it is new, sturdy and durable. Sure, it might get some nicks or little cracks here and there, or maybe even a little discoloration from regular use or exposure to the sun, but it should still be in good condition throughout this stage of its life.

In years five through seven of an asphalt parking lot, you should begin to consider investing in routine maintenance services. Teenagers start to require more grooming as they meet more people and start to care about their appearance, too. For parking lots, sealcoating and crack sealing will help them look their best and impress all their vehicular friends.

After those developing teenage years, early adulthood starts to show some wear and tear on us humans. It’s no different for asphalt parking lots. In years seven through 15, a parking lot will need some minor repair work, depending on how much it’s been used and cared for already. Patching up damage in these years can go a long way toward extending an asphalt parking lot’s overall lifespan, as well as keeping up with standard maintenance.

In middle age (years 15 through 25), an asphalt driveway will start to need more intensive repairs. It will likely still be working well, but there might be large cracks that need to be sealed before they turn into unfixable problems. It may also be a good idea to consider resurfacing during this phase.

Finally, in the parking lot’s golden years (25 through 35), the well-trodden asphalt is likely to show a lifetime’s worth of wear and may appear significantly damaged. But unlike when we enter this phase of our life, there is no need to “respect your elders” when it comes to asphalt parking lots! At this stage, it’s time to consider reconstructing the parking lot entirely if the cost of repairs is too high.

Next time you drive on a parking lot, consider the life it’s lived and how much work has gone into keeping it in good condition. When you need parking lot paving services, contact the experienced professionals at Paveco Inc. to schedule a consultation.

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