Installing Commercial pavements for parking lots is a great service to the community. It is vital to shaping our needs of safety and precaution while driving or simply walking.
In the day-to-day hustle of running your business, sometimes you forget to properly care for your pavement in the parking lot. Choosing the right material for your pavement is important for longevity and sustainability.
If not addressed properly, it might lead to much internal damage like cracks on the floor, water inflow, muddy patches, and many more, which creates a very bad impression for the visitors.
Parking lot pavement is one of the most important factors when establishing a properly functioning lot for commercial business purposes. Before installing them in your parking spaces, it is imperative to understand all the cost considerations and requirements.
Commercial Paving Options
The two main options – Asphalt and concrete- come to mind when discussing commercial paving. In the upcoming years, two more types have come into the scenes – Truegrid Permeable and Gravel. Let us know more about these paving options.
Asphalt
Asphalt is considered the cheapest and best choice among all the other paving options. It has the capability to endure huge traffic and responds well in cold weather. As we know, everything has its pros and cons; similar is the case with asphalt.
A significant drawback is that asphalt does not do well in hot weather. It becomes sticky and leaves stains on tires and shoes. It requires regular maintenance as prolonged usage causes cracks and ruts on it. It is immensely limited to aesthetics. You can only have options like black with yellow, red, or white lot lines. Though asphalt is cheap, its maintenance and installation are expensive.
Concrete
Concrete and asphalt are somewhat the same. Concrete has an advantage as it gives options to choose the color and texture of the material. It is cheap but requires yearly maintenance by cleaning and the need for joint sealing, as opposed to asphalt, which requires consistent care.
Like asphalt, concrete shares fair drawbacks too. In cold weather, it starts breaking when going through frost-shattering. And it also requires drainage systems to prevent the areas from heavy flooding.
Truegrid Permeable
Truegrid permeable can be considered the best option for commercial paving. It is the cheapest among all the paving material options.
It does not require any regular maintenance or extra expensive drainage systems. The installation is very fast compared to the other paving methods. It is inexpensive and absorptive.mmercial parking spaces
Truegrid is made up of 100% recycled plastic, and it can be diversified into any style or aesthetic. They are very eco-friendly and installed in a very eco-friendly manner. Hence, Truegrid is the best choice of all.
Gravel
Gravel is a low-cost option and requires low maintenance. But it is not suitable for high-traffic areas or where heavy vehicles roll over. It can become uneven and needs to be regraded periodically. It is very difficult to walk or drive, especially in areas of low mobility. It is not as durable as asphalt or concrete and needs periodic replacements.
Commercial Paving: Cost Analysis and Consideration
As we discussed above, there are four generally used paving options; however, it is important to note gravel forms the base for commercial paving options. The most popular options for paving materials are concrete and asphalt. If you are looking for installing commercial parking spaces, here is what you need to analyze and consider for commercial paving.
Cost analysis
There are different types of paving materials used. You will have to analyze the cost of the materials according to your needs and requirements. Each material has its own cost, which you must consider before starting your project. In this section, we will analyze the cost of commercial paving options.
Construction cost analysis
Firstly for construction projects, materials, labor, and equipment are required. Different materials have different construction costs accordingly. Asphalt and concrete are used for the paving process, but concrete is used mostly for commercial construction because it is durable and requires less maintenance relatively than asphalt. And it also results in lower life-cycle costs.
Life-Cycle Cost Analysis
Life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) is a supportive tool that helps analyze the construction method, maintenance, and rehabilitation strategy. Every contractor with construction, reconstruction, and maintenance project should acquire economic evaluation to determine the most cost-effective methods and timings. It helps to access the total cost of possession of a construction system. LCCA helps you to make an informed decision, which will be cost-effective for the long term.
Comparison
Now the comparison should be made based on Construction cost analysis and life cycle cost analysis for different paving options. This will help you to make an informed decision as well as you will also be able to make a cost-effective decision that will fulfill your needs and requirements.
When you are comparing the different paving materials, you will have to consider the factors such as the lifelong stability of the material, maintenance, and cost. You will also have to consider the climate conditions and the traffic volume because these factors will affect on the performance of the commercial pavement.
Considerations
Here in this section, we will talk about the consideration you have to consider for the pavement process. If you are a contractor, these factors will affect your project if you will not consider them.
Durability
The durability of the material is an essential factor; it decides how long your pavement material will last over time. It is important to choose a durable material to handle the loads of traffic. And according to the comparison, concrete is the best option and known for its durability and requires less maintenance.
Maintenance
Maintenance is an important factor that you have to consider so you won’t have to invest after completing the project, so it’s better to choose the material accordingly. And according to a maintenance point of view, concrete will be the best option for your project.
Heavy loads
It is important to choose the material which can bear the heavy loads. Because it is a commercial pavement project, you will have to keep in mind that it could deal with heavyweight the vehicles such as trucks, buses, etc. Concrete would be the best option because it can bear heavy loads without breaking or cracking.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you install commercial pavement, you must consider all the factors mentioned above. You will have to remember that there are many options for pavement material in the market, but you will have to choose it wisely and according to your needs and budget.
Because the budget is also an important factor that you will have to remember for your pavement project, you can do that by comparing the materials on the basis of cost analysis. We hope this article will guide you better so you can make an informed decision.
