Businesses today have plenty of options available to them when they are surfacing their parking areas. Just as every business is different, so is every car park. The best material for any individual case will depend on a number of factors. Here are four potential surfacing options you need to know about.
Loose Gravel
Loose gravel has long been one of the most popular options for servicing car parks thanks to its low cost and the ease with which it can be laid down. Furthermore, many people find that loose gravel gives car parks a certain character – this is something that is especially useful when the underlying land is blemished with imperfections. Gravel can come in a wide range of sizes, colours, and textures. This makes gravel one of the most versatile servicing options out there.
Naturally, there are drawbacks to such a low-cost option. In particular, gravel driveways are susceptible to invasion of weeds and therefore require a little more maintenance than some other surface options. As well as keeping the weeds at bay, you will also need to occasionally sweep any gravel that escaped from the car park back into the area.
Tarmacadam Car Parks
Tarmacadam is a substance that combines crushed up stones with tar, although tar is often replaced with a more modern alternative these days. The result is a durable and a solid car park surface, that can be further enhanced through the addition of an extra topcoat which adds water resistance and can change the colour of the surface.
One of the reasons that Tarmacadam is a popular choice for car park paving is because it can be personalised. Tarmacadam can be produced in a range of different colours, and you can easily paint markings on top of it.
Asphalt
Asphalt is one of the most resilient car park surfaces out there that is tough, durable, and waterproof. If you are looking for something that you can lay down now and not have to worry about for quite some time, then asphalt is the perfect option. While asphalt is durable like concrete, it does not suffer from the same problems where extreme temperatures are concerned.
Not only is asphalt an excellent material to choose from a practical perspective, but it also lends car parks a sleek and professional appearance. Gravel can look a little bit cheap, and Tarmacadam tends to feel a bit tougher underfoot. On the other hand, asphalt is more comfortable to walk and drive over.
Concrete
The big selling point of concrete is its extreme longevity. Even with thousands of cars driving over it every day, a concrete car park can last for decades with little to no maintenance. As we mentioned earlier, extreme temperatures can shorten the lifespan of concrete and lead to structural damage, but it is resilient to most stresses and will not wear out over time in the way that other materials will.
The main drawback of concrete is that it is relatively expensive, especially if you are going to be servicing a larger car park. Once it has been laid down, concrete then requires around 7 days in order to cure. Until it has cured, you cannot have cars driving over it.
There are numerous car park surfacing materials on the market today, and no single option is better than the others. When deciding on the right surface material, you need to consider the cost, how much it will be used, and whether you can maintain it properly. There is a material to suit every car park, you just need to find it.