Concrete is one of the most popular materials used in pavements. Unlike asphalt, concrete is more durable, provides better force distribution, and preserves rigidity for an extended period. Concrete pavement is particularly important in commercial areas that experience high traffic. If you own a business, you probably have a concrete pavement or intend to install one. But, how do you maintain your pavement’s appearance and durability? A good-looking pavement can increase the curb appeal of your business, and that’s why you should maintain its good look by having a pavement maintenance plan.
Remember that the pavement is continuously subjected to harsh climatic conditions and traffic, so the surface downgrades in time. This guide will explore the best practices for creating a high-quality concrete pavement maintenance plan. You will learn the importance of maintaining your concrete pavement and the simple tips you can follow to create a maintenance plan. Read on.
What Is A Concrete Pavement Maintenance Plan?
Concrete maintenance requires advanced planning. A concrete pavement maintenance plan is a schedule that shows how you will maintain your concrete pavement and after how long you will be doing so. You can either have a short- term maintenance plan or a long plan that spans more than ten years. The timing of the plan entirely depends on your business goals and your budget. Here are the primary reasons why you should have an effective maintenance plan in advance:
Cost-Effective
Saving money is a top priority of every business, and scheduled pavement maintenance can help you save a lot. With scheduled maintenance, your team identifies minor cracks on the pavement and repairs them while it’s still early. Early identification provides early solutions, so you don’t pay excessive amounts to repair cracks when they become extensive.
Increases Safety
Safety is a top property on commercial grounds. As a business owner, you have to ensure your employees and clients are safe from injuries, and pavement maintenance is a great way to help you improve safety. Timely maintenance ensures your pavement does not have any potholes or cracks which might put the health of your clients or employees at risk.
Improves the Appeal of Your Business
Basic repair and maintenance tips such as milling and seal coating improve the curb appeal of your business. Since the current business world is highly competitive, you should take pride in keeping your premises and pavements beautiful all through. Timely maintenance can help you achieve the desired look of your pavements.
How to Create a Concrete Pavement Maintenance Plan
Concrete replacement may be costlier than maintenance. For this reason, you should have a three-year or a five years maintenance plan to protect your assets. Here is a four-step plan on creating a high-quality maintenance plan for your commercial concrete pavement.
1. Evaluation
The initial step is to inspect the current condition of your concrete pavements. Your evaluation should be based on the age of the pavement and the quality of concrete used. Usually, the inspector should develop an evaluation index to highlight the main things identified in the inspection.
These things can include the drainage of the pavement, distress and other environmental factors which affect the longevity of the pavement. The evaluation results should be well documented for analysis.
2. Grouping
After the evaluation, the pavement results can be divided into three groups:
- Group 1: Pavements that are in excellent conditions and need little or no repair.
- Group 2: Pavements in an average condition. They need minimal repairs.
- Group 3: Pavements in poor conditions. They need an entire reconstruction to restore their service.
3. Budgeting
Now that you know the current condition of your pavements, the next step is to budget based on the kind of repair or maintenance needed.
- Preventive maintenance is the cheapest option and works best for pavements still in good condition. If you need preventative maintenance, the experts may schedule simple repairs such as joint sealing and crack sealing to prolong the life of the concrete.
- Overlays and resurfacing extend the life of the pavements, and they may be more costly than simple preventive maintenance practices.
- Reconstruction is the best solution for pavements in poor condition, and is the most expensive because it involves removing the old concrete and replacing it with a newer one.
4. Revaluation
This is the last step of a concrete pavement maintenance plan which involves reviewing the pavements to identify any issues. A revaluation can be done immediately to check the effectiveness of the corrective measure applied. Also, you can schedule the revaluation to be done after three years, four years, or ten years, depending on the traffic rate on the pavements. You should only work with a seasoned concrete paving company to help you come up with the most effective maintenance plan.
Note: Your inspector may ask several questions regarding the pavement. For instance, the inspector may need to know the age of the pavements, the drainage; any repairs done in the past, and so on. It’s important to provide the right answers to develop the best pavement maintenance plan.
Do You Need Help In Commercial Pavement Maintenance Planning?
High-quality pavement maintenance is essential to keep your business safe and appealing. If you don’t have a plan yet, we are here to help you. Our team has expertise in concrete pavements and can help you create a high-quality plan for your needs. Our experts will evaluate the current condition of your concrete pavement and implement a long-term plan for your needs. Contact us today to get a customized maintenance plan.