Running a commercial property in Tucson means dealing with pavement that takes a beating from the desert heat. When business owners call Pacific Asphalt Company, they usually have the same few concerns on their minds. The most common questions about commercial asphalt in Tucson are addressed below.
How does the Tucson heat affect commercial parking lots?
Summer temperatures in Tucson routinely push past triple digits, and that bakes the essential oils right out of your asphalt. When the binder dries out, the pavement becomes brittle and starts to oxidize or crack. If you manage a retail center off Speedway or an office park in the Foothills, your commercial parking lot deals with massive thermal stress daily. Keeping up with a regular maintenance schedule is the only way to fight back against premature breakdown.
How often should we sealcoat a commercial lot in Pima County?
Property owners in Pima County generally need to sealcoat a commercial lot every two to three years depending on traffic volume. High-traffic retail centers need Commercial Sealcoating sooner because turning tires grind down the surface layer quickly. Skipping this step lets the sun turn your dark, flexible pavement into a gray, crumbling surface.
What causes potholes in our desert soil?
Potholes usually start small. A tiny crack opens up, monsoon rainwater seeps into the subbase, and vehicle weight finishes the job by breaking apart the unsupported asphalt. The caliche-heavy native soils in Tucson do not drain easily when heavy summer storms occur, making proper drainage design important from day one.
Can you pave over existing asphalt, or do we need a full tear-out?
The solution depends entirely on the structural integrity of your base. If the subgrade is solid and you are mostly dealing with surface wear, an overlay or milling and repaving works great. But if the pavement is alligator-cracked across the whole lot and sinking, you will need a full-depth asphalt reconstruction.
How long does a commercial paving project disrupt business?
Downtime costs money for local businesses. Most standard Commercial Sealcoating or patching jobs can be phased so your tenants and customers still have access. Larger Commercial Asphalt paving projects might require sectioning off parts of the lot over a weekend to let the new mix cure properly before cars roll over it.
When is the best time of year to schedule asphalt work?
Spring and fall are prime time for asphalt paving in Tucson. Pacific Asphalt Company can work through the summer, but extreme ambient temperatures make managing the asphalt temperature during transport and compaction very difficult.