Concrete Parking Lots
When it comes to reliability and repair work, concrete is the right choice for parking lots. Concrete offers a very competitive initial cost and a superior life cycle cost over asphalt. Here are the main reasons for choosing Concrete over asphalt. Concrete, once in place, requires little repair work. Asphalt requires annual seal-coating, repairs to potholes, sinkholes, bumps, wrinkles and unsightly low spots caused by parked vehicles. Concrete can handle much heavier loads because weight is distributed evenly. Concrete's reflective properties require less lighting during the night and absorb less heat during the day. Asphalt absorbs light and adds to global warming during the day. At night Asphalt requires much more lighting due to the lack of reflective properties. Pervious (or porous) concrete has given concrete another advantage. Parking lots using pervious concrete can eliminate drainage ponds. Pervious concrete allows rainwater to absorb into the sub-grade. This helps cool the water to acceptable temperatures before entering storm water sewers. This also filters harmful toxins such as oil before they enter our ecosystem.
