Water drainage is one of the most important factors in making your parking lot as safe and long-lasting as possible. But how can you design and execute good drainage in your particular asphalt lot? No matter whether it's old or new, large or small, here are a few things you might do to fix common water issues.
1. Correct the Grading
The best way to force water to drain off the asphalt is to build it with the right grade outwards. The percentage of grade varies depending on terrain and weather, so it might be a minimal grade or your spot may need a more obvious angle.
2. Rebuild Crowns
Most parking lots are graded with a subtle high point in the center of the lot that slopes downward toward all edges. The center is known as the crown. If your lot tends to accumulate water in its center, this crown may have worn down over the years. Rebuilding it will restore the grading plan.
3. Add Catch Basins
Catch basins are fairly simple drainage tools. You install a drain where water pools, which leads to a drain pipe or similar structure below. This then harmlessly moves water away to a spot where it can empty without harming anything.
4. Change Substrate
The substrate is the layer of aggregate below the surface level of an asphalt expanse. This substrate's makeup can help absorb water into it (and away from the surface) or prevent it from being absorbed. New parking lots and those with severe drainage issues may need a change of substrate materials.
5. Check Other Grades
Look beyond the actual parking lot to see what grading issues may be going on around it. Does any surrounding landscape slope toward the parking lot? Does the lot sit lower than the base of buildings and roads? Does any surrounding hardscape prevent water from escaping? Fixes may range from changing structures and grades to adding drains and using more porous materials.
6. Use Shoulder Drains
Shoulder drains are gutter-like additions to the sides of asphalt lots. They catch water being drained outward and let it flow off the sides to better areas, such as city drains. A shoulder drain can help when the problem isn't grading but rather aiding the flow of water.
Where to Start
Could any of these drainage solutions help you make your parking area safer, cleaner, and healthier? If so, start by consulting with an asphalt paving contractor in your area today.
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