Why It’s Important to Repair Potholes in Your Parking Lot

If you have a parking lot full of potholes, it can be very bad for business. The folk at Parking Lot Pros say that potholes can cause damage to the vehicles of those who use the parking lot, which can have a detrimental impact on your reputation. It is therefore essential to include potholes in your parking lot repairs. But what are potholes, and what causes them?

What are Potholes?

Potholes are depressions or ruts in the surface of a road that occur when said road is weakened and can no longer support the weight of the traffic above. You might have noticed that the appearance of potholes seems to be worse in the springtime, and you might be wondering why this is.

Well, it is worth noting that potholes are usually caused because water that has penetrated the surface of the road. The water begins to weaken the soil beneath the upper layer of the paving. In the winter, the water in the soil will freeze and thaw regularly. When it freezes, it expands and when it thaws it contracts again.

As the water underneath the paving expands, it pushes upwards against the top layer. Coupled with the weight of heavy traffic on top, the paving becomes weak and will then crack. When the temperatures increase and the ice start to melt, the surface underneath contracts again, which then leaves a gap between the surface of the paving and the soil below. This allows more water to penetrate the paving and if the freeze/thaw cycle continues, the cracks can become bigger until pieces of the paving break away and leave holes underneath.

Why are Potholes Bad for Business?

Potholes in a parking lot do not look very attractive. As the parking lot is often the first place anyone sees when visiting your business, it is a good idea to ensure that it is well-kept and maintained. This will help new clients to create a good first impression of your business and what your values are. If your parking lot is clearly in need of repair, it could give potential clients the impression that you are not bothered about your business either.

Potholes can limit the number of available parking spots. Let’s face it, people generally go out of their way to avoid these holes in the road, so they’ll equally want to avoid them a lot. If the number of parking spaces decreases, this can then affect footfall. This is particularly relevant in the parking lots of retail businesses that depend on sales from visiting customers.

As well as detracting from your business’s curb appeal, potholes can be dangerous, particularly when it is wet. In heavy rainfall, the potholes can fill with water, making them difficult to see. This means that customers could inadvertently step into a pothole or even trip over it, resulting in injury. Even the smallest potholes are tripping hazards.

Furthermore, potholes can damage vehicles. Even when they are not driven over at speed, they have the potential to affect the suspension on the vehicle or damage the tires. There is also a risk that the wheels could become misaligned, which must be rectified by a mechanic. This can cost the owner of the vehicle their hard-earned dollars. Not great for business.

Conclusion

Potholes are commonplace after the cold winter months if water has penetrated the surface of the paving and has continuously frozen and thawed. However, despite being common, they are bad for business because they can damage vehicles, cause injury, and look unsightly. It is important, therefore, that you get these repaired as soon as possible.