A paved driveway or parking lot can be critical for any business that must regularly receive clients or customers. Unfortunately, many older buildings may not have a paved parking lot or driveway, and if this describes the property that houses your enterprise, you may need to undertake a paving project. However, making sure that your paving project is productive and cost-efficient will require a basic working knowledge when it comes to the process of paving your driveway or parking lot.  

Are There Important Differences Between Asphalt And Concrete Paving?

One of the first choices that you will need to make will be the type of pavement that you will have poured on your property. In this regard, there are typically two options that are the most commonly utilized. Concrete can be the more cost-effective option, but it will not be as durable as asphalt. This is largely due to the fact that the concrete will be extremely brittle. This can make it more vulnerable to damage from thermal expansion, the weight of vehicles passing over it and shifts as the pavement settles. In contrast, asphalt paving may be slightly more expensive, but it will be more durable as the asphalt will typically be more flexible. As a result, the asphalt may be better able to withstand the unique conditions that it will experience.

Will The Condition Of The Soil Impact The Paving Process?

Having the ground paved will add a considerable amount of weight to the ground, and it will also impact the flow of runoff. Both of these problems can cause considerable damage to the pavement. When the soil is not stable enough to support this weight, the pavement may start to sink into the ground, which can cause deep splits and cracks to form. Uncontrolled runoff can be another problem as it can actually wash away the soil from under the pavement. Soil testing can be done to measure the impact that these factors will have on the finished pavement.

When it is discovered that the soil can not support the weight of pavement, it may be able to correct this through the use of stabilizing rods that can distribute the weight of the pavement over a larger surface area. This can help to mitigate the risks of the pavement sinking into the soil. Erosion will have to be controlled through the use of a series of drains and gutters that will provide the water with a runoff path that does not cause erosion.