The COVID-19 pandemic has shined a light on property managers as they have become even more vital in supporting both property owners and tenants.  In addition to everything else on their plates, today property managers must stay up to date on the evolving changes in local and state laws that impact lease management, eviction policies, safety measures and more.   A recent survey of more than 3,500 property management professionals nationwide found two areas that have been put on the back burner during the pandemic are maintenance and inspections, with 49% of propety management pros saying they had halted inspections and 41% saying they were only servicing emergency maintenance requests.

Do A Visual Assessment

Savvy property managers know that inspections and maintenance can’t be neglected for long, especially when it comes to driveways and parking lot maintenance. When it comes to asphalt, small problems neglected can quickly become major, expensive repairs.

A good starting point for your budgeting process is a walk around your driveways, walkways and parking lots. Make careful notes of their condition and keep an eye out for:

  • Cracks larger than a quarter inch: These need to be cleaned and filled to prevent water from penetrating the foundation and causing extensive damage.
  • Potholes: Not only a safety menace for vehicles and pedestrians, potholes can lead to bigger and more expensive foundation problems.
  • Faded asphalt: May be a sign you should consider sealcoating to preserve the pavement and enhance the aesthetic appeal.
  • Cracked Sections that have started to spread: These areas require immediate attention as they can lead to larger scale repairs.
  • Damaged catch basin: Early intervention and repair is critical, as this relatively small problem can quickly escalate into an expensive structural issue.

Getting an Accurate Estimate

If your visual assessment uncovered areas of your asphalt pavement in need of attention, contact a reputable asphalt contractor for assistance. The more information the contractor has, the more accurate the estimate will be. Typically, this will include the square footage of the paved areas, age of the pavement, size and depth of potholes, length of cracks to be sealed, condition of catch basin and recent history of your pavement maintenance.

If your budget is especially tight, share that info with the contractor as well.  Depending on the condition of your pavement, you may be able to put off resurfacing or a full replacement with crack filling, mill and patching or sealcoating.   If you believe your pavement needs extensive work, consider asking two or three contractors to inspect your pavement with you to determine the full scope of the work needed.

Johnson & Sons Paving is a commercial asphalt paving contractor offering a full range of asphalt and concrete construction services for customers in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Madison, Racine, Kenosha, and their surrounding areas.  We can help you create a custom pavement maintenance that meets your specific needs and budget.   Contact us for a free, no-obligation estimate and project assessment or call us at (262) 251-5585.