School personnel strive to present their best sides to parents, students and civic leaders, but not just in the classroom. Public, independent and charter school leaders alike hope their facilities give a clean appearance, which bespeaks institutional care. The school parking lot, because of the traffic it sees, is a prime spot for concern, eventually necessitating first refurbishing then repaving efforts. If you are a school leader, you can make that a success by dotting your i’s and crossing your t’s when planning for lot maintenance.

Clean

As your parking area begins to age, you can take steps to improve its appearance before it becomes too decrepit. Cars traffic brings in dirt and grime and loosens fragments of the surface. Parked vehicles also leak oil and other fluids that leave ugly stains on and under the surface. Periodically contract a parking lot sweeper Washington to clean the lot using machines that clean spray clean and remove trash or asphalt pieces. Asking your building and grounds crew to pick up trash in between these cleanings will ensure the area does not become too unsightly.

Recondition

After a time, cracks will form and small potholes suddenly appear. These result from both heavy traffic and freeze-thaw cycles. Initially, you can clean, repair and fill or patch these areas. Doing so will buy you some time before you have to undertake more extensive work.

Repair

In some instances, your school parking lot will show damage in some areas but not others. In that case, you can complete a partial repaving, a decision that will save you a substantial amount of money. However, in most cases, you will have to budget for a complete repaving project, in which case you will have to build the job into the school budget well in advance.

Plan for the Job

Because repaving will cause disruptions, consider taking it on when school is not in session. Because many schools now engage in year-round activities, you will still need to clear the calendar of events that will be impacted by the job. Also, make parking arrangements with the city or local garages for those who still need to access the school.

Schools see continual lines of traffic, a condition that places extreme wear on their parking lots. When the surface breaks down, it looks unsightly and presents a hazard to those walking on it. Grounds staff and school leaders alike can ensure their parking lots are up to the task of footing traffic by budgeting for periodic maintenance and major repairs.