How to keep your parking lot from flooding.

The appearance and state of your parking lot can have a huge impact on your business. Poorly maintained parking lots can turn off clients and visitors, affecting future sales since it is the first area that people usually see. Aside from the typical repair and maintenance procedures, another critical area you should consider is flood management.

Given how often it rains in Florida, you are probably all too familiar with the headaches that come with parking lot flooding. During severe storms, standing water and floating waste particles can quickly accumulate and cause blocked drains, which can be a major inconvenience for customers.

To avoid this situation, check out how you can prevent and manage parking lot flooding.

Design Proper Drainage

Installing a drainage system is the best way to prevent parking lot flooding. Though it may seem expensive at first, it will be a cost-effective investment in the long run since it helps you avoid costly repairs and replacements.

Generally, drainage works by installing a storm drain or catch basin around your parking lot curbs to direct water and reduce runoffs during heavy rains. These drains channel the water into the city’s drainage system, effectively preventing it from pooling on your asphalt pavement.

Designing your drainage properly is also important to ensure that you place the catch basins in strategic areas. To ensure you achieve this, you should work with engineers from a professional paving company who will design the systems or check your existing one to recommend how you can improve it.

Add Curbing

Curbing is another effective remedy to help you manage parking lot flooding. Adding curbs along the perimeter of your parking lot or commercial park will deflect water away from the asphalt, effectively preventing the floods from pooling water in your lot.

As a plus, curbs also provide solid support for your pavement. Generally, standard parking lot curbs should be at least eight inches thick, so they can strengthen your pavement’s foundation and withstand heavy forces.

Fix the Slope

If you notice most of your flooding happening due to summer storms, the chances are that the standing water has nowhere to drain. In such cases, sloping will be the most efficient solution to divert the water away from your pavement.

Generally, you should modify the slope of your parking lot such that the parking space gradually slopes off to the edge perimeter of the lot. You can have professionals check your current slope if it is at the optimal angle. In most cases, even as little as a 1% slope should be enough to ensure proper drainage, but this may vary per case.

Work with Trusted Contractors to Prevent Parking Lot Flooding

Proper drainage and parking lot design are key components to managing and preventing parking lot flooding. Thus, if you notice lots of standing water after storms, this could point to a problem with your current pavement design.

Here at ACLPM, we provide a full range of services to help you achieve a durable parking lot. So, if you need help making your pavement more flood-proof, give us a call today at 888-959-9637 to schedule a free consultation.