Michigan sees an astonishing 64 inches of snow per year – more than double the national average of 28 inches. Thus, practically every enterprise in the state will need to conduct snow maintenance at some point.
We believe it helps to have a plan in place ahead of time so that you’re ready to respond when the weather finally takes a turn for the worse. Here are our tips for parking lot snow maintenance:
Tip #1 Use Tall Stakes Around The Parking Lot
In Northern Michigan, we’re pretty used to the snowfall. So, when we suggest putting large stakes around your parking lot and other walkways, you should use that advice. While you may think you’ll know exactly where your parking lot is, it’s not as easy to locate with a couple of feet of snow.
Tip #2: Tackle High-Traffic Areas First
The best approach here is to partition your parking lot into high- and low-traffic areas. High-traffic areas might include:
- The main entrance
- The primary parking space access routes
- The routes that pedestrians take to get to your front door
Keeping these clear helps make it easier for people to park their vehicles and access your premises on foot.
Tip #3: Keep Catchment Basins Clear
Where possible, try to avoid piling snow on top of catchment basins and drains. Stubborn mounds can prevent subsequent rainfall from draining away from your parking lot. And in some cases, freeze-thaw weathering can damage the drain and grille.
Tip #4: Leave Snow Pile Space For Future Storms
Lastly, businesses in Michigan never quite know when the next storm is going to hit. For that reason, it’s a good idea to always leave space in your parking lot for adding snow piling, should you need it.
Tip #5: Be Careful Not To Block Routes While Plowing Snow
Once you’ve secured the high-traffic routes in your parking lot, the next challenge is to clear the snow on the ground with a snowplow.
Be careful, though, to avoid blocking the high-traffic routes you just cleared to provide access to your premises. Remember, clearing several inches of snow will create large piles, so plan out where these will go ahead of time. Sometimes, you’ll need to dedicate a section of your parking lot to temporarily store snow before the thaw if there is a substantial quantity of it. Most businesses choose areas distant from their front doors to avoid inconveniencing customers.
Why Choose Global Asphalt Solutions?
You need a professional to give you the best advice on what you should be doing. You should be looking at someone who has years of experience in the industry and that’s exactly what we have. Having someone who knows what they are looking for look at your asphalt means that you can be sure you are going to get the right service, rather than just guessing and hoping for the best. Offering all of the services that we have mentioned above, we encourage you to get in contact with us if you have any questions. You can call us on 231-715-7899 or get in touch with us via email. We look forward to hearing from you.
