When it comes to a businesssuch as a hotel, appearance is crucial. After all, no one wants to stay in a hotel that looks dingy and rundown. The exterior is just as important as the interior.With that in mind, you might be wondering what type of material is best for your hotel parking lot paving. Well, according to the folk at Parking Lot Pros, there are a few options to choose from, with each having their pros and cons. Below we will look at asphalt, gravel,and concrete as these are the most popular materials when it comes to hotel parking lots.
Concrete
Concrete is perhaps one of the most commonly chosen parking lot paving materials, and for good reason. Concrete is lighter in color than asphalt and as such fares better in warmer temperatures. It absorbs heat and is cooler underfoot. It is also less likely to expand in hot weather.
Another huge benefit of concrete is the fact that it is extremely low maintenance. Apart from regular cleaning, a concrete parking lot generally does not require much maintenance or repair work at all. Furthermore, a concrete parking lot can last for decades. In the right conditions, a concrete parking lot will remain in good working order for up to forty years.
But with the good comes the bad, and there are some downsides to concrete. This is mainly in the fact that it is much more expensive to install and has a longer curing time than asphalt. Hotel owners must be prepared for their parking lot to be out of action for up to seven days, compared to around two or three for asphalt. Another thing to be aware of is that despite being low maintenance, concrete parking lots are susceptible to damage from severe frost and salt used to melt ice and snow.
Asphalt
As mentioned above, an asphalt parking lot can be ready to use within a couple of days. It is also quicker and far less expensive to install than a concrete lot.Moreover, unlike concrete, asphalt is not affected by the use of salt during the winter months (if it has been seal coated properly).
An asphalt parking lot has a typical lifespan of around 15-20 years, but this can be extended with regular seal coating. Seal coating can also make it look clean and fresh throughout its life.
There are some downsides to asphalt, however. The fact that it does require regular seal coating can often make the cost higher over its lifetime than the cost of laying a concrete parking lot. Asphalt is also susceptible to high temperatures and so may not be the ideal choice in areas prone to summer heatwaves.
Gravel
Although less commonly used for hotel parking lots than both asphalt and concrete, some smaller boutique hotels choose to install gravel because of its aesthetic appeal. The fact that there are so many different choices in terms of colormakes gravel an interesting choice for some hotel owners. Gravel can last for an exceptionally long time, but this depends on it being well maintained. It is highly resistant to variations in climate, but it does require more maintenance than both asphalt and concrete.
Conclusion
The type of paving material you choose for your hotel parking lot will depend on your budget and preferences. Each of the above materials has a few pros and cons that need to be taken into consideration before making the final choice. You will need to factor in the initial cost of installation as well as ongoing maintenance costs to find the best solution for your hotel.
