6 Office Parking Lot Tips for a Professional Look
You only have a few seconds to make a great first impression on your potential customers with the outside of your building. The last thing you want is for customers to get deterred because of the way your commercial space and parking lot look. Not taking care of your building’s exterior could result in lost business and profits.
This thought process doesn’t apply to the building itself. Taking care of your office parking lot is essential to improving the professionalism of your organization. Not only does it ensure your commercial space looks good, but it also keeps your customers safe while in your parking lot.
This blog will discuss our top six parking lot maintenance tips. Keep your parking lot in pristine condition and safe while avoiding having to invest in replacing your parking lot every few years.
1. Regularly Sweep Up Debris
Routinely sweeping your parking lot may sound like a basic tip, but it’s an essential component of parking lot upkeep. Common types of debris that can gather in a parking lot include:
- Rocks
- Leaves
- Twigs
- Litter
- Paper
Small pieces of debris can block drains. Standing water can begin to accumulate and cause damage to your parking lot. The parking lot’s surface will start to break down as water gets to the sub-base, creating potholes and cracks.
Other benefits of cleaning your parking lot include:
- Deter littering
- Make your business more appealing
- Prevent pests and rodents
- Draw in clientele
You can perform dry sweeps of your parking lot weekly or bi-weekly. You may want to increase the frequency of the sweeping during the months when more leaves and branches accumulate. A professional landscaping company can handle the hassle of cleaning your parking lot on your behalf.
2. Ensure Longevity with Routine Inspections
Consistently checking your parking lot for problems is key to preventing small items from evolving into something bigger. Defects, like potholes and cracks, are threats to your parking lot’s longevity. These areas will start to break down the surface and cause it to be brittle.
Developing a regular maintenance and inspection schedule will help to mitigate risks. You want to keep your parking lot in working condition so your customers and their vehicles don’t encounter any problems.
You can also notice tough stains and embedded dirt during these inspections. Power scrubbing and pressure washing are great ways to get rid of these substances, such as:
- Dirt
- Oil
- Grease
- Tire tracks
3. Pothole Repairs and Crack Sealing
Once you’ve identified problem areas, it’s time to address them. Crack filling or small-scale sealing is much easier to do before the issue becomes a full-blown pothole. This type of patching stops potholes from forming in the first place.
Your business can take advantage of numerous benefits when opting for crack sealing, including:
- Saving money on costly repairs
- Preserve your parking lot’s integrity
Investing in parking lot seal coating can prevent cracks and potholes from occurring in the first place. Seal coating forms a protective barrier on top of asphalt. It protects against some of the following things:
- UV damage
- Oils
- Water
- Chemicals
- Harsh weather
It’s recommended to seal coat after you have your parking lot installed and once every couple of years after.
4. Enhance Curb Appeal with Proper Landscaping
Landscaping your parking lot provides you with more than visual benefits. Improving your parking lot will have a ripple effect across your entire property.
You don’t have to stick to just asphalt when it comes to designing your parking lot. Incorporating greenery is a great way to add a welcoming and organic feel to your office exterior care. This can include planting trees or patches of grass.
Other tips for improving your exterior landscaping include:
- Using shrubs in place of fences
- Planting flowers
- Building pathways that lead from the parking lot to your front door
- Creating shaded areas
- Planting low-maintenance plants
An experienced landscaping company can evaluate your current parking lot and make recommendations for what types of plants they think would work best.
5. Refresh Your Parking Lot Striping
Weather and UV rays can begin to fade your parking lot striping until you can barely see it. Customers may find it challenging to know where to park and in which direction to drive their vehicle once they enter your parking lot.
Having a well-marked lot ensures that your customers can safely navigate the space. Visible and clear lines guide pedestrians and drivers, reducing the risk of collisions and accidents.
A few other reasons why you should invest in repainting your parking lot striping include:
- Improving the size of your parking spaces
- Ensuring you have the right number of spaces
- Preventing door dings
- Reducing liability
Paint striping typically lasts 18 to 24 months. Let your maintenance company know if you start to notice these lines fading before that time.
6. Signage and Lighting Upkeep
Adequate lighting will help with the security and safety of your parking lot. Bright lights minimize dark areas and shadows, making it easy for your customers and employees to exit your building after hours. A well-lit parking lot can prevent accidents between cars and pedestrians.
Not having well-placed signage in your parking lot can damage your reputation and drive potential customers away. Parking signage creates a welcoming space for your visitors and helps them find where they need to go.
Potential customers will easily be able to locate your office space when you have a clear and large sign in your parking lot. Directional signs will let them know where to park and enter your building.
Keep Your Office Parking Lot Safe and Professional With Grounds Control USA
Don’t overlook your office parking lot when it comes to maintaining and improving your commercial space. Your parking lot is often the first thing your customers see when they visit your office. The last thing you want is for them to get deterred or harm to come to their vehicle because you haven’t been staying on top of maintenance.
Grounds Control USA is proud to provide commercial lot care to businesses across the country. We use our 30+ years of experience to deliver exceptional service and reduce your overall costs. Reach out to us to find a service partner in your area.