Cleaning Your Parking Lot
CLEANING YOUR PARKING LOT VERSUS PARKING STRUCTURE
Whether your property provides a parking lot or parking garage, maintaining your parking area is of the utmost importance. Although the two types of parking facilities share similar maintenance needs, there are some vital differences of which owners and managers should be aware when contracting out maintenance work, including sweeping services.
THE STRUCTURAL DIFFERENCES
Most parking lots have a single level, but may have a basement level or higher sections connected by ramps.
In contrast, parking garages are multi leveled and have many different configurations including,
- Walls (often requiring frequent repairs)
- Open Sides
- Location under building or with buried levels
- Connecting footbridges or walkways on multiple levels
- Complex ramp systems
- Elevators and stairwells
- Innovative self-parking configurations
The biggest maintenance factor, differentiating the two, is the materials that make up each structure. In most cases, parking garages use steel-reinforced concrete decks, while parking lots are asphalt with concrete incorporated in walkways, drainage, curbs, and dividing walls.
SPECIAL CONCERNS TO CONSIDER WHEN MAINTIANING YOUR PARKING GARAGE
It is a common misconception that maintaining a parking garage is easier than a parking lot. While a parking garage is not exposed to the elements, there is a greater need for frequent sweeping, steam cleaning, and structural inspections than with parking lots.
- An enclosed space will accumulate more pollutants and toxins from exhaust, leaks, and other airborne sources, which in turn become concentrated in the garage.
- The air inside a parking garage is often dry and and dusty, which is not only a cleaning issue, but if not addressed can result in health concerns, as well.
- Parking garages experience high levels of both car and foot traffic which causes increased trash, grease, and in some cases chemicals accumulation.
Parking lots construction is usually asphalt-based and does not require rebar fortification, which is negatively affected by chemical leaks/spills and causes deterioration and corrosion to rebar, which may lead to splitting of concrete surfaces. This is a serious safety issue especially as it pertains to the integrity of the structural support for multiple deck complexes. A proactively maintained parking garage will have a longer and safer lifetime.
It is important to have parking structures and lots properly inspected, serviced, and repaired to ensure their safety and integrity. Pro-Sweep, Inc.’s professional maintenance services can help!