Asphalt is a great option for parking lots, but if you're looking to save money in the long term then concrete might be your best bet. While it's true that 90% of all parking lots are made from blacktop, there's good reason to consider concrete, as it has many advantages over asphalt that make it worth exploring as an alternative.

The initial cost of installing asphalt is less expensive than concrete, but the total life-cycle costs are higher. Asphalt has a shorter lifespan and requires more maintenance as time goes on, while concrete stands up better over time without requiring much additional work to maintain it.

We're glad you asked!

1. Concrete maintenance costs are next to none - you'll have to take care of some joint sealing and an annual cleaning, but that's about it. Asphalt, on the other hand, needs to be coated with liquid asphalt every few years and completely resurfaced once every decade. 

2. Better lighting means better safety - Because concrete surfaces are much lighter colored, you won't need as many lighting fixtures in your parking area, making it safer for everyone.

3. Lower building cooling costs - The lighter color of the concrete also means it won't get as blazing hot during those SoCal summers as asphalt will. This may not seem like a huge deal, but due to what is called the heat-island effect, adjacent buildings actually benefit from this characteristic. The difference can be seen in the electric bill!

4. Greater load-bearing capacity - Asphalt tends to rut or develop potholes when it has to endure heavy loads for a long period of time. Due to its stronger capabilities, a 5-inch thick slab of concrete can handle the same load as 8-inch thick asphalt pavement.

5. It comes in more colors! - When's the last time you saw asphalt in a color other than, well...black? (Or grey when it starts to get old.) Concrete can be colored or even textured to match the aesthetic you're looking for.

6. Better for the environment - Runoff from asphalt is higher toxicity than concrete. Beyond this, the very contents of concrete can come from various recycled materials.

If you're thinking about maintenance questions this early on, we like you already. Although we would love to catch up with you on a regular basis, it's better for your bank account if you maintain your concrete parking lot. That way, we won't have to pay you too many visits (we can just grab a cup of coffee every now and then.)

Here are our best maintenance tips:

1. Give new concrete some time - If you get a new concrete parking lot installed during the summer, it's best to keep all traffic off of it for at least 3 days. During the winter time, it should be more like 7 days. Any truck traffic should be keps away for even longer. Feel free to contact us to discuss your exact case.

2. Seal it when needed - In Irvine, aesthetic really matters. To keep your concrete looking its best and to minimize any staining, sealers are helpful. But it should be one that allwos vapor to escape from within the concrete.

3. Stain removal - Any stains on the concrete should be removed on a regular basis.