Concrete Parking and Paving
Of course, concrete delivers curb appeal and long-term value.
And when compared to bituminous paving, concrete provides a more economical, environmentally sound and sustainable solution for paving and parking areas. Consider these Concrete Advantages:
Economics
- Lower Initial Cost. With the instability in the price of oil and more engineers understanding how to design concrete pavements, concrete is quickly becoming the clear choice in paving materials based on initial costs alone.
- Lower Long Term Costs. In addition, studies show that concrete’s total cost is less than bituminous because concrete requires less maintenance and repair over time. Not only does this reduce hard costs but also costs associated with downtime of parking areas during repairs.
- Lower Site Costs. Due to the fact that concrete pavements rely less on the ability of the soils to transfer loads, they can be installed at sites that would normally require costly soil corrections, which not only saves money but time as well.
- Lower Lighting Costs. Due to their brightness, concrete parking lots require less lighting, which can reduce the number of light standards as well as the electricity and maintenance associated with exterior lighting.
Click here for PCA's Material Costs Analysis
Strength
- Increased Strength. Since concrete pavements rely less on the subgrade soils, concrete pavements can stand up to the heavier traffic loads, which would deteriorate other paving materials. Bituminous pavements are designed to be flexible and thus rely heavily on the soils on which they are placed which can make them susceptible to distress from repeated loading.
- Increased Durability. Unlike asphalt cement (the binder used to make bituminous concrete), Portland cement (used as the binder material for concrete) actually gains strength over time, thus resulting in a stronger more durable pavement. Over time the asphalt binder will breakdown due to heat, water and ultra violet light. This results in weaker pavements that need to be maintained in order to preserve serviceability.
Durability
- Freeze/Thaw Resistant. Today’s concrete mixtures are designed to withstand the harsh environmental conditions associated with our climate. Cemstone properly engineers our exterior concrete mixtures so that pavements last longer, require less maintenance and provide an aesthetically pleasing parking surface at lower lifetime costs.
Aesthetics
- Improved Appearance. Let’s be honest; concrete parking lots are great looking. What better way to show that you are open business and ready to welcome in potential customers by having a bright welcome mat to your store or office building.
- Decorative Options. Cemstone’s concrete can be colored or have textures applied to them to not only make a long lasting pavement but also a work of art.
Safety
- Safety and Security. Studies have shown that concrete pavements are 30% brighter than bituminous pavements and have greater visibility which results in a safer environment for customers and employees.
- Reduced Slips and Falls. Concrete lots can withstand the effects of our climate better than other paving materials. This results in pavements that do not have potholes or other areas of distress that could lead slips and falls or ice buildup during winter months.
Environmental
- Reduced Heat Island Effect. Concrete’s brightness results in a cooler surface and therefore reduces the heat island effect, whereas darker pavements, like bituminous, increase the amount of heat absorbed and emitted in a parking area. This can mean an air temperature reduction of 7° to 10°F, which can result in lower building cooling costs in the summer months.
- Non-Petroleum Based. Concrete is produced from abundant natural resources unlike bituminous, which is petroleum based. In addition, many Cemstone concrete mixes feature higher amounts of fly ash, a byproduct of coal burning power plants, thus reducing landfill needs and improving the quality of the concrete. This also reduces our concrete’s overall CO2 footprint by reducing the amount of Portland cement in every yard of concrete. In addition, concrete pavements also absorb CO2 from the air.
The Bottom Line
Combine all these facts and your truly have a pavement that is better for the environment as well as a company’s bottom line.
Please contact Cemstone about your next paving project. Our engineers are ready to offer you suggestions on design considerations and material selection as well as analyze your particular project from an initial and long term cost perspective.
