Asphalt pavement offers a range of impressive benefits. Firstly, its smooth surface enables better drainage and efficient snow removal, making it ideal for parking lots in areas that experience consecutive storms. Additionally, it remains flexible, allowing greater vehicle grip, even in extreme temperatures. Furthermore, asphalt is less costly than both concrete and other paving materials, both initially and long-term, thanks to its durability and minimal maintenance requirements.

Asphalt pavement is the preferred choice for parking lots primarily due to its relatively low cost compared to other types of paving materials like concrete. Additionally, asphalt provides superior traction control in wet weather conditions and greater strength than other options such as gravel or dirt because it creates a bond between individual layers of material with each new application. This means traffic loads are better distributed across all layers of material compared with an unbound option like gravel. Not only does this minimize wear-and-tear on vehicles, but it also ensures there will be no large potholes in your lot caused by heavy vehicle traffic and poor drainage systems common with loose-fill alternatives like gravel.

The lifespan of asphalt heavily depends on factors like climate conditions, environmental loadings (including elevated truck weights) among others. Typically, you should expect asphalt pavements to last between 10 to 25 years depending on the externalities mentioned above, such as the depth or coatings applied during installation and maintenance regimens, respectively, by property owners or managers (such as sealing). To ensure long-lasting results, it is always recommended to follow best practices in maintaining an asphalt parking lot properly. Examples include sealcoating every 3 to 5 years (depending on the climate and usage) and promptly fixing visible signs of deterioration before worse consequences arise, ultimately leading to early fading due to vehicular loadings, especially during the summer months in the USA.

The overall cost of installing new asphalt varies widely depending on existing ground preparations, like grading requirements prior to the laying process itself. This means that the final cost of the job depends greatly upon the specific site conditions found before starting work. These can involve simply clearing the land of trees, bushes, or shrubs, or something more complex requiring the use of pumps and special equipment due to possible height differences between sides, among other potential special cases. Ultimately, the biggest expense relates back to the labor involved in getting the job done correctly and efficiently, balancing customer satisfaction with a quality production rate to achieve the desired results.