FEATURE
TIME TO REPAIR
Scott Saunders, Technical Service Manager at Watco, a UK-based industrial paint and repair products specialist, discusses how to keep on top of routine and ad-hoc maintenance for general outside areas.
Tarmac and asphalt are commonly used surfaces across a variety of outdoor areas around a facility, including roads, pavements, loading areas, car parks and driveways. The materials are popular because of their strength and durability; however, outdoor surfaces are still subject to daily wear and tear which will eventually lead to damage.
In addition to heavy traffic from pedestrians, vehicles and heavy equipment, outdoor surfaces are exposed to the elements which can speed up the deterioration process. For example, asphalt becomes less flexible over time and is susceptible to damage from typical use, but it’s the regular exposure to hot sunlight and wet conditions that cause the surface to weaken and crack more quickly.
There are different stages and types of repairs and maintenance that FMs must keep on top of to maintain the safety and condition of outdoor spaces:
Early-stage summer repairs There are several signs that can highlight to FMs when an outdoor surface may require attention to prevent minor damage from growing into something bigger and more complex to repair, for example, a pot hole. When
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inspecting outdoor surfaces, look for loose material that has become dislodged, cracks starting to form, or where water is pooling in holes.
It’s important to ensure that all facility team members are trained on what to look out for, and the process to log damage when it is spotted so that repair jobs can be scheduled. By taking action when minor damage is first spotted, the repair can be completed more quickly, and with less materials. This makes it more cost effective but also, early action prevents the damage from growing and becoming a trip hazard.
Summer months are an ideal time to inspect outdoor spaces and get repairs completed, because although the hot weather and sunlight can cause cracks to form in asphalt, they can be addressed before they worsen in wet and freezing conditions later in the year.
In winter, outdoor surface damages are known to worsen because of the impact of the weather conditions in the season. For example, once rainwater gets into cracks, it starts to wash the aggregate away and if that water freezes overnight, it kicks off a freeze and thaw cycle that
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