Paving your company's parking lot with asphalt can be a great way to create a uniform space on which customers and employees can park and walk. While asphalt is a durable material, exposure to water can cause your parking lot to deteriorate over time.

If you want to ensure that your company's parking lot looks great and functions properly well into the future, you need to have a plan in place for managing stormwater. Here are three tips that you can use to ensure stormwater doesn't damage your asphalt in the future.

1. Implement a green infrastructure.

Making the choice to implement a green infrastructure on your commercial property can be a great way to reduce stormwater runoff on your asphalt parking lot. A green infrastructure consists of plant life that can help absorb excess water before it has the opportunity to damage your asphalt.

You want to be sure that the plants you incorporate into your green infrastructure have shallow root systems so that the roots don't extend underneath your asphalt parking lot and create problems in the future. A green infrastructure can be a simple and effective way to reduce the amount of water your parking lot is exposed to over time.

2. Invest in porous asphalt.

If your company is located in a region that receives ample rainfall each year, then you may find porous asphalt to be a valuable asset when it comes to managing stormwater. Porous asphalt allows water to seep through the surface of the pavements and into the stone base on which the parking lot was built.

The water is then absorbed into the ground, preventing it from contributing to stormwater runoff that could wreak havoc on your parking lot in the future.

3. Ensure proper drainage.

In order for stormwater to be properly disposed off, you must be able to channel this water away from the surface of your asphalt parking lot. Taking the time to ensure your parking lot has proper drainage is critical when it comes to preventing water damage in the future.

Your parking lot should slope slightly to direct water toward gutters and drains, allowing gravity to help move water away from the surface of your parking lot in order to prevent potential damage.

Being able to effectively manage stormwater will help you extend the life of your company's asphalt parking lot. Consider the addition of a green infrastructure, porous asphalt, and better drainage to improve your parking lot's ability to withstand exposure to stormwater in the future.