The Spring Parking Lot Checklist for Property Managers

4 min read · Updated October 2026

Alberta winters are hard on asphalt. A 20-minute walk around the lot in April or May tells you what needs doing before the busy season. Take your phone, photograph anything on this list, and you’ll have what you need for a quote.

Surface

• New or widened cracks, especially ones running across drive lanes
• Potholes or crumbling edges that opened over winter
• “Alligator” cracking (interconnected cracks), usually a sign of base failure
• Grey, dry or rough asphalt where stones are coming loose
• Snow plow scrapes and gouges along curbs and islands

Water

• Puddles that are still there a day after rain or melt
• Catch basins clogged with sand or settled below the pavement
• Water running toward building entrances

Markings & safety

• Faded stall lines, especially in drive lanes
• Accessible stalls and symbols still clearly visible
• Fire lanes, crosswalks and stop bars legible
• Damaged speed bumps, wheel stops or bollards

Cleanup

• Winter sand and gravel in stalls, corners and along curbs
• Debris around islands, dumpsters and loading areas

Then: put it in order

Sweep first. Then crack seal and patch while it’s cool and dry. Then sealcoat and restripe once temperatures hold above 10°C, usually late May onward in Central Alberta.

Related guides

• Why sweeping comes before everything else
• Crack sealing vs crack filling