problem with water puddles in parking lot 2

[Daniel M]

Hello!
I need some advice: We have an uneven surfaced parking lot in our church, and there are two large puddles that form every time it rains, and one of the puddles is right by the handicap parking area.
There is a drainage inlet near the second puddle, which is by the entrance gate. The surface is uneven which prevents the water from going into it. This drain inlet has its outlet onto the street.
What is the most cost-efficient solution, or what are the options to solve this?

 

[msquared48]

Either install a new drain with tightlines for one or both puddles, or do some partial regrading for positive flow to the drains - 1% minimum (1/8" per foot). 2% is much more achievable in parking lots.

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)

 

[cvg]

A) the lot may have been designed or constructed with insufficient slope so that it does not drain very well
B) you may have some settlement causing the low spots
C) grading and paving is not precision work, it is difficult to avoid low spots. they are commonly called bird baths

solutions may be to remove and replace the low spots with new asphalt, but if the lot is very flat, you might still have problems.

call a road contractor and get a quote to remove and replace the low spots and seal coat the asphalt

 

[oldestguy]

Almost any "fix" will cost. An overlay would be suitable, but probably quite expensive. It looks like originally this was built roughly "level", no decent slopes. The overlay could add some slope throughout. If the pavement is over 15 years old, maybe consider the overlay to really extend its life.

 

[chicopee]

Mill the asphalt surfaces where the high spots are located and repave to smooth out the milled surfaces. May not need to do the whole parking lot.

 

[LittleInch]

Find the lowest point in the puddle.

Cut a 12 inch square hole in the tarmac.

Dig down add far as you can.fit a 6 inch perforated pipe and fill the annulus with stone.

Fit a drain lid on top.

Or relay the parking lot.

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[BUGGAR]

Somebody has to say it: Mud jacking.
This is an art and probably will not come out right.

 

[Ussuri]

Cut the surface and install channel drains, such as Aco Drain or similar. Run drain to the edge of the lot and discharge to a suitable point.

https://www.aco.co.uk/channel-drainage

 

[BridgeSmith]

I suggest, as others have, that you contact a paving contractor, or better yet several. If you have volunteers willing to do some of the prep work, such as cutting the asphalt (to neat lines) and possibly removing what's near the edges to get a level grade down a couple inches, so that the contractor can come in and just lay down the patch, you may find a contractor who will work with you and give you a good price.

If you're really strapped for cash, and have people willing to help on short notice, you might be able to work out a deal where the contractor can do the work on their schedule, which should get you an even better price. You would come in, cut the asphalt in a nice rectangle outside the low area, remove asphalt down the couple inches, and temporarily backfill with crusher run subbase or some other material that compacts well, so you can still use it for awhile. When the contractor has another job in the area, he calls you, you get your guys out to clean out the hole so he can pave it while he has the equipment already mobilized.

Another possible DIY option is concrete, if you have the labor and someone who has experience finishing exterior slabs. A word of caution, there's an art to finishing exterior concrete slabs so that they last. I'd strongly recommend ready-mix for an area that size, with fiber-reinforcing or mesh.

 

[oldestguy]

Hot Rod: Never, Never. Another possible DIY option is concrete, if you have the labor and someone who has experience finishing exterior slabs. A word of caution, there's an art to finishing exterior concrete slabs so that they last. I'd strongly recommend ready-mix for an area that size, with fiber-reinforcing or mesh.
Putting amateurs on the job they will come unprepared, no boots, etc. It takes labor to do some of the work and likely too much. I have suffered from such an option. Never Never do it.

 

[BridgeSmith]

OG, I've done several small projects (about the size of the project shown in the picture) just the way I described. All it takes is one guy who knows what he's doing (when to screed, when to float, etc.) and 4 or 5 guys with strong backs, who can follow directions. BTW, I was just one of the strong backs, but we had an experienced flatwork guy who explained what we were going to do before we got started. Slabs all turned out fine.

 

[Daniel M]

Thank you all very much!

 

[LittleInch]

Daniel M - So what are you planning to do?

We love feedback on this site for all the free advice you received so a bit more than thanks for advice is appreciated.

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[Ron]

I notice you have quite a few cracks in the asphalt adjacent to the birdbaths. This means that water is likely getting to the base material. It is only a matter of time before you will be replacing the pavement if this is allowed to continue. You already have a few "potholes in training".

You can overlay this area with another layer of asphalt; however, you will likely move the location of ponding when you do so. The reason you have this issue is likely from poor grade control when the pavement was done, since you don't have enough traffic to create loading problems.

If you are depending on volunteer labor, portland cement concrete to replace the asphalt is a viable option. It should be at least 6 inches thick and have uniform thickness to mitigate some of the cracking issues associated with poor grade control. Make sure you have a couple of people who understand concrete technology and concrete placement or have a contractor do it all. It would be good to involve an engineer as many contractors who place concrete still don't understand concrete technology.

Good luck!

 

[Daniel M]

Thank You!
LittleInch, we will most likely overlay with asphalt. The church building and parking lot were constructed almost 50 years ago, so I'm not sure how much they are willing to spend or when to start.
I was asked advice and thought it would be nice to get some input from this forum. All of the suggestions were helpful!
I will update when we come to a decision.

 

[eea]

Agree with Ron. You can also tell from the photo that a large amount of traffic can't seem to keep it on the drive apron. There's an infill slab and the sidewalk is all busted to hell. Something tells me that there is truck traffic sneaking on the lot as well.