How to Plan Your Parking Lot Layout

If you own a large business or shopping center, a pristine parking lot should be near the top of your priority list. You may think a customer's first impression comes when they step foot in your store, but their opinion starts to develop from the moment they turn into your parking lot.

If your parking lot is small, crowded, and ridden with cracks and potholes, it could be turning customers away before they even make it to your store. On the other hand, a freshly-paved parking lot with plenty of space and available spots has the opposite affect. We have already discussed what attracts people to a parking lot, and if you are planning on repaving yours, you will need to a plan.

Step One: Determine how much space you have to work with.

The first step in laying out your parking lot is determining how much space is available. If you are simply repaving your lot, you should already know this information, but if you are purchasing a new property, you might have some room to work with. After you have calculated your total square footage available for paving, you can move on to the next step.

Step Two: Determine a layout.

Your parking lot layout will be contingent on local zoning regulations as well as the size and location of the store relative to your property. Always check to make sure you aren't violating any town laws when planning commercial projects. Once everything is squared away from a legal standpoint, you will design your parking lot around your store. If the store is centered on the piece of land, you could designate parking all around the building, whereas if it is on an edge, you have to put everything in front of it, which would lead to longer walks for your customers.

Step Three: Plan your parking spaces.

The last step is to plot out your parking spaces. Ideally, you should be able to provide enough spaces to accommodate more customers than you will ever have at your store at one time, but there could be space limitations. If you are tight for room, arranging your parking spots correctly could help you maximize the space you do have.

According to this report from Planning.org, there are four main ways to lay out your parking spots:

It is recommended to designate about 300 square feet of space per car; a 9'x18' space for the car to park and the remaining ~140 square feet of space should be factored into aisles, landscaping, entrances, and exits. Cars are seven feet wide, so a space that is nine feet wide provides enough room to comfortably park. If you try to save space by making your spots narrower, it will encourage customers to park over the divider, taking up two spots and costing you room instead of saving it.

Do you need an extra hand in designing and paving your new parking lot? Call the experts at Roccie's Asphalt! Connecticut and New York business owners and property managers have trusted us with their commercial paving projects for 60 years. Call us for a free quote today at 888-88-ROCCIES.

What Attracts Customers to a Parking Lot?

Your parking lot is one of the first impressions that your business makes on potential customers; what is your parking lot saying about you? An old, unappealing parking lot could actually be turning customers away before they even step foot in your store, while a professionally-paved surface could attract new customers who are driving by.

Here are three qualities that attract customers to a parking lot:

• A Smooth, Beautiful Surface. First and foremost, a newly-paved parking lot with a deep black finish and freshly-painted parking lines stands out – in a good way. When you are driving, you tend to avoid cracks and potholes; parking is no different! These kind of blemishes are not only unsightly, they put your customers at risk of injuring themselves and damaging their vehicles.
• Available Spots. Nobody likes driving around in circles waiting for a parking spot to open up. Can your current lot accommodate the parking needs of your customers? The quality of your asphalt surface is important, but the quantity of spots available should not be taken lightly either.
• Proper Draining. Whether it is pouring rain or melting snow, your parking lot needs to sufficiently drain any water on its surface. Not only will standing water lead to the premature deterioration of your asphalt parking lot, your customers will not want to park their car or walk through a massive puddle outside of your business.

Does your parking lot have all three of these qualities? If not, Roccie's Asphalt can help! Whether you need to expand the size of your commercial parking lot, resurface it, or add a drainage solution, you can count on Roccie's to provide a high-quality job at an affordable rate. Homes and businesses in New York and Connecticut have counted on us for their paving needs for more than 50 years, so call us today for a free consultation at 1-888-88-ROCCIES.