Here are some of the advantages of concrete parking lots:

Greater Reflectance = Less expense to light the lot, plus greater safety. See a dramatic example at the Tennessee Ready Mix Concrete Association web site at:

http://www.trmca.org/resources/archives/lighting.htm

Superior drainage control - concrete can be placed to much tighter tolerances than asphalt, allowing more precise control of water run-off without creating steep slopes to drainage structures.

Environmental benefits - if storm water runoff is a consideration, keep in mind that runoff from an asphalt parking lot will contain much higher concentrations of pollutants that could cause expensive remediation to meet permit requirements.

Lower maintenance costs - Concrete sometimes cost more to install, but will always save money in the long run. Asphalt will need to be periodically seal-coated, and may require re-construction or patching especially in areas that receive heavier traffic (like the path to the dumpsters) or that have a short turning radius.

This document was prepared by:

Alan Sparkman
Executive Director
Tennessee Ready Mixed Concrete Association