Putting up a parking lot is being an increasingly common business venture. With city roads becoming busier with personal vehicles, drivers are always looking for a convenient place to park. When putting up a parking lot, your materials choices will usually come down to one of three options; asphalt, concrete or gravel. Certain design considerations can significantly improve the results of your parking lot for you and your clients. Here are a few things you'll want to remember during the design process:

Incorporate a Working Drainage System

Asphalt is one of the most commonly used materials to pave parking lots for several reasons. However, it's impervious to water. This means that any water that settles on it will not pass into the ground underneath. This is not a problem on a bright sunny day, but during a rainstorm, this makes it more likely for the parking lot to flood. Therefore, the design of the structure must feature suitable drainage systems to get rid of flood waters. Having a proper drainage system is also important when the parking lot is made of concrete. In an area that's prone to floods, consider using porous concrete.

Choose a Good Seal

Your parking lot seal should keep the surface nice for years to come. Work with a designer to choose the seal that is appropriate for your climate, the volume of traffic, and your budget.

Consider the Type and Number of Vehicles

Trucks, trailers and other heavy vehicles can wear down a parking lot much faster than regular cars. If you're designing a parking lot for a truck-stop, with a material like concrete, consider making it thicker. This will reduce the rate of wear of the parking lot. Cracks, potholes, and other problems can show up if your parking lot doesn't have sufficient thickness. If you're going with asphalt, talk to your asphalt contractor and ask them what you can do to make the parking lot last.

Design Entrances and Exits with Safety in Mind

An aesthetically pleasing parking lot is okay, but this shouldn't be done at the expense of safety. When positioning the entrance and exit, take into consideration the traffic outside the building. The entrance should be positioned to make the transition of a car from the road to the parking lot smooth. The exit should also make it easy for the driver to rejoin the road with minimal risk of running into other cars.

If you expect the parking lot to handle a great deal of traffic, consider having multiple entrances and exits. Quick entry and exit to the parking lot will be good for both safety and financial reasons.