Frequently Asked Questions
We understand that parking area maintenance is only a small part of your job, but it is our entire job! We’ve compiled some of the most frequently asked questions about our services and provided answers below. If you have any other questions please let us know. We’re also here for you if you are ready for a quote or existing clients can use our Client Portal to log in and manage their requests.
For small cracks smaller than 25 mm, sealer can be used. For larger cracks, even a slurry seal will not fill cracks in the pavement. The aggregate in a slurry seal is meant for minor imperfections, not cracks. Cracks come in many sizes, and we repair cracks smaller than 2.5 cm wide, but ideally less than 2 cm. Larger cracks need a different application. Crack filler helps to slow the progress of pavement damage. Once it has started, the damage tends to progress at an increasing rate. The sooner cracks are filled, the longer you can delay the damage.
Yes, the lot needs to be clear of litter, debris and sand before starting to do crack filling or seal coating to ensure proper adhesion.
No, you can only have crack filling done. However, if you have significant cracking slurry seal coating may help to prevent more cracking.
Not at this time, our focus is on parking lots.
Ideally, you should wait as long as possible to make sure there are no chemical interactions between the seal coat and the line paint. We recommend at least 12 hours between applications, but 24 hours or longer is better.
After the seal coat has been applied, it must be allowed to fully cure before traffic is allowed on again. During the cure time, the sealer is still bonding to the existing asphalt, and vehicles can break those weak bonds. Curing may take between a few hours and a few days, depending on conditions such as temperature and humidity. For optimal curing rates, we recommend seal coating asphalt from July to September in Winnipeg.
Our hot-pour crack filler is a flexible, rubber-like commercial-grade product that is used to repair cracks in asphalt pavements. It starts out as a solid, rubber brick which we melt down in a special kettle and applicator that is heated to 400 Fahrenheit. Once applied in the cracks, it hardens up deep inside and helps to keep water from penetrating the asphalt and causing further damage. The fill remains semi-flexible and expands and contracts with the asphalt.
It is not a permanent solution, but just a way to buy extra time for your asphalt.
Asphalt Sealing is typically the more widely offered asphalt-protection method for residential properties in Winnipeg and Manitoba. This is because it generally has a lower cost per square foot. The finished appearance has a significantly glossier look and is very slippery when wet, unlike the sand slurry seal coat which is flat black and textured for a non-slip finish. Unfortunately, even the highest quality oil-based asphalt sealer doesn’t last more than six months to one year and needs to be freshened up more annually.
Unlike Asphalt Sealing, Sand Slurry Seal Coating has a non-slip, jet black texture once it’s completely cured. Despite the fact that the upfront costs for sand slurry seal coating are higher than for asphalt sealing, the cost per year of service is much lower and will save the property owner significant maintenance costs over the long run. A well-done and properly maintained professional sand slurry seal coat application should last you for about four to six years without requiring additional applications or expensive repairs. Sand slurry seal coat has up to 2.5 pounds of silica sand blended into the water-based emulsion to give it its signature non-slip and jet black texture.
Once applied, both asphalt sealing and sand slurry seal coating need about 24 hours to cure.
Seal coating is not meant to rejuvenate deteriorating parking lots, it is meant to extend the life of your lot. Seal coating should be done 2-3 years after it is first laid down and then every 4-6 years after that.
If your parking lot is in great disrepair with a lot of giant potholes and cracks all over, then it might be a good idea to invest in a new parking lot or asphalt overlay.
Yes, the seal coat will add a layer to the existing surface but you will still see both the previous lines and any crack repairs. Both line paint and crack fill is smoother than bare asphalt.
Unless you are getting regular monthly or bi-weekly service, every parkade cleaning needs to start with power sweeping to remove built-up dirt and debris. Without this first step, the scrubber won’t be able to properly clean the surface of the parkade. Even with regular service, there may be times where the sweeper needs to run first.
Yes, the lot needs to be clear of litter, debris and sand before starting to do crack filling or seal coating to ensure proper adhesion.
Cleaning time depends on a few factors:
- how much dirt there is
- what condition the surface is in
- how much area needs to be cleaned
- the layout
- traffic/obstacles in the way during cleaning
With that in mind, most cleanings take between 2-5 hours.
When the parking lot or parkade isn’t completely empty, it actually causes more work for our crews and makes the job take longer. We also can’t do as good a job as we would like. We simply advise for the best cleaning possible to make sure vehicles are moved before we get there and for scrubbing, keep cars off the surface until it dries.
Both cleanings start by sweeping up all the loose debris with a power sweeper, but for the indoor parkades, we also use a wet scrubbing machine to get the built up grime and help remove odours.
Indoor and covered parking lots don’t get access to nature’s bath – rain. We need to bring in the bath.
Our clients often comment on how much better their parkades smell after a cleaning. You might even be able to eat off your parkade floors when we’re done with it – but we still wouldn’t recommend it!
Depending on the size of the lot, yes. Please see the chart below.
| Total Required Parking Spaces | Minimum Number of Accessible Parking Spaces Required |
|---|---|
| 1 to 25 | 1 |
| 26 to 50 | 2 |
| 51 to 75 | 3 |
| 76 to 100 | 4 |
| 101 to 150 | 5 |
| 151 to 200 | 6 |
| 201 to 300 | 7 |
| 301 to 400 | 8 |
| 401 to 500 | 9 |
| 501 to 1,000 | 2 percent of total |
| 1,001 to over | 20, plus 1 for each 100 over 1,000 |
In the city of Winnipeg, spaces must be a minimum of 8′. All spaces must add up to at least 28′ (ie.8′ wide and 20′ deep, or 10′ wide and 18′ deep). The average space is typically 9′ x 20′. Accessible parking has a minimum width of 10′.
We have painted almost every day of the year. However, colder surface temperatures or wet surfaces inhibit proper paint adhesion. In particular, exposed concrete needs warmer weather to ensure your painting project will last.
Ideally, you should wait as long as possible to make sure there are no chemical interactions between the seal coat and the line paint. We recommend at least 12 hours between applications, but 24 hours or longer is better.
It depends on a few factors, but in general it is dry in 15 minutes and safe to drive on in 20 minutes.
Clean Sweep does line painting for almost any horizontal surface, and a few vertical surfaces.
We can paint any of the following:
- outdoor parking lots
- indoor parking garages
- covered parkades
- sports courts
- playgrounds
- parking stall numbers
- traffic directional markings
- warehouse lines
- factory safety lines
- and many more uses!
You can find some examples of our work here.
The main difference between pressure washing and power scrubbing is where the water goes. With pressure washing all the dirt, oil and grime that is being lifted out of your parkade floors only has one place to go – down the drain. You’re simply moving the problem from one area of your building to another.
With power scrubbing, the water is sucked up into the reservoir on the machine and doesn’t end up down the drain. You hire us to remove the grime, not just move it. However, there are some parkades that a power scrub isn’t possible and a pressure wash is the only way to get at the grime. We also do pressure washing of vertical surfaces that the power scrubber can’t get to.
Cleaning time depends on a few factors:
- how much dirt there is
- what condition the surface is in
- how much area needs to be cleaned
- the layout
- traffic/obstacles in the way during cleaning
With that in mind, most cleanings take between 2-5 hours.
The two terms are interchangeable. Don’t be concerned about the term “power” or “pressure”, both indicate water that is pushed through high-pressure hoses by a compressor. We use the term pressure washing so it doesn’t get confused with our power scrubbing service. Power scrubbing uses a ride-on machine (imagine a smaller Zamboni-type machine).
Unless you are getting regular monthly or bi-weekly service, every parkade cleaning needs to start with power sweeping to remove built-up dirt and debris. Without this first step, the scrubber won’t be able to properly clean the surface of the parkade. Even with regular service, there may be times where the sweeper needs to run first.
The main difference between pressure washing and power scrubbing is where the water goes. With pressure washing all the dirt, oil and grime that is being lifted out of your parkade floors only has one place to go – down the drain. You’re simply moving the problem from one area of your building to another.
With power scrubbing, the water is sucked up into the reservoir on the machine and doesn’t end up down the drain. You hire us to remove the grime, not just move it. However, there are some parkades that a power scrub isn’t possible and a pressure wash is the only way to get at the grime. We also do pressure washing of vertical surfaces that the power scrubber can’t get to.
Cleaning time depends on a few factors:
- how much dirt there is
- what condition the surface is in
- how much area needs to be cleaned
- the layout
- traffic/obstacles in the way during cleaning
With that in mind, most cleanings take between 2-5 hours.
When the parking lot or parkade isn’t completely empty, it actually causes more work for our crews and makes the job take longer. We also can’t do as good a job as we would like. We simply advise for the best cleaning possible to make sure vehicles are moved before we get there and for scrubbing, keep cars off the surface until it dries.
Both cleanings start by sweeping up all the loose debris with a power sweeper, but for the indoor parkades, we also use a wet scrubbing machine to get the built up grime and help remove odours.
Indoor and covered parking lots don’t get access to nature’s bath – rain. We need to bring in the bath.
Our clients often comment on how much better their parkades smell after a cleaning. You might even be able to eat off your parkade floors when we’re done with it – but we still wouldn’t recommend it!
Unless you are getting regular monthly or bi-weekly service, every parkade cleaning needs to start with power sweeping to remove built-up dirt and debris. Without this first step, the scrubber won’t be able to properly clean the surface of the parkade. Even with regular service, there may be times where the sweeper needs to run first.
The main difference between pressure washing and power scrubbing is where the water goes. With pressure washing all the dirt, oil and grime that is being lifted out of your parkade floors only has one place to go – down the drain. You’re simply moving the problem from one area of your building to another.
With power scrubbing, the water is sucked up into the reservoir on the machine and doesn’t end up down the drain. You hire us to remove the grime, not just move it. However, there are some parkades that a power scrub isn’t possible and a pressure wash is the only way to get at the grime. We also do pressure washing of vertical surfaces that the power scrubber can’t get to.
Cleaning time depends on a few factors:
- how much dirt there is
- what condition the surface is in
- how much area needs to be cleaned
- the layout
- traffic/obstacles in the way during cleaning
With that in mind, most cleanings take between 2-5 hours.
When the parking lot or parkade isn’t completely empty, it actually causes more work for our crews and makes the job take longer. We also can’t do as good a job as we would like. We simply advise for the best cleaning possible to make sure vehicles are moved before we get there and for scrubbing, keep cars off the surface until it dries.
Both cleanings start by sweeping up all the loose debris with a power sweeper, but for the indoor parkades, we also use a wet scrubbing machine to get the built up grime and help remove odours.
Indoor and covered parking lots don’t get access to nature’s bath – rain. We need to bring in the bath.
Our clients often comment on how much better their parkades smell after a cleaning. You might even be able to eat off your parkade floors when we’re done with it – but we still wouldn’t recommend it!
