Europe 
Every single year without fail, c-store owners deal with one recurring nuisance in their asphalt forecourts and parking lots: potholes. They’re not only unsightly, but they can cause damage to customers’ vehicles and are costly and time-consuming to fix. All of which can ultimately drive customers — and their much-needed business — away.
But what makes potholes appear in the first place? Why do they seem to appear without warning, and what can you do to prevent them? Here, we’re breaking how potholes are formed, and why CAF’s FORO® Asphalt Cleaner and Hardener is the ultimate solution to your persistent pothole problems.
Friction and Traffic
Convenience stores that sell fuel serve an average of 1,100 customers per day, which adds up to more than 400,000 a year. Needless to say, that’s a lot of traffic driving around on your parking lot and forecourt.
All of that traffic, of course, creates a lot of friction. Add in the additional pressure of heavier freight vehicles like semis, delivery trucks, and snowplows — your asphalt is bound to weaken and crack beneath all that pressure. Thus, you have your first ingredient for potholes.
Moisture Beneath the Surface
When your asphalt is thinning and cracked, it creates perfect openings for moisture to seep beneath the surface, weakening it even more. As colder weather creeps in, temperatures fluctuate above and below freezing, causing all that moisture to expand and contract over and over again. As you can guess, this causes the asphalt to break down even more and begin sinking.
Softening on the Surface
The third and final ingredient in the recipe for potholes: softening of the asphalt. This process happens a lot more frequently in c-store parking lots and forecourts that endure consistent petroleum products, oil spills, and dripping fuel from pumps. These drips and drops begin to degrade and soften the surface over time - allowing asphalt to move, flex and separate. And with all that moisture underneath and the never-ending friction from traffic, your end result is a lot of potholes.
Prevent Parking Lot Potholes with CAF
With our FORO® Asphalt Cleaner and Hardener, you can prevent future pothole damage while keeping your parking lots looking really good. This all-natural solution cleans, hardens, and protects your asphalt by penetrating beneath the surface to absorb oil stains and fuel drips. The best part? Applying FORO is incredibly easy, and it only takes minutes.
Not only will you walk away with a cleaner, more durable parking lot, but you’ll save lots of time and money on costly cleaning products and pothole repairs in the future. Ready to see for yourself? Try FORO today!
