Parking Lot Drainage Solutions in Central & North Jersey

Trench & Slot Drain Installation for Long-Term Water Management

Standing water on your commercial property isn't just an inconvenience — it’s a safety hazard, a liability, and a sign of deeper pavement problems.

At FixAsphalt.com, we specialize in custom drainage solutions for commercial and industrial properties throughout Central and Northern New Jersey. When regrading or repaving isn't feasible, we install trench and slot drains to redirect standing water safely and permanently.

Why Drainage Issues Happen (Even in Newer Parking Lots)

Improper drainage can stem from:

• Settled asphalt or sub-base in high-use areas

• Poor grading around building entrances or catch basins

• Slopes directing water toward structures instead of away

• Lack of proper slope in the original construction

Once water begins to pond or flow into unwanted areas, it accelerates pavement deterioration, creates slip and fall risks, and contributes to interior water damage.

If you see water pooling in the same area after every rainstorm, you likely need more than sealcoating or patching — you need engineered drainage.

Trench & Slot Drains: How They Work

Trench drains (also called slot drains or channel drains) are long, narrow drains designed to intercept water before it collects. They are especially effective:

• In front of garage doors or loading docks

• Along pedestrian walkways or ADA ramps

• Where buildings are pitched lower than the lot

• In low-lying areas where catch basins aren't present

Benefits of Trench/Slot Drains:

• Removes standing water without large-scale paving

• Prevents ice formation in winter months

• Reduces asphalt deterioration

• Minimizes slip-and-fall liability

• ADA compliant and vehicle safe

• Easily integrated with existing drainage systems

Our Drainage Repair Process

Every job begins with a site evaluation, either in person or via aerial imagery/photos. From there, we:

1. Identify the cause of your drainage issue (settlement, slope, system capacity, etc.)

2. Determine the optimal placement for trench or slot drains

3. Cut, trench, and install using commercial-grade materials

4. Connect to your existing system or direct to daylight exit

5. Finish with new hot mix asphalt or concrete patching

We also provide:

• Diagrams of drain placement

• Before/after photos

• Maintenance instructions if needed

Why Property Owners & Managers Choose FixAsphalt.com

• ✅ Over 25 years solving real drainage issues in New Jersey

• ✅ Full-service team that handles assessment, permitting, installation & cleanup

• ✅ Experience with retail, industrial, religious, and institutional properties

• ✅ Clear documentation & insurance for peace of mind

• ✅ No band-aid fixes — only long-term, engineered solutions

Service Areas

We install trench and slot drains in:

• Bergen, Hudson, Essex, Union, Middlesex Counties

• Somerset, Hunterdon, Mercer, Monmouth, Morris Counties

• And all surrounding Central & North NJ communities

Request a Drainage Evaluation

Whether your issue is minor pooling or ongoing building water intrusion, we can help. Contact us today to schedule an assessment and receive a clear, written scope of work.

or  📞 1-877-349-2774 

🧱 Case Study # 1: Trench Drain Installation at Self Storage Facility – Belleville, NJ

Problem: Improper Asphalt Overlay Caused Flooding at Entry Points

A national client in Belleville, NJ, recently acquired a self-storage facility where the previous ownership had completed an asphalt overlay. Unfortunately, the contractor failed to address critical drainage issues before paving, resulting in:

• Standing water is pooling near building entrances

• Water running directly into storage units

• A hallway entry consistently floods after rainfall

Solution: Strategic Trench Drain Installation Without Tearing Up the Lot

Rather than recommending full regrading or tearing out the new overlay, we engineered a precision drainage solution that targeted the problem directly — saving the client time, cost, and disruption.

✔️ What We Did:

• Installed a trench drain system in front of the affected building entrance

• Tied the new drain into the existing roof drainage line to avoid trenching deep into the newly overlaid asphalt

• Used concrete instead of asphalt around the drain to:

  • Achieve a more accurate pitch

  • Provide greater long-term durability

  • Reduce cracking and edge failure over time

⚠️ Concrete around the drain increases lifespan by 3:1 over asphalt — a smarter, longer-lasting solution.

 

Result: No More Flooding — and No Major Lot Disruption

This targeted fix completely eliminated the standing water issue without requiring costly excavation or disturbing the newer overlay. The facility now:

• Remains dry during storms

• Has a clean, professional entry

• Is protected against long-term water damage to the structure and units

 Key Takeaway:

Pavement overlays don’t fix drainage — they often make it worse.
When water management is overlooked, you’ll end up paying for it later.

At FixAsphalt.com, we engineer smart, minimally invasive drainage solutions that last — especially for commercial and self-storage properties where uptime matters.

🌧️ Case Study #2: Redirecting Parking Lot Runoff – Neptune, NJ

Problem: Water Runoff from Parking Lot Flooding the Building

At a commercial property in Neptune, NJ, stormwater runoff from the parking lot was flowing into adjacent grass areas, which sloped back toward the building.  This property had a concrete slab buried below the grass.  When it rained, the water could not percolate into the ground so that it would sit on top of the concrete and either seep into the building or pool back onto the asphalt, causing large puddles.  To make matters worse, the puddles were directly in front of the customer's pick-up and drop-off/ delivery door.  During heavy rain, this caused:

• Water infiltration at the building foundation

• Flooding inside the warehouse during storms

• Erosion and soft ground near the structure

• Customers and delivery drivers have to step into puddles to access the building

Solution: Rip Rap Trench System with Subsurface Drainage

To address the runoff without regrading the entire parking lot, we engineered a surface and subsurface drainage system designed to redirect the water away from the structure and into the existing stormwater system.

✔️ What We Did:

• Installed a rip rap trench (decorative yet functional stone swale) along the grassy area where water previously pooled

• Installed a 4” slotted drain pipe beneath the rip rap

• Trench was pitched to redirect runoff into an existing catch basin

• System was designed to remain low-maintenance while blending with the landscape

✅ The rip rap slows down water, and the subsurface drainpipe carries it away before it can reach the building

 

Result: Dry Foundations & Zero Stormwater Intrusion

Since completing the project, the property has had no interior flooding, even after multiple heavy rain events. The rip rap trench system:

• Prevents erosion and washout

• Looks clean and intentional (not like a construction patch)

• Keeps the parking lot water flowing where it belongs — into the storm system, not the building

Key Takeaway:

Grass and mulch can’t handle concentrated stormwater flow.
Without engineered drainage, runoff will always find the lowest point — usually your foundation.

At FixAsphalt.com, we design water redirection systems that are low-impact, long-lasting, and cost-effective — especially for commercial sites where full reconstruction isn't practical.

🕳️ Case Study #3: Solving Deep Water Settling at Home Depot – West Long Branch, NJ

Problem: Subsurface Settlement Created Recurring Flood Zones

At the Home Depot in West Long Branch, NJ, customers and employees were dealing with a persistent drainage issue near the garden center and cart corral. After every moderate-to-heavy rain, a large 2- to 6-inch deep puddle would form, making foot traffic hazardous and cart retrieval nearly impossible.

The root cause wasn’t poor paving — it was decades beneath the surface.

The shopping center was built over the former Marpal Landfill, a municipal landfill site in Long Branch that had been converted to retail space in the 1990s. Over time, as buried waste decomposed and compacted, differential settlement caused visible depressions in the asphalt surface.

 

Solution: Relief Catch Basin Installation in Settled Area

In 2016, the FixAsphalt.com team was hired to design a solution that would resolve the issue without requiring widespread excavation or repaving — which would have been costly, disruptive, and temporary.

✔️ What We Did:

• Identified the lowest point of water accumulation through survey-grade elevation checks

• Installed a relief catch basin in the depression adjacent to the cart corral

• Tied the new drain into the existing on-site stormwater system

• Restored the area with hot mix asphalt to blend seamlessly with the surrounding surface

  
  

Result: 8+ Years of Perfect Drainage Performance

Since the installation in 2016, the drain has continued to perform flawlessly, eliminating the deep-standing water issue entirely. No major maintenance has been required, and customers and employees now experience:

✅ A safe, dry walkway and cart return area
✅ No pooling or freezing hazards in winter
✅ A clean and professional appearance in a high-traffic zone

🧠 Key Takeaway:

When drainage problems are caused by underground movement, surface fixes don’t work — engineered solutions do.

FixAsphalt.com specializes in targeted drainage repairs that solve the root cause of standing water without disrupting your operations or overbuilding the scope. Our team understands the unique conditions of redeveloped landfill properties and aging commercial lots throughout New Jersey