Draw and number the paved areas
Start with a simple overhead sketch and divide the property into numbered zones: entrances, customer stalls, drive aisles, loading aprons, fire routes, waste areas and service access. Add approximate lengths and widths where they can be measured safely. Use the same zone numbers for photos, notes and estimate line items so observations remain tied to a specific location. Carry that numbered site record into the commercial paving RFP checklist when asking bidders to price the same scope.
Classify cracking by pattern and extent
Distinguish isolated longitudinal or transverse cracks from block cracking, edge breaks and interconnected alligator patterns. Record whether a crack follows a utility trench, patch edge, wheel path or drainage feature. Measure representative widths and the approximate affected area without claiming a cause. Pattern, spread and surrounding movement help determine what further investigation an estimator should recommend.
Document potholes, depressions and movement
Mark each pothole, sunken patch, rut and heaved transition. Photograph a wider view and a close view with a safe scale reference, then note whether the condition affects steering, walking, drainage or snow clearing. Recurring failure in the same spot should be identified as recurring so the proposed scope addresses more than a fresh surface patch.
Observe water during and after rainfall
Note where water first appears, how it travels, how long it remains and whether drains or outlets appear blocked. Include roof discharge, neighbouring grades and edges where water leaves the pavement. A dry-day photo cannot establish drainage performance, so retain dated rain-event observations and ask who will verify elevations when ponding is part of the project.
Locate structures, utilities and transitions
Show catch basins, manholes, valve boxes, trench drains, curbs, concrete panels, ramps, door thresholds and adjoining roads on the zone plan. Record loose or visibly damaged components without moving covers or entering confined spaces. These interfaces affect milling depth, finished elevations, restoration quantities and coordination responsibilities, and should appear explicitly in every estimate.
Map traffic and heavy-load exposure
Identify delivery trucks, waste vehicles, forklifts, buses and other repeated heavy movements. Record turning areas, braking points and loading zones separately from ordinary parking. Ask whether the proposed pavement structure and repair depth were selected with these uses in mind. Visible wear alone does not establish the underlying capacity, but the traffic map frames the right site questions.
Flag access and safety concerns for review
List pedestrian crossings, accessible routes, fire access, poor lighting and areas where active traffic makes inspection unsafe. Do not stand in travel lanes or disturb suspect materials to improve a photo. WorkSafeBC advises identifying traffic hazards and selecting controls before workers are exposed; the contractor remains responsible for the site-specific safety plan and implementation.
WorkSafeBC directs employers to identify traffic hazards before exposing workers and to choose controls based on a site-specific assessment. Use that safety boundary while documenting a live commercial lot, and leave traffic-control implementation to the responsible employer and project team.
Sources reviewed September 22, 2026. Confirm current requirements for the exact address and proposed work.