_edited.png)
Asphalt is a highly reliable and cost-effective pavior material used in projects like driveways, roads, or parking lots. Nevertheless, the longevity and quality of an asphalt surface depend upon one of its key points: when this chief building material is laid. Climate is a major factor in such timing, affecting everything from the compaction of an asphalt road or driveway to its later performance.
White Rock Materials & Services knows that to successfully pave asphalt, the timing of laying the material is key. Whether you're looking for a new driveway, a commercial parking lot, or road resurface, getting things going during the appropriate season can make all the difference in the outcome. In this blog, we will explore the best times of year to lay asphalt, consider how weather conditions affect the process, and suggest steps you can take to see that your project goes well.
Why Temperature Is So Important In Pavement Asphalting
Temperature is the most crucial factor when deciding a suitable time to lay down asphalt. Asphalt is made of aggregates such as crushed stone and sand, mixed with bitumen (NB: a coal-tar-based resin), which serves as a binding agent. This combination needs to be hot, kept at 275°F - 300°F (135°C - 150°C) to stick together properly, consolidate, and hold up well.
If the temperatures are too low, the result is asphalt cools before it can be sufficiently compressed, leading to a surface that will be uneven and wear course. On the other hand, when temperatures are unreasonably high, rather fluid asphalt makes it difficult to work, which can lead over time to moisture problems.
You want to be pretty close to the following temperatures for laying asphalt outdoors: 50°F - 90°F (10°C - 32°C). How seasonal differences in weather affect these environmental barriers, and when you should arrange a date for your project is coming up next here.
Spring Paving
If you plan on laying down asphalt in the spring, bear in mind the following. Spring temperatures change often and although they are slowly warming up, cold nights still persist at this time. This must be taken into account when working with asphalt as fluctuating climate patterns need to be avoided at all costs. Then it is the rainy season. The problem with asphalt pavement is the moisture. It hinders the formation of compact, strong asphalt and causes it to separate easily. There is no way of dealing with wet aggregate or paving stones except to allow them all near contact time.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Laying Asphalt in Spring:
Advantages:
Rising temperatures create opportunities for paving.
Increased sunlight helps keep the asphalt pliable during installation.
Disadvantages:
Rain can delay or disrupt the project.
Early spring temperatures may still be too cold for ideal compaction.
If you plan to pave in the spring, late spring is often the better choice. Daytime temperatures are more reasonable, and the risk of cold snaps drops off towards summer. Just bear in mind unpredictable weather patterns, as rain may put the project on hold or, worse still, lead to inferior workmanship.
Summer: Perfect Season for Asphalt Paving
Summer is generally considered the best time to lay new asphalt. The weather is warm and dry, making it ideal for installing asphalt; daylight is adequate to cover most of your work in one day.
For most of the country, summer offers a long window of opportunity for laying asphalt pavement. During this time, daytime temperatures remain between 70°F—what some might call a perfect climate condition—and 77°F or so, and only infrequent showers interrupt work on a regular basis.
At White Rock Materials & Services, we find that the best time for asphalt installation is usually from early spring till midsummer. As long as temperatures don't regularly exceed 90°F (32°C), this season offers the best conditions for high-quality paving.
Another Excellent Time to Lay Asphalt: Fall
Fall is an excellent season to lay asphalt. After the sweltering heat of summer, the temperature naturally drops a little, giving a more comfortable range in which to work with asphalt without the risk of overheating the dense material. Moreover, fall has lower humidity than the summertime; this will help make sure that there are no moisture-related problems developing during installation.
Advantages of Laying Asphalt in the Fall:
Cooler temperatures make working with the asphalt mix easier than it is later on—especially on really humid days.
Less humidity and moisture would reduce the danger of anything going wrong during installation.
A second opportunity to pave before winter sets in!
Disadvantages:
As the season progresses, temperatures may drop rapidly—especially at night—which can lead to difficult installation.
The short hours of daylight restrict how much you can get done each day.
For the best results, finish projects by mid-fall. Asphalt works need to be done properly, especially in regions with early frosts, and starting to cool off while they are still warm will help later on with a good surface finish.
Winter: Bad Timing for Asphalt Projects
In general, winter is not recommended for asphalt paving because cold temperatures and moisture from snow or ice make it difficult to achieve the necessary conditions for proper installation. When the temperature drops below freezing, asphalt cools too quickly, which prevents sufficient compaction of the mixture; moisture trapped in the surface can cause cracking or other damage soon after project completion.
Advantages of Laying Asphalt in Winter:
Contractors may offer discounts during the off-season.
Disadvantages:
Cold weather makes it impossible for well-compacted and flat asphalt to form.
Snow, rain, or ice can lead to water damage at any time during or after it is laid.
With short days and long nights, there is less daylight for work every year.
In some cases, cold-weather asphalt mixtures are utilized to make stopgap repairs, and it is usually best to wait until the spring or summer for larger-scale paving projects. At White Rock Materials & Services, we recommend that customers avoid winter lays in order to maximize the maintenance life of their asphalt surfaces.
Other Conditions to be Aware Of
While temperature is the main factor in deciding when to lay asphalt, a number of other considerations need to be kept in mind when planning your project:
Moisture Level: Excessive moisture in the layers can create major problems during installation of hot mix asphalt. If it's a rainy day or the humidity is high, then the layers are not properly bonded, and premature cracking or damage will result. The more water that infiltrates into these paving layers while they are installed—the more likely it is that some actual structural distress will occur later on.
Traffic Circumstances: If your paving project is near a high-traffic area, it could be wise to schedule at a time when there is less traffic in hopes of lessening public inconvenience. This is particularly true for commercial parking lots and public roads. Heavy traffic can slow down the setting process, and it is important to make sure asphalt has fully cured before any heavy load is placed upon it.
Soil Condition: The state of the underlying soil is very important before asphalt is laid. If the soil is soft or liable to shift, future problems can be avoided by compacting or treating before the asphalt is laid. Unstable ground can lead to settling and undermine the asphalt surface's reliability.
Contractor Availability: Paving contractor availability may also affect the timing of your project. Summer is the busiest season for asphalt work and it takes hard times to schedule projects well in advance. Spring and fall are more flexible for scheduling. By selecting the most stable part of the year, you can build a road at just about any level. That said, viaducts in heavy traffic, chief rush-hour zones might prove difficult to construct.
Conclusion: Choosing the Best Time for Your Asphalt Project
White Rock Materials & Services knows that the best time to do an asphalt project is, in the end, key to success. Summer is generally the best season for laying asphalt due to its warm temperatures and dry conditions. But both spring—after winter has left moisture in the ground, and autumn—before the rainy season starts again, are also very good. By choosing the season which is most appropriate to one's specific situation and mixing it up with an experienced team, you can provide yourself smooth roads. Roads that do not peel off like orange skins will last forever, even reminding cows of water droplets.
Do you have plans to start an asphalt project or do you need more information? Please feel free to contact Dr. Wang Ran at White Rock Materials & Services. We are here to guide you through every step of the process.
Comments