Learn why you should install asphalt this spring or summer.
It seems like asphalt is something that goes down any time of year, after all, repairing the streets seems to be an all-year-long sort of occurrence in this area. The reality, however, is that asphalt should be installed in a warm environment. This means that the spring and summer are the ideal times to install asphalt for your home or business. If you’ve got an asphalt project in mind, such as parking lot repairs, now is the time to book a contractor. Since the warmer months are the best time, many fill up fast.
Ideal Conditions
Ideal conditions are what we’d like to have, not what we generally actually get, and the ideal temperature for asphalt installation is around 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Asphalt is sometimes installed in cooler times, (such as winter emergency patching and even asphalt jobs as late in the year as November) and on warmer days in the summer. A realistic range of preferred temperature actually runs from 40 degrees to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, which spring, summer, and fall usually provide in this area. Asphalt also requires dry conditions, making summer an ideal time. Finally, summer also tends to be a less busy season for many businesses, since schools are out and people go on vacations, so you might better be able to find a time that is the least inconvenient for your customers.
Why Does It Need To Be Warm?
Asphalt needs to be hot to be installed, and it hardens as it cools. When it is created, it is a combination of stone and liquid asphalt, which is like a glue. The liquid asphalt is a petroleum product, and this is the material that actually softens with heat. Asphalt is heated in the plant and transported (very hot) in a truck. This means that it can’t be taken anywhere when the weather is too cold, because it would harden before reaching its destination. Even if it doesn’t cool enough to harden, asphalt that is not hot enough can cause problems. Hot asphalt is easier to work with, and it produces tighter joints. If the asphalt cools too much before it is in place, the patch could be lumpy or uneven, and the seams could be weak. The temperature of the asphalt also impacts compression – if it is not the right temperature, it won’t compact correctly, and the pavement won’t be up to specs. Poorly compacts asphalt also won’t have the same durability and lifespan.
Maintenance You Can Trust from PTG Enterprises
If you want to protect your pavement and ensure it has a long lifespan, choose PTG Enterprises for your community sidewalks, parking lots and pavement maintenance needs. We offer commercial concrete, asphalt, masonry, paving, consultation, and survey report services throughout Baltimore, Harford, Anne Arundel, Howard, and P.G. Counties. If you are interested in hearing how we can help you, contact us online or give us a call at (410) 636-8777. For more tips and tricks, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Flickr.
Tags: asphalt, My Pavement Guy, PTG Enterprises, Spring, summer
