One of the questions we get most frequently has to do with the timing of asphalt paving projects. Paving customers often wonder what the best time of year for paving projects is. Getting a driveway or parking lot paved can require a large financial investment. Paving clients want to set themselves up for success and have the best outcomes possible for their project. Doing this requires considerations for temperature estimates and other environmental factors.
Ideal Asphalt Paving Seasons & Temperatures
The best time of year to pave asphalt is during the spring and summer months because the best temperature for hot paving is generally 70 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. It’s possible to lay asphalt at temperatures as low as 50 degrees, but doing so isn’t likely to bring about the best results possible. Paving is best done when the weather is warm. Other factors that need to be taken into consideration include weather conditions like wind and precipitation. Heavy winds can actually cool the asphalt as it’s being laid. This can cause real problems if the ambient temperature is too close to that low temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Implications of Less Than Ideal Temperatures
When it’s cool outside, the time we have available to work with the product may be shortened. Our Lone Star Paving team can definitely get the job done. We are pros with generations of paving experience, after all. However, it wouldn’t be ideal. It’s always better when we can take our time.
The intense heat of summer can pose significantly less problems. It can have a couple of drawbacks, however, depending on how hot it’s getting outside. Asphalt retains heat more than some other construction materials. It can be 40 or even 60 degrees hotter than the temperature of the air. That means that if it’s 100 degrees out, the asphalt on the road can be as warm as 140 degrees. That is almost as hot as the fresh-mixed asphalt we lay, which tends to be between 175 and 275 degrees Fahrenheit. The ideal temperature when paving an area is around that 70-degree mark.
Contact Lone Star Paving for Top-Tier Asphalt Paving Services
If you’re looking to have your parking lot or driveway resurfaced, this is a great time of year to move forward. At Lone Star Paving, we have over 125 years in the business. We’ve long been proud to serve the city of Austin and its surrounding areas. Contact Lone Star Paving today to talk about your project and get an idea of what it will cost. We are always happy to answer questions for our customers in the Austin area.
