If you want an economical pavement that can be put into service quickly, offer a great deal of visual appeal, and deliver a surprisingly long life if given proper attention, asphalt paving checks all the boxes. However, a superior asphalt pavement requires a contractor who understands the various aspects involved in installing a new pavement or an overlay. Even small details can have a dramatic impact on the quality of the work. For example, unless your contractor has a solid grasp of how timing and temperature affect a paving operation, you could be left with a short-lived, unsightly pavement.
What Role Does Timing Play for Asphalt Paving?
A Long Island paving company must schedule the delivery of loads of hot mix asphalt from a batch plant. The asphalt can be as hot as 300 degrees Fahrenheit when it arrives at the site, and it has to be installed and compacted before it cools down too much. Therefore, deliveries must be carefully timed so that the trucks can be unloaded while the asphalt is still workable. Once your Long Island paving company unloads the asphalt, it must be spread, worked, and compacted before it loses too much heat. Whether they are overlaying asphalt, installing a patch, or building a new pavement, workers will have a limited amount of time to finish compacting the asphalt. The thickness of each layer is one factor that affects the time available; the thinner the layer, the faster the asphalt’s heat will dissipate. However, the ground and air temperatures also affect the timeline for achieving proper compaction.
What Impact Do Ground and Air Temperatures Have on Asphalt Paving?
The ground temperature should not be confused with the surface temperature. The surface temperature is a measurement of the temperature at the top layer of an existing pavement or the soil. The ground temperature is a measurement of the temperature at the point where the asphalt and the ground, existing pavement, or base will meet. Although it might seem that the surface and ground temperatures should be very close, that is often not the case. Parking lot paving contractors need the ground temperature to be at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit to install new paving, an asphalt overlay, or a hot mix asphalt patch. The minimum air temperature is also 50 degrees Fahrenheit, but this may be too cool on days with high winds; wind will make the asphalt cool faster.
If the Asphalt Cools Below a Certain Point Prior to Compaction, What Happens?
If an asphalt paving company is unable to compact the hot asphalt in time, the longevity, appearance, and smoothness of the pavement will be affected. The pavement will lack the density needed, so it will be prone to raveling. The surface will be rough, so the pavement will not offer the smooth ride that asphalt typically provides. The rough, unattractive surface will also tend to retain water, which can increase the chance of water penetration as well as annoy everyone who uses the pavement.
For Assistance With Your Paving and Paving Maintenance, Trust Royal Pavement Solutions
Royal Pavement Solutions is a Long Island paving contractor with an exemplary reputation, impeccable references, and the staff, skills, equipment, and experience to deliver high-caliber results on every project. Our services include asphalt repair and paving, asphalt milling, asphalt overlay installation, parking lot striping, asphalt crack sealing, building maintenance, site work, asphalt sealcoating, parking lot sweeping and portering, concrete flatwork, and concrete repairs. Request your free quote today by calling 844-777-7924, or you can submit your information by completing our request form online.
