How Cold Is Too Cold for Asphalt Paving

The asphalt must be kept at a specified temperature to achieve proper compaction. The asphalt will lose its heat more rapidly if the ground is too cold. The cooling effect of rainwater evaporation might also lead to the same problems.

 

Temperature-related concerns are expected if an asphalt paving job is not appropriately planned. That’s why it’s so important to know how cold asphalt can be before scheduling your asphalt paving.

How Cold Is Too Cold for Asphalt?

There are times when asphalt can’t be laid because the ground temperature drops below freezing, resulting in an inability to achieve an adequate level of compaction. It’s not possible to put fresh asphalt on the ground if it’s freezing or in cold temperature.

 

To determine if the asphalt can be laid, your paving contractor has to consider more than simply the weather outdoors. Your paving provider will have less time to compress the asphalt mix, which will begin to cool quickly as the temperature cools.

 

A temperature range of 275 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit should be considered when bringing the hot mix asphalt to the construction site. A slight decrease in temperature between 220 and 290 degrees Fahrenheit should be observed for the initial application of asphalt. If the asphalt temperature falls below 185 degrees Fahrenheit before compaction, the asphalt’s consistency becomes too rigid to accomplish the operation.

 

The temperature significantly influences the capacity to adequately compress the asphalt before it cools down too much, which is the primary concern. The longer the pavement retains its heat, the thicker it becomes. If the ambient temperature is between 40 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit, a thin 1.5-inch coating of asphalt must be compacted within 16 minutes of its application. Due to the cold temperatures, applying a two or three-inch layer may be feasible instead of the usual thin overlay.

 

For most purposes, the asphalt must be placed and compacted at a temperature of at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit and ideally higher. Because asphalt cools more quickly on a windy day, an ambient temperature of at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit may be required.

What Is the Best and Worst Time to Lay Asphalt?

The quality of the asphalt you get when it’s placed down at cold temperatures this low is not reliable. When the weather is favorable, cold weather asphalt paving may be done in the autumn or early winter months. Paving work should be postponed until after the winter season has ended. However, if the weather is dry and the ground isn’t frozen, asphalt paving in the winter is conceivable.

 

The ideal temperature for hot asphalt paving is typically 70 degrees Fahrenheit or higher during the spring and summer months. Even while temperatures as low as 50 degrees may be used to build asphalt, the best results are unlikely.

 

If there is a perfect time for asphalt paving, it’s the same with an ideal paving company. A-Rock Asphalt Services has all the skills and knowledge for your paving needs. Contact us now to learn more.

 

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