If you didn’t have the wiggle room in your business budget to complete asphalt repairs in the fall or if you simply overlooked it, you may be kicking yourself for leaving it too late. After all, mid-winter isn’t typically considered an ideal time for outdoor repair work such as asphalt repairs.
In addition, you may have heard that asphalt repairs need outdoor temperatures within a certain range in order to effectively bond with the existing asphalt. And this is true for typical, traditional methods of asphalt repair However, this doesn’t mean you should wait to get your asphalt repaired till spring.
Keep reading to learn about a few reasons why you can and should consider asphalt repair during the winter.
1. Damage Can Compound Throughout Winter
Any damage that’s appeared on the surface of your asphalt pavement can worsen throughout the year. Exposure to the elements, especially certain types of weather, hastens this worsening. If you’ve heard about the freeze-thaw cycle, you probably realize that damage may compound even faster in the wintertime.
The freeze-thaw cycle can damage your pavement because repeated freeze events can expand existing cracks. Because water expands as it freezes, any water inside a tiny crack can push outwards on the sides of the crack when it freezes. This may only widen the crack a tiny bit, but the process repeats each time water freezes on your pavement surface.
2. Damage Can Increase Hazards
If you have severe cracks, buckling, or potholes in your pavement, the damage may actually cause or worsen the hazards of walking across the pavement in winter. Even if you keep the snow cleared away and use salt to reduce ice and slipperiness, an uneven pavement surface can be more difficult to navigate safely for both vehicles and people on foot.
An uneven surface can be especially treacherous during or after a fresh snowfall, before you’ve had time to clear the snow away yet. A customer or employee could easily trip in a hidden pothole, for instance. And hidden potholes can be extra hazardous for cars when people drive into your parking lot.
3. Experienced Companies Can Repair During Winter
Although you may have heard that pavement repair companies prefer or are only able to work in more amenable weather and less hostile seasons, you can still find companies who can do the work during winter. An experienced pavement repair contractor knows the difficulties of repairing pavement during winter weather, and they have the ability to get around the problems.
For example, the contractor can use the correct techniques and methods, such as using infrared repairs rather than a hot mix repair in weather that wouldn’t allow the mix to stay hot enough.
4. New Technology Makes Winter Repairs Easier
Technological advancements and new products used in the industry can make pavement repairs easier, quicker, and even more effective. For instance, a newer infrared system might include a more powerful truck with higher capacity. This upgraded equipment and technology allows contractors to reach new heights of cost-efficient asphalt repair — even during wintertime.
As you can see, pavement repair isn’t necessarily hassle-free during wintertime, but it is possible and it’s worth the effort. A freshly repaired parking lot will allow you and your customers to get around more safely and easily. And doing the repairs now may save you from having to deal with extensive compounded damage later in the year.
Arrow Black Top & Masonry, Inc., provides all the expertise, craftsmanship, and skills needed to get your asphalt pavement through the winter safely. Whether you need sealcoating services, crack repairs, or major patching, get in touch today to discuss our services.
