Temperatures are steadily dropping in the Northeast, and it’s only a matter of time until New England receives its first snowfall of the season. These shifts in the weather signal the start of the holiday season. Of course, the cold weather also has a number of practical implications. If you’re planning on hiring asphalt laying services to restore your driveway in time for the holidays, you shouldn’t wait much longer. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait until spring to get it done right. So, when exactly is it too late to lay your asphalt driveway in preparation for the holidays? Let’s discuss what you must consider.
What to Know About Paving in the Winter
Low Temperatures Interfere With Asphalt Services
Many outdoor projects are sensitive to the weather and temperature, and asphalt repair and paving are certainly no exceptions. At the very least, cold conditions make outdoor work uncomfortable and cumbersome for contractors. More significantly, however, fully dried asphalt becomes more rigid and brittle when it’s cold outside, making it more susceptible to damage. When it comes to laying down new asphalt, the outside temperature makes an even bigger difference. Simply put, the ground must be warm enough to accommodate hot mix asphalt. The good news is that the ground temperature tends to be higher than the air’s temperature — still, the ground temperature shouldn’t fall below 45 degrees Fahrenheit overnight. It’s also best to tackle this project when wind speeds and chances of precipitation are low.
New England Conditions Near the Holidays
Anyone who’s endured even a single winter in New England is well aware of how cold these regions can get. While the coldest days are mostly reserved for the months following the holidays, November and December can feature plenty of freezing days, too. As such, ground temperatures may begin consistently falling below the aforementioned 45-degree threshold as early as November and certainly by December. While local asphalt paving contractors might continue working throughout the winter, they won’t be able to provide certain services (such as asphalt driveway paving) until things warm up again — for New England, that’s usually late March or April.
The Verdict
So, when is it too late to lay an asphalt driveway in New England before the holidays? While the exact answer varies from year to year and region to region, mid-November (at the latest) is often the strict cut-off for fresh asphalt. If you’re trying to get this project done in time for Thanksgiving and/or the following holidays, then, there’s no time to waste. Even if you miss your chance for fresh asphalt this year, it’s important to maintain your current asphalt driveway all season long. Depending on your needs, you might want to hire snow clearing services to regularly remove snow and ice from your blacktop so it doesn’t sustain further damage over the winter.
At Cassidy Paving, we do our best to lay down asphalt for our customers until mother nature no longer allows us to do so. And once winter arrives in full force, we continue to provide asphalt maintenance and repair services to keep your driveway in great shape until it’s time for fresh asphalt in the spring. Call us today at 866-978-9788 for a free estimate on your next office parking lot project.
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