When you’ve planned an asphalt paving project, you don’t want anything to get in the way, including the weather. While Minnesota weather can be difficult to deal with, the asphalt project professionals at Bituminous Roadways know how to work around rain and other inclement weather.
If you're worried about rain impacting your asphalt paving projects, this guide covers the information you need to know. Learn more about preparing for asphalt paving projects in this blog or by reaching out today.
What to Consider When Planning an Asphalt Paving Project
Scheduling asphalt paving projects can be a puzzle. When Bituminous Roadways looks at the work coming in, we determine many different factors.
- Does a job have a completion date included in the contract?
- What type of work is it? This could be pothole patching, cracksealing, excavating, paving, or repairing/pouring concrete.
- How many different crews and equipment will be needed?
As one can see, multiple facets play into scheduling work, and weather can throw a wrench into the best-laid plans.
Our Weather Watchers Pay Attention
Believe it or not, the BR superintendents, foreman, and operations manager are constantly looking at the weather. If the forecast calls for a partly cloudy day, the asphalt jobs go on as scheduled. However, when there is rain in the forecast, BR goes into a “weather watching” mode.
We are watching the radar, trying to anticipate when the rain may start (or not) and whether we can get some work done during the day.
Why Can’t You Pave Asphalt in the Rain?
In general, asphalt cannot be installed when it is raining. This is because asphalt mixtures contain oil, and oil and water react when they come into contact – negatively in this case.
When rain comes into contact with fresh asphalt, it causes the oil to rise to the surface, affecting the curing time and the finished product. If asphalt is paved while it's raining, it can reduce the overall quality of the asphalt.
Rain also jeopardizes the stability of the subsoil. If the soil is wet, it turns soft, which is not a good surface to pave on. We need a strong, stable surface before installing asphalt. This is also true if it's been raining for consecutive days.
The subsoil must be completely dry before paving, which can also cause some scheduling issues.
Scheduling Asphalt Projects Around the Rain
Two scenarios regarding rain present themselves a bit differently. First, it is a bit easier to handle when it is already raining in the morning. BR would call it a “rain day,” and crews would not be required to check in to the job site that day.
The second scenario is when crews are already working, and a rainstorm presents itself. At this point, the operations manager and superintendents will discuss the severity of the storm and its arrival in different areas of the Twin Cities. Because BR works within the seven-county metro area, rain could fall in the west but may not be predicted to make its way over to the east side.
Based on the storm’s path and where our crews are working, BR may make the call to stop all work, or there may be an opportunity to continue working.
Rescheduling Asphalt Paving Work When It Rains
If there is a rain day (or more), we do our very best to consider what paving or asphalt maintenance jobs were currently being worked on when the rain delay occurred and consider project completion dates. It is possible that an asphalt paving job could be delayed as much as a week, depending on how much it rained. Remember, the ground needs to be completely dry before it can be paved.
In a perfect world, rescheduling asphalt work would be easy, but it is far from that. Not completing one job means another will be delayed, and so on.
Communication is key when it comes to rescheduling work. BR’s priority is to touch base as soon as possible with customers regarding when their job may be back on schedule.
Our team always wants to ensure you get high-quality asphalt that you can care for properly and that isn’t impacted by bad weather.
Contact Us for Asphalt Paving Solutions in the Twin Cities
While the rain concerns asphalt paving, our team does everything we can to stay on schedule and work around the weather. We ensure we keep our asphalt paving projects on track so that you get the results you need in the timeline you desire.
If you are looking for an asphalt contractor to install or repair asphalt for a trail, outdoor athletic surface, parking lot, or roadway, look to an industry leader like BR. We understand weather plays a factor in scheduling, but proper installation is the key to long-lasting, strong asphalt pavement.
Contact Bituminous Roadways, Inc. today to schedule your asphalt paving job by calling 651-686-7001 or request a consultation here.