At Bituminous Roadways, we schedule all of our asphalt projects with the best of intentions and of course, with project deadlines top of mind. Despite our intentions, sometimes, Mother Nature has other ideas. Since rain, wind, and generally poor weather conditions can have disastrous effects on any asphalt paving process, it’s not always possible to move a project along according to its exact delivery timetable.
Below, we’ve outlined how various inclement weather conditions will affect your asphalt paving project, so you know what to expect when you schedule a project with our team.
Rainy Weather & Your Asphalt Paving Project: What to Expect
At Bituminous Roadways, our supervisory teams watch the weather forecast diligently. Because we understand how detrimental rain is for any asphalt paving project, we keep a watchful eye on the daily forecast and schedule each day’s workload according to those predictions.
If the weather forecast is a partly cloudy day, we’ll proceed with the project according to schedule. But when the forecast calls for rain, we double down on watching the radar so we can try our best to anticipate when the rain will occur.
If we can get some work done before the precipitation begins, we absolutely will. But as soon as it starts raining, all of our asphalt projects within the rainy areas come to a halt. It’s important to note that we don’t have to halt a project just because it’s raining in another area of the Twin Cities. Unless it’s raining directly overhead, we’ll continue with work as scheduled.
What’s So Bad About Rain?
There are a couple of reasons why rain is highly detrimental to an asphalt paving project. When rain falls onto fresh asphalt, it not only forces the asphalt to cool faster than it should, but it also makes proper compaction of the asphalt very difficult. Since it’s compaction that forms the critical bonds that make the pavement strong, stable, and durable, it’s absolutely critical that the asphalt be properly compacted.
Precipitation can also saturate the base layer on which we install the asphalt. Installing asphalt on a wet (and therefore softer) base layer can cause undesired seams to form between the asphalt and the base. These seams compromise the strength and structural integrity of the finished pavement and may also cause cracks and holes to form in the finished product.
The ground must be completely dry before asphalt pavement work can proceed, which means that some projects may be delayed by several days depending on weather conditions.
Hot & Cold Temperatures and Asphalt Projects: What to Expect
Incredibly cold and hot outdoor temperatures can also interfere with the asphalt paving process. In very cold weather, the asphalt will lose too much heat too quickly to allow for proper compaction. In very hot weather (above 90 degrees), the asphalt may not set and cure as it should.
For the asphalt to remain in good condition once installed, outdoor temperatures between 50 and 90 degrees are ideal. It’s also important to consider the temperature of the ground, as that will also affect the curing and compaction processes.
While we don’t see too many days with exceedingly high temperatures in the Twin Cities, we often see days where temperatures drop below the 50-degree mark. Our supervisory team monitors temperatures carefully to determine whether conditions are appropriate for continuing with a project according to schedule.
Windy Conditions and Asphalt Sealcoating
High winds can interfere with the asphalt sealcoating process by affecting both sealant application and the sealant’s drying and curing time. Strong winds can blow the sealant in various directions as it leaves the application sprayer, which can result in an uneven coat that doesn’t provide adequate coverage in various areas of the project.
Windy conditions can also expedite the sealcoating’s drying time, and while that may sound like a good thing, it’s really not. If the water evaporates from the sealant too quickly, it can leave liquid trapped beneath a hard, crusted upper surface, which will likely result in surface cracks and reduced sealant lifespan.
How Does Rescheduling Work?
At Bituminous Roadways, we do our very best to adhere to our projected delivery timelines, but when inclement weather rolls through town, that’s not always possible.
When we must delay one project due to weather conditions, we must also push several other projects back. Prompt and continual communication between our team and yours is the best way to ensure your project moves forward as close to the projected delivery timeline as possible.
We make it a priority to touch base with you as quickly as possible when we must delay a project and let you know when your paving will be back on track.
Get in Touch With Bituminous Roadways for Twin Cities Asphalt Paving Project
Are you in the market to hire asphalt pavers for an upcoming commercial project? Look no further than our team at Bituminous Roadways! For more than 75 years, we’ve specialized in premium-quality asphalt installation, repair, sealcoating, and cracksealing, and we’d love to make you our next fully satisfied client. To get started or learn more about us, give us a call today at 651-686-7001, request a consultation, or contact us online, and we’ll be in touch.