Can You Asphalt Pave Your Driveway In Winter?
The answer may seem obvious, but as weather drastically fluctuates in our northern cities, we see a lot of homeowners ask this question. The simple answer? No, asphalt driveways cannot be paved in winter. This isn’t just a personal preference either, the hot-mix asphalt we work with needs to be paved at a certain temperature otherwise the entire installation process is at risk.
Get a head start on your home maintenance checklist by getting in touch with our team for a free service estimate. We provide residential driveway services to homes throughout the Western Wisconsin and St. Paul, MN areas. Though we only provide actual service from Spring to Fall, we recommend homeowners schedule their estimates in the winter as we usually book up fast.
The Best Time To Pave Your Driveway
Spring, Summer, and early Fall – if weather permits – are the best seasons to pave your driveway. The ideal paving temperature for asphalt is 45 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, although some paving projects can be done at slightly cooler temperatures, making those fringe seasons ideal as well.
If you’re just now noticing signs that your asphalt driveway is failing and we’re entering winter – don’t worry. We provide free estimates all year round, and we even recommend homeowners schedule theirs early to ensure a spot on our service list once Spring rolls around.
Hiring A Local Asphalt Paving Company
A properly installed driveway will last anywhere from 2 0- 30 years with good maintenance and care, but our harsher winters and summers up north play a heavy factor in the life expectancy of your asphalt driveway. Hiring a local asphalt driveway company to assess both the environmental and use conditions ensures you get a driveway that not only looks great but lasts for decades.
How Does Cold Weather Affect Asphalt
The freeze-thaw cycles we see up here in Wisconsin and Minnesota allow for the movement of hard surfaces, like asphalt and concrete, that result in cracks of all sizes. We’re talking about anywhere from hairline cracks and expansion cracks that are most common in asphalt driveways, to edge cracks and alligator cracks that typically require more professional attention.
These cracks then allow more rain, snow, and ice to penetrate the surface of your driveway, which just continues the freeze-thaw cycle.
Repairing Asphalt In Winter
Filling cracks in your driveway during Winter is doable, though we do not recommend it because the integrity of the fix is compromised due to the weather. Unexpected rain or snow can jeopardize the whole DIY project, placing you back at the start with the same damages and less equipment.
If your DIY repairs turn into costly projects, it might be time to give our team a call. A professional will be able to assess all damages and outline a repair or replacement plan that fixes the immediate and long-term problems.
Schedule Your Free Cost Estimate
Our team is dedicated to providing the highest quality driveway for every home we work with, at competitive rates to ensure you get exactly what you pay for. We work with driveways throughout Western Wisconsin and St. Paul, MN areas like Washington County, Ramsey County, and Dakota County.
