Asphalt Paving: It’s All About the Temperature and Timing

In a sense, an asphalt paving project could be described as an intricately choreographed scene that involves asphalt truck deliveries, heavy equipment, and ground personnel. Once a paving project is underway, it is essential that all participants perform their assigned tasks as efficiently as possible. If you are wondering why efficiency matters, the simple answer is that it is all about the temperature and timing.

Why Is the Temperature and Timing Critical for Asphalt Paving?

An asphalt paving company orders a specified quantity of a specific asphalt type to be delivered to the customer’s site. On a large asphalt resurfacing or paving project, multiple truckloads of asphalt mix may need to be delivered at regular intervals. This mix is hot when it is delivered, and its temperature is normally between 225 and 300 degrees. Truckloads of asphalt need to be unloaded and installed before the mix becomes too cool to work. This means that it needs to be hot enough to be raked, smoothed, and compacted. Since improperly compacted asphalt pavements will have shorter lives, reliable paving contractors make sure that all pieces are in place to compact the pavement within the time frame calculated for the specific job. Even the best asphalt company cannot thoroughly compact a mix that has turned lumpy and cold, so the surface of the pavement will virtually always display lumps, an uneven surface, and potential problems with runoff. Making sure that the asphalt mix stays hot enough from the arrival of the truck through the final compaction is one way that contractors help ensure the longevity, smoothness, and appearance of the finished product when asphalt paving Orange County pavements. However, this also involves monitoring the ground and ambient temperatures to make sure that they are adequate.

Why Do Ground and Ambient Temperatures Matter for Asphalt Paving Projects?

The ambient temperature is what meteorologists describe when they speak of a current temperature or predict the high and low temperatures for the next few days. The ambient temperature is strictly a measurement of the air temperature at the spot and time where the reading is taken. The ground temperature is a measurement of the temperature of the ground on which the pavement will be installed. This may literally be the ground, but it could also be a base layer constructed from gravel and other aggregates. When installing asphalt paving Orange County contractors know that there can be a discrepancy of several degrees between the ambient and the ground temperature at any location. In some situations, the variation between the two can be as much as 10 degrees. If they are building a new pavement, most paving companies will not proceed unless both temperatures are above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and the temperature may need to be even higher for asphalt resurfacing, especially on a windy or cloudy day. Anything that steals heat from the asphalt mix will shorten the amount of time that an asphalt company has before the mix becomes unworkable. However, even with a bevy of well-trained, experienced workers and top-notch equipment, compaction takes a few minutes to complete, so there comes a point where the air or ground temperature makes it impossible to achieve proper compaction within the allotted time.

Why Are We the Right Choice for Asphalt Paving Orange County Properties?

Petersen Grading & Paving provides an extensive range of paving services for commercial properties throughout Orange County and Los Angeles. Our ability to handle projects of all types and sizes, our exceptional craftsmanship, and our unparalleled customer services have helped us build a reputation that any paving company would envy. Our services include asphalt resurfacing and paving, parking lot striping, asphalt repairs, line removal, parking lot signage, shot blasting, asphalt sealcoating, pavement markings, concrete paving, ADA compliance, bollard installation, warehouse striping, marking removal, epoxy coatings, and asphalt crack repairs. We offer free quotes, so contact us if you would like us to work one up for you. You can send us your information by emailing Ryan@GradePave.com or submitting the online form. If you would rather call us, our number is 949-402-6979