A lot of homeowners are picking asphalt driveways these days for the immense benefits that they offer. It’s becoming one of the most popular options out there, along with concrete and brick driveways. However, if you’re planning on paving yours anytime soon, timing is very important.
Knowing when to lay the asphalt will determine how effective the job will be and the long-term longevity of that driveway. So, what is the best time for laying an asphalt driveway? Keep reading to find out!
The Best Time of Year to Pave an Asphalt Driveway
You are free to lay the asphalt driveway anytime you want. But if you are keen on getting the best possible outcomes, you have to do this during the spring season. There are several reasons for this.
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To start with, during spring the ground tends to be a bit firmer than most seasons but also not too dry. This creates the perfect conditions for the job to be done more effectively.
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Also, you don’t want to expose the asphalt to a lot of heat when you are laying it. It may end up drying even before you shape it or level the entire driveway. During spring, the temperature will typically be above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. This simply means that it’s not too hot or too cold. Asphalt paving will, therefore, be much easier under such weather.
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Safety is also important when you are looking at installing an asphalt driveway. The last thing you need is to work on a sloppy or skiddy surface with hot asphalt all over. Spring offers the best safety conditions all year round.
Fall is the second-best time of the year for paving an asphalt driveway. However, it all depends on your location and weather, of course.
What Other Factors Should You Consider?
In addition to the time of year, there are several other factors that you may need to consider when you decide to start laying asphalt. Here are some of them:
The Size of the Driveway
It is often recommended that you complete asphalt paving on the same day. You want the paved driveway to dry at the same time.
It won’t make sense to pave half of it today and half tomorrow. This will create discrepancies in how the whole thing dries.
So, it is important to consider the size of your driveway and see how many hours you will need to pave the asphalt driveway. If your garage is too big to complete in 24 hours, get as much help as you can.
Level of Expertise
Laying an asphalt garage may seem like a very simple job but there is a lot of expertise needed to do it right. If you have never laid down an asphalt surface before, do not do it alone.
There is more to this than just laying the asphalt and compressing. Measurements need to be taken and leveling has been done based on a very meticulous process. In that case, if your level of expertise is not that high, call a blacktop paving service for help.
Traffic
If you want your driveway to last for long, you will have to consider the kind of traffic it gets. If we are talking about a two-car garage, then you will need a much thicker layer of asphalt.
This will help safeguard the driveway from chipping and other forms of wear and tear once the blacktop is done.
For a single-car garage, a thinner layer may be enough. But it is always nice to get a durable driveway as possible. After all, you cannot remove asphalt that easily but your car needs could change.
Hiring Experts for the Job
In case you are not confident about your abilities or perhaps you just don't have the time to lay the asphalt yourself, you can still leave this job to someone else.
There are numerous companies these days that offer these services at a small fee, with flexible schedules.
Contact a local asphalt driveway paving company and solve all your doubts before starting the project!
