Can You Do Asphalt Repair In The Winter?

It’s no secret that winter asphalt work is frowned upon, for good reason. The cold weather and the moisture from the snow make doing any kind of asphalt work properly nigh impossible. This is why it’s so strongly recommended that if you can, you have repairs done before winter comes or after winter’s gone and been replaced with spring. But sometimes, you can’t wait until spring in order to have repairs done. Asphalt repair in the winter is possible, under the right conditions.

Asphalt Repair In The Winter: The Facts

When it comes to asphalt repair in the winter, you want to know both why it’s best to do repairs in warm weather and what repairs can be put off until the spring and what should be at least temporarily patched as soon as possible. 

Asphalt repair in the winter is generally considered a no-no due to the fact that when it reaches freezing temperatures, it makes it so that any asphalt that is laid down can break apart instantly. This would result in even further repairs to take care of. Winter is also a wet season in many places, with snow and rain, and the moisture from the weather can make it so that your asphalt won’t properly compact or maintain its quality. 

However, if you wait for dry weather that is above freezing and work quickly, asphalt repair in the winter can be done. Since it can be more of a process in considering the weather and everything, you want to know what repairs should be taken care of as soon as possible and what repairs you can wait on. Tiny cracks in your asphalt, for example, can be put off until the spring, but potholes? Those can be dangerous, and you’ll want to get those temporarily patched until they can be properly repaired in the spring. 

What Can Be Done With Asphalt Repair In The Winter

Emergencies are a common reason why people look for asphalt repair in the winter. Some of the ways in which asphalt can be repaired in the winter include patching potholes, crack sealers, and in some cases, asphalt paving. The process for asphalt repair in the winter generally looks something like this:

Asphalt Preparation

Before doing any work on the asphalt, the asphalt and surrounding area needs to be cleared of debris, ice, and snow. If any ice or snow melts while you are working, this impacts the surface and can make your repair job into a disaster. You’ll also want to trim back any shrubbery that hangs over the asphalt.

Temporarily Patched Potholes

If you live somewhere where you’ll need a quick fix for your potholes and can’t rely on the weather staying warm and dry enough to use an infrared machine to fix potholes, cold patches are a way to do asphalt repair in the winter by filling in potholes and tamping them down, so that they won’t pose such a problem, and they’re temporarily patched up until when the weather is warm enough to properly fix them.

Infrared Machines

Infrared machines can be used to fill potholes and cracks quickly and evenly, but they do require that you not frequent the area it was used for the following day or two. 

Asphalt Paving

Asphalt paving can be done in the winter, given that the weather is right and the professionals, like our team here at Precision Asphalt Maintenance, will have the proper experience and technology available to do it.

Cold Crack Sealers

If you have wide cracks, you may be able to use a cold patch, the same as you would with a pothole. If the weather is dry and above freezing, you can also use crack sealers, if it will cure before inclement weather hits.

What Can’t Be Done With Asphalt Repair In The Winter

When it comes to asphalt repair in the winter, it really depends on the weather and the expertise of the people that you work with. If you try to have asphalt repaired when it’s below freezing or when it’s snowing, you’ll end up in need of even more repairs. When it comes to asphalt repair in the winter, it’s best to consult with your local professionals, so that they can understand what kind of job you are looking to have done and how possible it is. In some cases, they’ll get it done for you, while in others, you may have to wait until the spring.

Do You Need Asphalt Repair?

Precision Asphalt Maintenance has a team of licensed specialists who can help you with your asphalt repair needs. We can answer any questions you may have, and provide exceptional services, so that when you walk away from working with us, you’ll be satisfied with our customer service and a job well done. For more information about our services, please contact us at Precision Asphalt Maintenance today!