Asphalt Paving While Raining: Cons and Feasibility
Asphalt Paving While Raining: Cons and Feasibility
Dallas receives an average of 37 to 41 inches of rain each year, with most rainfall occurring in the spring. While many property owners welcome the rain, those planning asphalt paving projects may find it more of a nuisance than anything else. Asphalt paving while raining can lead to disastrous results, and reputable contractors will not even attempt it when conditions aren’t ideal. In this blog, we’ll explain why.
Why Is Paving While Raining a Bad Idea?
Parking lot and driveway paving in the rain is never a good idea. To understand why, you must understand what asphalt paving in Dallas actually is. Asphalt is a composite material composed of aggregates, sand, and fillers, all bound together by a bitumen binder.
Bitumen is a petroleum byproduct, which means it contains oil. Oil and water don’t mix. Asphalt companies in Dallas know this and understand that trying to pave in the rain can compromise a project. Here are a few ways how.
•Weak Bonding: During a project, asphalt contractors lay hot material onto a carefully created subbase foundation. When it’s raining, moisture prevents the hot asphalt from bonding to the subbase, creating weak spots that are more prone to damage.
•Trapped Moisture: Dallas asphalt paving companies also worry about trapped moisture. Water that seeps into the subbase from rain can persist after parking lot or driveway paving. It can then wreak havoc on the foundation, freeze during cold snaps, and cause harm to the finished surface.
•Temperature Loss: Asphalt companies work fast when laying material. Asphalt arrives at your site at temperatures as high as 350 degrees, and paving companies need to lay and compact it before it cools too much to work with. Rain accelerates that cooling process.
•Poor Compaction: Water also directly interferes with the compaction process, leading to weak asphalt paving and a rougher surface.
How Does Asphalt Paving Affect the Finished Surface?
Any company with experience doing Dallas asphalt paving knows to work around rain. But what would happen if paving companies took the risk anyway? Unfortunately, your finished pavement would suffer a host of issues.
Water’s effect on the parking lot and driveway paving process increases the risk of damage and premature failure. Rapid cooling and trapped water can interfere with compaction, and the effect on how the material bonds to the subbase results in a weaker overall pavement. Asphalt companies in Dallas will struggle to produce results that last.
The best asphalt contractors want to deliver a final product that’s strong, reliable, and resilient enough to last decades. That’s not possible if they attempt to complete asphalt paving while raining.
What Do Dallas Paving Companies Do When Bad Weather Is on the Forecast?
The best and most trusted asphalt companies will keep an eye on the weather forecast and schedule paving projects around precipitation. They’ll schedule work dates when conditions are warm and dry, ensuring five-star results. If rain arrives unexpectedly, asphalt companies in Dallas will fall back on contingency plans. They’ll cover material and equipment and wait for things to dry. If necessary, paving companies will reschedule.
While those delays can be frustrating, it’s the best option. Pushing through the rain will only lead to future problems, so Dallas asphalt paving companies should plan early and work around rain.
How Long Can Contractors Proceed with Dallas Paving?
Just because it stops raining doesn’t mean that asphalt companies can immediately jump back to work. Waterlogged soil is too soft to compact, compromising the final product. Furthermore, some types of soil can shrink or shift during drying, leading to stability issues.
The best asphalt contractors will wait until the soil is fully dry to proceed. Then, they’ll examine it closely and make any necessary adjustments.
Don’t let your Dallas asphalt paving project suffer due to rain. Legacy Paving understands how rainfall can affect your future paving. We don’t cut corners or take unnecessary risks; instead, we do things the right way to produce a finished surface that will last.
That approach applies to all our services, including Dallas asphalt paving, milling, overlay, reclamation, repairs, concrete sidewalks, ADA compliance, and more. Get your free project quote today and work with a contractor you can trust. Call Legacy Paving at (214) 771-5726, email info@legacypavingtx.com, or submit your information through our online contact form today.
