If you’re investing in a new driveway or other asphalt surfaces, you need to realize that it isn’t an overnight process. Newly poured asphalt paving needs time to cure before you drive on it or put any weight on it at all. It is applied while hot, and it hardens as it cools. The two primary factors that affect curing time are temperatures—of the ground, of the air, and of the asphalt mix itself—and humidity. Below is a discussion of how these factors affect cure times.

What Factors Affect the Curing Time of Asphalt Paving?

Ambient Temperature

The air temperature normally has to be above 50 degrees Fahrenheit during the asphalt paving process. The colder the ambient temperature is, the more quickly the asphalt will cure. In fact, on windy days, the material may cure too quickly at or near 50 degrees, so many installers only pour concrete on colder days with no wind or on warm, windy days.

Ground Temperature

As with the air, the temperature of the ground must be above 50 degrees, or the paving materials will cure too quickly. This is particularly important on the mornings after an evening frost. Most professionals take temperature measurements of the base layer using an infrared thermometer to make sure the ground temperature is adequate, and rising, throughout the process.

Mix Temperature

Inside the truck, asphalt is usually mixed at temperatures of 275 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. During application, it typically must be somewhere between 220 and 290 degrees. If this drops to below 185 degrees, it won't compact appropriately beneath the roller. Thus, operators must act quickly, especially if they are laying a thin layer, for this cools more rapidly than thicker layers do. 

Humidity

The more humid the ambient air temperature is, the less absorbent it becomes. Therefore, the more moisture there is in the air when pouring asphalt, the longer it will take to dry. The dryer it is, the more quickly it will absorb heat and moisture from the pavement. 

For expert, affordable asphalt paving, contact Jellisons Best Blacktop, an experienced asphalt contractor in Shakopee, MN. They have served clients in and around Scott County for more than 70 years. They offer both commercial and residential paving, along with driveway paving and parking lot repair. Visit their website to review their catalog of client reviews or call (952) 890-4664 to make an appointment today.