Many homeowners watch a brand new driveway turn into a cracked mess after just a couple of years. Down here in Sevier County, our weather does not cut asphalt any slack. Between the brutal July heat waves and those heavy downpours we get in the spring, Asphalt Pavement takes a constant beating. If you want your Asphalt Driveway to last, Horizon Asphalt Solutions knows that you have to work with the seasons, not against them.
Timing Your Asphalt Projects Around Lockesburg Weather
People often ask Horizon Asphalt Solutions when the right time is to pave or sealcoat. If you try to lay hot mix Asphalt Pavement when it is ninety-five degrees and humid, the asphalt stays too soft and will not compact right. On the flip side, trying to do major Asphalt Paving work when winter temperatures drop down near freezing means the material cools off far too fast before we can roll it smooth.
Spring and fall are the sweet spots around here for Asphalt Construction. The temperatures are moderate, the sun is not baking the oils right out of the fresh mix, and we can get a proper cure. At Horizon Asphalt Solutions, we always tell property owners to plan ahead for these windows instead of waiting until a small crack turns into an expensive headache.
Why Our Local Soil Changes the Rules
We have plenty of heavy clay soil right here in Lockesburg. Clay holds onto moisture like a sponge, swelling up when it rains heavy and shrinking down hard when it dries out in August. That constant shifting underneath your Asphalt Pavement puts massive stress on the base. If your base is not thick and stable, your Asphalt Surface is going to crack no matter how good the top layer looks. That is why drainage and a solid foundation matter more than anything else we do during Asphalt Installation.
Keeping Up With Year-Round Care
You cannot just pave it and forget it. Here is what you need to keep on your radar for your Asphalt Maintenance:
- Keep standing water from pooling near the edges where it can erode the sub-base of your Asphalt Pavement.
- Sealcoat your Asphalt Surface every few years to lock out moisture and UV rays.
- Fill minor cracks before winter so trapped water does not freeze and pop the edges apart on your Asphalt Driveway.
Take a walk out to your Asphalt Driveway today and look for any soft spots or spiderweb cracking. Catching those small issues early saves you real money on Asphalt Repairs down the road.