However, fresh asphalt is still susceptible to damage from the weather. Because of this, it is essential to cure it properly before exposing it to the elements (rain or snow, specifically). Depending on the temperature and humidity levels, the drying process could take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.
When rain comes into contact with fresh asphalt, it causes the oil to rise to the surface, affecting the curing time and the finished product. If asphalt is paved while it's raining, it can reduce the overall quality of the asphalt. Rain also jeopardizes the stability of the subsoil.
While your driveway may be dry a day after paving, it still needs some time to cure. Typically, you want to keep the pavement dry for at least two days, minimally, so make sure that rain isn't going to be an issue before you start your driveway paving in this situation.
You might see pitting or cracking on the surface of the asphalt if there's damage from rain. These issues might seem small, but they can quickly grow to become larger issues, including potholes. If you have structural damage, you'll need repairs much sooner than expected.
If you've just installed a new asphalt driveway, you may be wondering, “Will rain hurt it?” But in reality, the answer is no. Although you shouldn't expect rain to cause damage to your freshly laid asphalt, it is likely to speed up the drying process. You can expect to use your new driveway in a short time.
Asphalt takes six to twelve months to fully cure, and remains a little more susceptible to damage for that time. However, it takes 48 to 72 hours to "dry" enough for foot and vehicle traffic. This is for new asphalt. Resurfaced asphalt can be dry in as soon as a few hours.
The rain can wreak havoc on a newly sealed interlocking driveway so it's important to watch the weather forecasts and double check them again before applying any sealant to the interlocking stones. The driveway sealer that you have placed on your stones should not be exposed to rain for at least 4 to 8 hours.
While light rain typically has little to no impact on properly laid asphalt, heavy rains and puddling can cause serious problems. Without proper drainage, pools of standing water in your parking lot can infiltrate even tiny pavement cracks, eventually leading to larger fissures, potholes, and raveling.
Standing water seeps into the asphalt and into the foundation, causing it to degrade and become unstable. When the foundation is compromised, the pavement loses its structural support, which results in potholes, cracking, and indentations or low spots in your asphalt parking lot or roadway.
Water is one of asphalt's “natural enemies.” Puddles of water on an asphalt pavement will slowly break it down, causing a pothole to form. Water deteriorates asphalt by breaking the bonds between the asphalt binder and the rocks and sand.
Coming down from 280°F to even just 220°F is enough to start the curing process. Once it drops to 185°F it becomes too stiff to be properly compacted. The ambient temperature (the temperature outside, the weather) and the temperature of the ground both play a huge role in managing the temperature of the asphalt.
Since asphalt needs time to harden and cure, usually 6-12 months, your parking lot or driveway will remain soft and pliable until then. You may walk on the new pavement immediately, but keep automobile traffic off of it for at least 3 full days and longer in hotter temperatures.
Generally speaking, late spring until early fall is the best time to pave a new asphalt driveway. This may vary depending on the region you live in. It's best to work with asphalt when air and surface temperatures are 50°F and above.
Your new asphalt driveway will soften and harden as the outside temperatures fluctuate. Using a hose to water down your driveway on hotter days will cool and temporarily harden the asphalt. This is helpful, but not mandatory. If you see soap suds on the surface after hosing the driveway down, don't be alarmed.
Asphalt Paving/Laying
We have the capability to lay up to 300 tonne of asphalt per day depending on the configuration of the job.
Manmade surfaces, such as asphalt, absorb much less water than dirt, and heavy rain can quickly overwhelm cities' storm-water drainage systems.
Puddles in your driveway are more than just an annoyance. They are a sign that for whatever reason, your asphalt driveway is not draining properly and that can lead to serious problems. New asphalt is waterproof.
Some contractors practice spraying water onto the freshly paved asphalt to accelerate the cooling time, so the new sections can be quickly opened to traffic.
Before you had it sealcoated, you may have noticed the effects the rain had on your asphalt. Water is one of the most damaging elements to pavement because it adversely affects the strength and durability of the asphalt. Moisture breaks the bond between the bonding agent and the aggregates.
Fuel and oil can quickly deteriorate your asphalt pavement surface. Sealcoating applications do not stick to vehicle fluid on an asphalt surface, so you loose a layer of protection. In addition, over time the fuel and oil begin to penetrate the surface and can break up the aggregates of the asphalt.
Rain on asphalt has the potential to cause cracking, large potholes, depressions, and other damage. If proper preventative maintenance is scheduled, property owners do not have to worry about the effects of rain on asphalt.
But if you want to drive on it, then you have to wait a minimum of 12 hours for it to dry and cure. If it's overcast or if rain is in the forecast, then the drying and curing process will definitely take much longer. For optimum results, we recommend that you use your driveway 48 to 72 hours after sealcoat was applied.
When sealcoating is used as part of a preventative maintenance program, it can extend the life of your driveway by up to 20 years on average.
The Drawbacks of Seal Coating
One is that it can be messy and difficult to apply evenly. It's also important to note that sealants will not repair significant damage to your driveway; they will only protect it from further damage. If your driveway is damaged, you'll need to have it repaired before sealcoating it.