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.
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.
In general, you can expect new asphalt to take anywhere from 48-72 hours to dry completely. However, if the weather is particularly humid or cold, it may take up to a week for the asphalt to fully cure.
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.
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.
Watering down your driveway with a hose on hot days will temporarily harden the asphalt. This is helpful, but not mandatory. If soap suds should appear do not be alarmed, this is a reaction between the diesel fuel found in asphalt and a high chlorine content found in some city water.
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.
In general, it can take about 48 to 72 hours for the asphalt to dry to be safe for foot or vehicle traffic. There are many factors that can impact the drying time. At McConnell & Associates we work with you to plan your installation and avoid disrupting your business any more than we have to.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Fortunately, you can safely walk on most asphalt surfaces as soon as they are dry. Still, paving companies recommend waiting about one hour after completion. For best results, rope off the newly covered area and wait at least 24 hours before walking on it.
Asphalt Paving/Laying
We have the capability to lay up to 300 tonne of asphalt per day depending on the configuration of the job.
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.
Weather Impacts On Asphalt Drying Time –
Temperature: Temperature refers to both ambient and surface temperatures. “Ambient” refers to the temperature of the air, while “surface” is the temperature of the application surface itself. The higher the temperature, the faster the evaporation, and thus dry time.
Sand is often used to seal roads, and it is a great way to enhance weathered pavement. It can also fill fine cracks, provide a thicker surface coating, and delay the weathering process.
During initial application, the asphalt should still be at least 220 to 290-degrees Fahrenheit. If the asphalt dips below approximately 185-degrees Fahrenheit before compaction is complete, its consistency stiffens up too much to finish the job properly.
Because concrete requires up to seven days to completely cure before traffic can be allowed on it, businesses often choose asphalt for parking lot projects to avoid business disruptions. Asphalt has a timeline of 48 to 72 hours before it is dry enough for foot and vehicle traffic.
Residential driveways typically use 2 to 3 inches of asphalt with 3 being suitable for occasional large trucks or heavy equipment. Underneath the asphalt you should have 6 to 8 inches of granular base aggregate.
Your driveway will usually be fully cured within 3-6 months; until then, it will remain pliable and soft. We recommend keeping automobiles off for at least 7 days, and longer in hot weather. Even when cured, asphalt can sometimes soften in extremely hot weather and harden as temperatures fall.
After the initial seal, asphalt should be resealed once every three to five years. If you live in a climate with freezing winters and hot summers, consider resealing your driveway once every two to three years.
Asphalt is designed to hold up to a wide variety of weather conditions throughout the year, but new asphalt is vulnerable to damage from external circumstances. Rain can have a particularly significant effect on new asphalt, and it's important to know what to expect when it comes to rainy weather and your new pavement.