Once you start looking for potholes, you’ll start seeing them everywhere, especially around this time of year. Commercial paving companies quickly fill up their schedules in spring to resolve these and other asphalt issues. Of course, spring is still some weeks away, and you might not want to wait that long to take care of your pothole problems. So, can you work with a pothole repair company during the winter? The short answer is a resounding “yes,” but let’s further explore your pothole repair options so you know what to expect this winter and beyond.
Why Potholes Are So Prevalent in Winter
Asphalt roads, driveways, and parking lots are susceptible to multiple environmental threats, the biggest of all being moisture and extreme temperatures. During winter, moisture from snow, sleet, and rain can quickly cover these surfaces and enter their pores and cracks. Falling temperatures freeze this moisture in its tracks, making asphalt more brittle. Combine these effects with the normal wear and tear of vehicles and foot traffic and asphalt can begin to lose its integrity, especially in key areas. Potholes are the most common results of this freeze-thaw cycle, so they tend to crop up during winter more than any other time of year.
Why Fix Potholes During Winter Anyway?
If potholes are bound to form throughout winter, then what’s the point of fixing them before the season is done? It’s a fair question, but the answer comes down to this key concept: preventative maintenance. Potholes are hazards and eyesores, but they can always grow wide and deeper – indeed, this is precisely what will happen if you don’t do something about them earlier on. The more cracks and holes in your driveway or parking lot, the more opportunities winter will have to wreak further havoc. By the time spring rolls around, you might have to worry about more than mere driveway pothole repair – you might suddenly be in the market for milling or reconstruction. Promptly taking care of your winter potholes will save you time, money, and headaches in the long run.
How a Professional Pothole Repair Company Can Help
As we’ve discussed in previous blogs, most asphalt paving and repair contractors really start their season in spring when things have warmed up. In a colder region like New England, the low temperatures prevent hot-mix asphalt from properly curing. That said, various asphalt services can still be performed during winter, especially on milder, dry days. The most common way to repair potholes in winter involves filling and covering them with a cold patch. Patching asphalt potholes in this way is a temporary measure, but it’s effective to remove the tripping hazard and hold you over until spring or summer when a more permanent fix can be administered. On unseasonably warm, dry days, asphalt contractors can also fill the pothole with hot asphalt mix – note, however, that temperatures must be consistently above freezing for this to work. In either case, it’s important to work with a contractor that can provide quality pavement repair and customer service.
The Bottom Line
Yes, you can work with a pothole repair company in the winter. In fact, doing so is recommended if your asphalt surfaces are significantly blemished. Cassidy Paving works all year long to help our clients protect, repair, and restore their pavement as needed. Call us today at 866-978-9788 for a free estimate on your next asphalt project.
