Why Summer Is the Best Time to Get Paving Done

Asphalt is a temperature-sensitive material. It leaves the plant hot, gets spread and rolled while it is still workable, and gains its strength as it cools into a dense, tight surface. Everything about that process goes more smoothly when the air and the ground are warm. That is the simple reason paving crews across New Jersey are busiest from late spring through the end of summer, and why many homeowners aim to have their driveway done in that window.

Here is what summer weather actually does for your project.

Hot mix stays workable longer

Hot mix asphalt has a limited window between the moment it is placed and the moment it becomes too stiff to compact properly. On a cold, windy day that window shrinks fast, especially at the thin edges of a driveway. In summer the mix holds its heat longer, which gives the crew time to rake transitions, tie into the garage apron and road edge cleanly, and roll the surface until it is uniformly tight.

Good compaction is not cosmetic. A well-compacted mat has fewer air voids, which means less room for water to get in and less chance of early raveling or soft spots down the road.

The ground underneath is ready

The surface you see is only as good as the base beneath it. In spring, Jersey soils are often still holding water from winter thaw and April rain. Clay-heavy yards in parts of Monmouth and Middlesex can stay soft for weeks, and even sandy shore lots can be saturated after a wet stretch.

By summer, the subgrade has usually dried out. That makes grading more accurate and lets the aggregate base compact the way it should. When we prep a driveway, we want a firm, properly pitched base so water runs off instead of sitting under the new asphalt.

Fewer weather delays

Paving cannot happen in the rain, and it should not happen on ground that is still soaked. Summer in New Jersey brings thunderstorms, but they tend to blow through quickly, and the days in between are long and dry. Compare that to a damp, cool spring or the unpredictable swings of late fall, and summer is simply easier to schedule around. Longer daylight also means a typical residential job can be prepped, paved and rolled without racing the sunset.

You get to use it sooner

Fresh asphalt needs time to cure before it handles full traffic. In warm weather the surface firms up quickly enough that most homeowners are back to normal use within a few days. A full cure takes longer, but the practical inconvenience is short, and you get the rest of the season to enjoy a smooth, clean driveway before winter shows up.

A few cautions about summer paving

Summer has advantages, but new asphalt is also softer in the heat for its first several weeks. That is normal, and a few habits will keep it looking sharp:

• Avoid sharp turns of the steering wheel while the car is stopped. Dry steering can scuff a fresh surface.
• Keep kickstands, trailer jacks, ladders and lawn furniture off the asphalt, or set a piece of plywood under them to spread the load.
• Park in slightly different spots instead of the same tire tracks every day.
• Keep heavy delivery trucks and dumpsters off the driveway during the first weeks.
• Stay off the outer edges, which are the least supported part of a new driveway.

Our post on avoiding summer heat damage to your asphalt driveway goes deeper on caring for asphalt during heat waves.

Plan ahead so you are not waiting

Because summer is the most popular time to pave, the schedule fills up. If you are thinking about a new driveway, a replacement or a widening, the best move is to get your estimate in spring. That gives you time to compare options, check with your town’s construction or zoning office about any apron or curb cut questions, and lock in a date while there is still room on the calendar.

If you want to understand the whole job from start to finish, our practical guide to installing an asphalt driveway walks through each step. When you are ready, take a look at our asphalt driveway paving service and set up a free estimate. We serve all of Monmouth County, Ocean County from Toms River north and southern Middlesex County.