You are looking at a new driveway, a parking lot for your business, or maybe a private road. You might think asphalt is just asphalt. Just lay it down and you are good to go. Well, here in Temple, TX, it is not that simple. Our local conditions in Temple throw some curveballs that need a specific approach. If you do not get it right, you will be dealing with headaches down the road.
The Temple Climate Challenge for Asphalt
First, let us talk about our weather in Temple. We get some very serious heat in the summer months. Average highs hit 95°F in August in Temple. That kind of intense sun can really soften asphalt, making the asphalt more prone to rutting and warping. This is especially true for asphalt in high-traffic areas. Also, those UV rays dry out the asphalt, making the asphalt brittle and more likely to crack.
But it is not just the heat in Temple. We also get our fair share of rain. When that moisture seeps into asphalt cracks, it can mess with the base layer of the asphalt and lead to potholes. Even our winters, short as they are in Temple, bring freeze-thaw cycles. Water gets into those tiny cracks in the asphalt, freezes and expands, then thaws and contracts. That constant movement makes small asphalt cracks grow into big asphalt problems very fast.
Our Tricky Temple Soil for Asphalt
Then there is the ground we are building on in Temple. Temple sits on what is often called expansive clay soil. You might hear it called