There are some temperatures you will want to attain, and some you will want to avoid, to get a bonus-worthy mat. They depend on a host of variables. In the old days, contractors were advised to lay asphalt when ambient temperatures were 48 degrees Fahrenheit and rising. With the advent of warm-mix asphalt (WMA) designs, cooler ambient temperatures are not as detrimental to success as they once were. Either way, one constant is to get equipment up to paving temperature before you take off. When you heat the screed at the beginning of the shift, you want it to reach a temperature that matches the arriving mix.
YOUR QUICK TIP:
Use a temperature gun to check at least three points across the full width of the screed plates. This lets you know the screed is heating evenly and none of the elements are malfunctioning.
QUICK FACT:
Did you know that print magazines like AsphaltPro are the only medium with a one-time carbon footprint? Other media require energy every time they are viewed. (Source: 2010 PrintCity report on Carbon and Energy) We encourage you to read your print copy of AsphaltPro as often as you like and share it around your jobsite.
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