Best Practices

Asphalt Compaction Tips

Remember to have your asphalt compactor serviced annually by a trained certified technician to maximize productivity.

Mix Temperature – In general, the higher the temperature of the mix, the better the compaction result. However, there are no rules that can be generally applied to rolling temperatures. The ideal temperature depends on a variety of factors: composition of the mix, layer thickness, and the binding agent
Roller Passes – The best operators begin compaction at the seams and then compacts along the edge of the pavement. In bends, the operator should compact the lane that has the smallest radius first and press down the pavement on the next pass. Dynamic compaction is used for subsequent passes with the whole operation completed by a final roller pass to remove any remaining irregularities
Base Conditions – Base type and condition affect the level of compaction in a new layer of asphalt. The amount of compaction required depends on whether the asphalt layer is on top of sub grade soil, aggregate base course, cold mix asphalt, cracked asphalt pavement, new asphalt concrete, or Portland cement concrete pavement.
Environment – The temperature of the air, temperature of the base, wind speed and cloud cover all affect the cooling rate of the mix and the amount of compaction needed.