It’s no secret that summertime is our time to shine in the asphalt industry. But just because the cold freezes up most of our new construction and maintenance opportunities doesn’t mean it’s time to hibernate for winter. By focusing your efforts on providing winter specific services, diversifying your business, and performing equipment maintenance, you’ll be able to make it through winter without taking a big hit to your savings account.
Offer Winter Maintenance Services
Winter weather causes considerable stress on asphalt. Moisture combined with freeze-thaw cycles causes surfaces to crack and create potholes, which can be a serious burden on property managers, pedestrians, and customers alike. Offering winter maintenance services such as crack and pothole repair, de-icing, and snow removal can help mitigate these issues for others while promoting winter time cash flow for your business.
Cold Mix Asphalt for the Win
The key to successful winter asphalt repair is cold mix asphalt. Unlike traditional hot mix asphalt, which requires high temperatures to stay workable, cold mix asphalt can be used in freezing conditions without losing effectiveness.
Cold mix is perfect for filling potholes, patching cracks, and making temporary repairs until more permanent solutions can be applied in warmer weather. The process requires minimal equipment, and the repaired areas are typically ready for use after just a few hours. Its convenience and durability in cold temperatures make it a great option for clients who need an immediate fix and can’t wait until spring.
Offering cold mix asphalt services for potholes and patching cracks is a great way to stay in front of clients by providing a short-term solution to prevent further damage. This also creates opportunities to schedule more permanent repairs once the weather warms.
Snow and Ice Removal
Staying on top of snow and ice removal is an excellent way to keep your clients’ asphalt in good shape and prevent untimely issues. It is a great addition to existing pavement maintenance plans and a much-needed service to offer new clients.
The barrier for entry in terms of equipment is relatively low when it comes to starting up your snow and ice removal services, and chances are, you already have usable equipment in your shop, like your surface treatment equipment that you use to remove rocks and debris, which can be used to remove snow.
Shovels and buckets make cost-effective equipment choices, but using some cash upfront can help make this business venture go further. Investing in walk-behind or tailgate spreaders for ice and snow melters will improve efficiency. Snow blowers come in various sizes and price points, making them a helpful tool to test this wintertime business. If you want to go all in, purchasing a plow for your trucks is the way to go. Nowadays, plows come in all sorts of configurations, making them easy to fit your existing trucks.
Focus on Equipment Maintenance and Upgrades
While this might not generate a profit initially during the winter, focusing on equipment maintenance and upgrades will pay off tremendously when the warm weather returns. Take the time to schedule or perform regular maintenance for your pavers, rollers, trucks, and other machinery that is often neglected during peak season. This not only helps avoid costly breakdowns when business picks back up again but can also extend the life of your equipment.
Diversify, Diversify, Diversify
To stay profitable during the winter, it may be beneficial to diversify the services your asphalt business offers. Offering additional services that can be performed during the winter months can help you weather the seasonal downturn and keep your employees busy.
We’ve already discussed utilizing cold asphalt mix for repairs and snow and ice removal as options, but don’t limit yourself to the outdoors. Utilize your line striping and stenciling equipment to earn business indoors at warehouses, parking garages, sports complexes, industrial centers, airports, and more.
Additionally, the winter is the perfect time to rethink your marketing strategy and diversify your client base. Uncover untapped potential and ways to infiltrate new business verticals.
Don’t Be Left In The Cold
Winter doesn’t have to be cold and dormant. By offering winter-specific services, focusing on equipment maintenance, and diversifying your offerings, your asphalt business can remain profitable throughout the winter months. Thinking outside the box, planning, and strategic investments can make all the difference in keeping your business booming all year long.