Why Driveway Paving Costs More in Winter — And How Albany & Colonie Homeowners Can Save $300 This Fall

🍁 Fall Paving Season in Albany: Your Last Chance to Save

If you’ve been thinking about getting your driveway paved in Albany, Colonie, Schenectady, Guilderland, Rotterdam, or anywhere in the Capital Region, there’s one thing you need to know:

Fall is the cheapest time of year to pave.

Winter is the most expensive.

And right now, to help homeowners beat winter pricing, Egan Paving is offering a $300 Fall Discount on full driveway installations scheduled before the season closes.

Why the discount?

Because October is a scramble — plants are closing, temperatures are dropping, and homeowners wait until the last minute.

This blog breaks down exactly why fall saves you money, why winter multiplies costs, and how to lock in the $300 Fall Special before the first frost freezes the schedule.

❄️ Why Driveway Paving Costs Jump in Winter

Let’s get into the science and logistics that drive winter pricing up.

1. Asphalt Plants Close for the Season

Albany-area asphalt plants begin shutting down in late October to November, depending on temperatures.

Once closed, asphalt has to be:

  • Trucked from farther away

  • Produced in shorter, more expensive batches

  • Priced higher due to limited supply

More miles = more fuel

Colder temps = faster cooling

Scarce supply = higher cost

That “winter premium” hits homeowners directly.

2. Cold Weather Complicates the Process

Asphalt needs heat. Specifically:

  • Optimal paving temp: 50–70°F

  • Minimum surface temperature: 45°F

  • Cold nights stop curing completely

In Albany, Colonie, and Schenectady, late fall and early winter bring:

  • Frost

  • Frozen ground

  • Misty rain

  • Early sunsets

  • Low daytime temps

This forces contractors to:

  • Reduce work hours

  • Use additives

  • Increase manpower

  • Heat materials longer

Each one adds cost.

3. Labor Becomes More Expensive

Winter labor is:

  • Slower

  • Harder

  • More overtime-prone

Frozen ground must be broken up.

Materials must be heated twice as long.

Crews need more equipment to maintain temperature.

All that extra effort makes winter paving more expensive across the entire Capital Region.

4. Winter Repairs Are Temporary — Not Permanent

Even if you find a paving company willing to work in winter, what they’re actually doing is usually:

  • Cold patch

  • Temporary repairs

  • Thin overlays

These do not count as full paving jobs.

You’ll spend money twice — once to “get by,” and again in spring to fix the failure.

💰 So Why Is Fall Cheaper?

Because fall hits the sweet spot:

  • Asphalt plants are still open

  • Weather is still warm enough

  • Ground hasn’t frozen

  • Scheduling is flexible

  • Crews can run full days

  • Materials are available at normal pricing

Egan Paving’s fall pricing reflects:

  • Longer daylight

  • Lower overhead

  • High-volume efficiency

  • The ability to schedule back-to-back projects

And right now, to help homeowners take advantage:

🍁 FALL SPECIAL: Save $300 When You Book Before the Winter Shut-Down

Valid for full driveway installations in:

Albany • Colonie • Schenectady • Guilderland • Rotterdam • Clifton Park • Latham

👉 Claim your $300 Fall Discount:

https://www.eganpaving.net/contact

🏡 Real Examples: Fall vs. Winter Pricing in the Capital Region

Albany Homeowner — Saved $700 by Doing It in October

A homeowner off New Scotland Ave got three quotes:

  • August: $7,800

  • October: $7,500

  • January: $8,200

Winter work required:

  • Additional heating

  • Shorter work window

  • Higher plant cost

  • Weather risks

By choosing fall, they saved $700 — and upgraded to a thicker binder course.

Colonie Driveway Off Central Ave

This homeowner waited until winter last year and paid:

  • Extra fuel surcharges

  • Temporary patch work

  • A second spring repair

By the time Egan Paving rebuilt the driveway in May, the total cost was nearly 40% higher than if they’d paved the previous October.

Schenectady Project in Rotterdam

We paved a driveway on a mild November afternoon.

Our crew monitored temperatures hour-by-hour and completed the job perfectly — but it was the last week before the asphalt plant shut down.

If that homeowner waited one more week, the job would’ve required:

  • Remote asphalt trucking

  • Extra heating

  • Added compaction time

And the price would’ve increased by $600–$900.

🧰 What You Should Do RIGHT NOW (if you’re thinking about paving)

Here’s what we recommend for every Capital Region homeowner:

1. Get your estimate early

Even if you’re not sure, an estimate locks you into:

  • Fall pricing

  • The $300 discount

  • A paved driveway before snow

We can hold your spot, even if we decide on the final plan later.

2. Clear your driveway for inspection

Move cars.

Cut back any overgrown grass.

Make drainage visible.

The more we can see, the better your price accuracy will be.

3. Ask for base thickness in writing

For Albany’s clay-heavy soil, you need:

  • 6–8 inches crushed stone

  • 3 inches binder

  • 2 inches top coat

Anyone offering “one coat”, or refusing to specify depth, is a red flag.

4. Don’t wait until after the first frost

By then:

  • Prices rise

  • Plants schedule less

  • Daylight is reduced

  • Drainage worsens

  • Moisture increases

Every day matters in late fall.

5. Lock in the $300 Discount

This offer is ONLY available during the fall paving season and disappears when:

  • Plants close

  • Temp drops

  • The ground freezes

👉 Lock in your discount now:

https://www.eganpaving.net/contact

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Paving Contractors Near Me: How to Choose the Right Company in Albany, Colonie & the Capital Region