Is infrared asphalt repair available in Ottawa and does it actually work in cold weather?

Infrared asphalt repair is available in Ottawa and has become increasingly popular for targeted driveway resurfacing, though its effectiveness depends on conditions and the scope of the damage.

How Infrared Repair Works

Infrared repair uses a large heating panel that radiates heat onto the existing asphalt, softening it to a workable temperature (typically around 150 to 175 degrees Celsius internally) without burning the surface. Once the asphalt is pliable, the contractor rakes and re-levels the softened material, adds fresh hot-mix asphalt if needed, and compacts the area with a roller. The result is a seamless, bonded repair because the old and new asphalt fuse together while hot.

Advantages Over Traditional Patching

Conventional cold patching or cut-and-fill repairs create a joint between old and new material. In Ottawa, where freeze-thaw cycles occur repeatedly from late October through April, water infiltrates these joints, freezes, expands, and pops the patch loose within a season or two. Infrared repair eliminates the joint entirely, creating a monolithic surface that resists water penetration far better.

For homeowners in Kanata, Barrhaven, or Orleans dealing with localised depressions, small cracks, or utility cut repairs, infrared is often the most cost-effective approach. A typical spot repair costs $300 to $800 depending on the area size, compared to the higher cost of saw-cutting and replacing an entire section.

Cold Weather Limitations

Here is where expectations need to be realistic. Infrared repair can technically be performed in colder temperatures because the heating panel generates its own heat, but there are practical limits. When ambient temperatures drop below -5 degrees Celsius, the heated asphalt loses temperature very quickly once the panel is removed, leaving a very short window for raking and compaction. Most Ottawa contractors will perform infrared work from April through November and avoid deep-winter months.

The ground temperature matters as much as the air temperature. If the sub-base is frozen solid, the repaired area can still heave and crack when the frost pushes upward. Spring and fall are ideal because the surface is accessible but the ground is not yet deeply frozen.

What Infrared Cannot Fix

Infrared repair is designed for surface-level issues. It will not fix base failure, deep alligator cracking caused by a compromised granular layer, or areas where the driveway has sunk due to poor compaction or Leda clay settlement. If the structural base is the problem, the contractor will need to excavate and rebuild that section before any surface treatment will last.

Ottawa-Specific Considerations

Ottawa's combination of heavy snowfall (averaging 200 centimetres per season), road salt runoff, and municipal snowplow damage to driveway aprons makes infrared an excellent option for maintaining driveways between full resurfacing jobs. Many Nepean and Gloucester homeowners use infrared to fix plow-damaged edges every few years rather than waiting for the entire driveway to deteriorate.

Browse local contractors on Ottawa Driveways to find companies offering infrared asphalt repair in your neighbourhood.

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Looking for experienced contractors? The Ottawa Construction Network connects Ottawa homeowners with qualified professionals:

• Justyn Rook Contracting
• RenoMotion Inc.
• The Granite shop
• Renovo Construction
• Demontigny Carpentry