Sealcoating and crack repair services are highly profitable. The bad news is most asphalt maintenance jobs can only be done during spring and summer months. Once the air turns frigid and the snow begins to fall, it's time to put your sealcoating and crack repair equipment in storage and hibernate until spring arrives.
But you don't have to take a break this season — there are many ways to make money in the winter! Here are four winter money-making ideas for asphalt contractors (and others) that can help you reach your financial goals.
Table of Contents
- Winter Pothole Repair
- Snow Plowing/Snow Removal
- Indoor Stenciling and Line Striping
- Winter Tree Maintenance
1. Winter Pothole Repair
Asphalt repair is a great way to make extra money this winter. This is when cracks and potholes start popping up left and right, due to freeze-thaw cycles. And while that's bad news for property owners, that's a great opportunity for contractors like you.
There are two types of products you can use for pothole repair during winter: cold patch asphalt filler and infrared asphalt patch.
Pothole repair using cold patch asphalt filler is one of the easiest and most lucrative services you can offer this winter. All you need to fix a pothole is a bucket or two of cold patch asphalt filler, a tamper tool, and you're good to go! No special equipment is required to apply the products, and the repaired area is ready to use after several minutes to a few hours.
Asphalt infrared patching is another service you can offer to new and existing clients this winter. Unlike cold pothole patching, you need an infrared asphalt heater to fix the depressed area.
Asphalt Infrared Patching
So how do you fix a pothole or depression with this machine? First, place the infrared asphalt heater on top of the pothole or depression. Wait 5-7 minutes for the asphalt to soften before removing the machine.
Rework the softened asphalt with a lute before dumping additional asphalt millings (if necessary). You can also spritz the area with some asphalt millings rejuvenator before tamping it down. Make sure that the entire surface is flat and even before resuming regular use of the asphalt.
There are only a few products that you can use to patch asphalt during winter, but the good news is that they are pretty durable and can withstand low temperatures. Visit our cold asphalt patch repair and asphalt infrared patching pages to learn more about these products.
2. Snow Plowing/Snow Removal
Interested in making money through the winter? Why not offer snow plowing or snow removal services? You probably already have the tools and equipment sitting in your garage or storage area for this, so it's going to be easy-peasy.
But if you're new to this and you have no clue on which equipment, supply, or tool to purchase, then don't worry because we've got you covered.
Ice and snow melter: Applying ice and snow melter is a great addition to your existing asphalt maintenance, lawn care, or gardening business. While it's true that de-icers are easy to apply for any property owner or facility manager, not everyone can set aside the time for this task.
Before you order some ice and snow melter, make sure that it is pet- and plant-friendly, as well as safe to use on asphalt or concrete. Invest in a walk-behind or a tailgate spreader to make the process easier for you.
Snow pushers and snow throwers: If money is an issue, then it's best to purchase a snow pusher first. Most snow pushers cost less than $100, so it will not make a significant dent in your budget.
Truck with snow pusher installed at the front.
But if you want to splurge a little and be more efficient, then invest in a snow thrower. The most affordable ones can be purchased for less than $200, but more popular brands offer pricier models ($250 and beyond).
Related: How To Winterize Sealcoat Equipment
Snowplows: Why be stuck out in the cold when you could remove snow from driveways and parking lots from within the comfort of your own car, right? With snowplows, you can do just that.
Snowplows are available in different configurations and can be attached to different vehicles. When winter weather arrives, you can easily convert your pickup truck or utility vehicle into a handy snowplow.
Power brooms: Last but not least, is power brooms. Yes, that surface prep equipment that you use to remove loose rocks and dust from pavement can also be used to remove snow from sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots. If you do not have one yet, then it is a good idea to invest in one now, such as Asphalt Kingdom's Hydra Walk-Behind Power Broom.
3. Indoor Stenciling and Line Striping
With the ground covered in snow and ice, it's time to offer line striping services to new and existing customers. Some of the facilities you can approach include warehouses, factories, airports, hangars, and more. You can also paint indoor sports centers, basketball courts, tennis courts, indoor arenas, and more.
You may have some letter and number stencils lying around in your storage area. Don't let them (and the paint) go to waste this winter. Use them to stencil numbers and letters in indoor parking lots.
4. Winter Tree Maintenance
For an off-beat way to make extra money this winter, consider tree lopping and pruning.
Winter's a good time to prune and lop off tree branches because most of the leaves have fallen by now. This gives you a better line of sight on the tree branches, making them easier to trim. But before you get too excited, make sure that you study everything about tree pruning and that you have all the tools on hand.
Tools you'll need to get started when tree pruning:
- Pruning shears
- Loppers
- Pruning saw
- Electric and gas-powered pole saw
- Ladder
But hold your horses! Before getting too excited about cutting those branches, here are some dos and don'ts on tree lopping and pruning.
Dos:
- Know everything you need about tree care before you offer this service.
- Use sharp shears, loppers, and saws.
- Be extra careful when mounting a ladder while holding any of these tools.
Don'ts :
- Do not touch or cut branches 10 feet from electrical wires.
- Do not be overzealous with pruning. Remove only as much as 25% of the foliage.
- Do not cut too closely on the branch's collar.
There you have it, four ways asphalt contractors can make extra money this winter. Browse our blog for more asphalt repair business resources or reach out to us at 1-866-399-5562 for free expert advice.
