For many contractors, the end of the year means the end of another paving season. And although the off-season varies depending on what part of the country you are in, the maintenance that needs to be done during this downtime is applicable to all contractors. End-of-season maintenance is essential to ensure your paver will work properly and efficiently at the beginning of the next paving season.

"Downtime for repair in the paving season is too costly," says Mark Bolick, service manager for LeeBoy. "Time and money spent in the off-season is preventative maintenance and a wise investment in your business." It does not matter what point during the off-season you do your maintenance, but the bottom line is it needs to be done. Contractors who are unsure of what to do should follow the recommended maintenance procedures in the unit's operator manual, Bolick says.

"Winter maintenance is above and beyond all general lubrication and maintenance," says John Hood, sales manager for Bomag Americas. "You can lube and change filters anytime, but that's more of general maintenance." Off-season maintenance is much more thorough and detailed than routine maintenance done during the paving season. Bolick suggests a thorough cleaning of the paver be the first step in preparing for the off-season. Steve Kirst, product manager-pavers for the Gehl Company, agrees. He says all asphalt build-up should be removed before any maintenance is done. The next step is to perform an all-around servicing of the unit.

Hood recommends that contractors start from the ground up. He says to inspect the undercarriage for problems like loose pads. Next, look for holes in the conveyor. After a thorough look at the conveyor bed Hood says to look at the tractor assembly and finally your screed assembly. Although he says contractors don't typically need to inspect the screed assembly every year, all bearings and wear surfaces should be checked during the off-season.

In fact, Hood says the overall wear surfaces of a paver are the biggest things a contractor needs to pay attention to. "You want to make sure all of your wear surfaces are cleaned and prepped and ready to go, and replaced if need be," he says. The downtime of the off-season is the best time to do more in-depth maintenance because you are not losing any time on jobs. He also says this is the best time to replace bent components or give your paver a new coat of paint.