I live in northeast Ohio, and as I sit here writing to you today, it was nearly 70 degrees outside...in November. No matter what your thoughts on the climate are I can tell you this for certain: every contractor I've talked to this year has, albeit excitedly, told me that they're season was still chugging along. I asked each of them the same question, "Is this fairly normal?" and they each told me plainly, "No."
Some of you used to end your seasons in mid-October, some at the start of November, and some of you reading this right now in northern states might still be taking calls. Things are different. What might you be able to do differently with an offseason that is shorter and warmer than it's ever been?
Some contractors have relied on snow removal services in years past, but even in NE Ohio there's been historic lows in snowfall over the last five years. If that's true in your part of the country, then it might be time to consider other options to pick up the slack.
Peace On Earth, Good Will Toward Asphalt
Not everyone, but some of you might be able to take advantage of the warmer off-season by keeping on standby a smaller asphalt team. Perhaps, you're not going to take on a full paving job, but you could consider talking to a learner version of your paving team who are interested in making extra money and would be ready and willing to do smaller repair work:
- Pothole patching
- Saw cuts and replacement
- Catch basin repairs
- Speedbump/speedtable installations
These are just a few ideas to get you started, but getting in touch with your local municipal office might reveal other types of repair or maintenance services that they need done over the traditional holiday months.
You might be wondering, "Ok, but where am I going to get asphalt if the plants are closed."
There are a few ways at handling this issue. The most straightforward way is to get your hands on an asphalt reclaimer and a decent sized hotbox. Now, this might require some small foresight, but it's extremely doable. Having some reclaimed or even virgin asphalt leftover at the end of the season isn't a heavy lift. You may need to look into some rejuvinators or other products to elevate the quality of the material to higher standard, but, again, that just takes some preplanning.
The Ghost Of Christmas Yet To Come
Of course, the easiest, and sometimes the smartest, thing to do with your offseason is to upgrade and/or maintenance your equipment during the offseason. If you're finding yourself with fewer weeks of offseason maintenance time because you took a few later/extra jobs, then you're going to need to carefully manage the weeks you do have so that you're not behind when it comes time for the spring rush.
Personally, I like downtime. I think it's important to take time away, step back, recharge and refresh. However, that might not be for everyone, and you've got to make the call for your business. Whatever you decide to do, make sure to take stock during the holidays and appreciate the ones around you! Happy holidays, and I'll see you on the road!
