A heating head for a paving apparatus includes a substantially cylindrical head housing, having a top housing edge axially spaced from a bottom housing edge, a sidewall having a spiral cross-sectional shape and a laterally extending top housing cover attached to at least a portion of the top housing edge. The head housing defines an air chamber and is adapted to accept and direct airflow through the heating head. The sidewall defines an intake vent at a radially outward end and an air chamber inlet at a radially inward end. The intake vent and air chamber inlet are spaced apart and in mutual fluid communication via an elongated circumferentially extending air passage to direct airflow from an exterior of the heating head to the air chamber.