Many roads in America are surfaced with asphalt. In fact, according to the National Asphalt Pavement Association, there are 2.6 million miles worth of paved roads in the country, and 94% of it uses asphalt as its primary surface. The professionals who perform the work don’t use one main type of asphalt, though, including when it’s time for professional asphalt repairs. Here are just seven types of asphalt used in the industry depending on what outdoor conditions dictate.
1. Hot Mix
When people see workers laying down asphalt, using rollers, and doing paving work, whether it’s on roads or pavements, the hot mix is usually the type of material that they’re using. Its name indicates the temperature that it’s heated at, which is above 300 degrees Fahrenheit, per the Federal Highway Administration. Once it’s heated properly, it’s then poured onto the ground. When it’s hot, it’s extremely easy to spread and set up. The downside of it is that it cools down very fast, which means that the workers using it have to know what they’re doing.
You’ll usually see professionals performing this work in the summer or when the temperature will stay above 50 degrees. At this temperature and above, the hot is mix easy to manage and prevents extra asphalt repairs from needing to be completed later on.
2. Warm Mix
This newer type of asphalt allows the workers to extend the paving season. The Federal Highway Administration states that warm mix is 30 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit lower than hot mix during the mixing process and remains lower for the rest of the job. Workers can lay it out and take more time to get the exact consistency and smoothness without rushing. The warm mix also doesn’t require it to be extremely hot outside; therefore, professionals can pave in the cooler seasons, like the fall and the spring.
Another reason why people like this advance in asphalt technology is that it’s better for the environment. When the mix is made, it requires less fuel, which translates into fewer greenhouse gases making their way into the atmosphere. This is safer for the planet and can help our environment in the future.
3. Cold Mix
Cold mix is best used for temporary asphalt repairs until the weather warms up and a stronger type of asphalt mix can be applied. It’s an excellent stopgap, though, especially if the asphalt surface isn’t in the best condition. This type also allows workers to do their jobs even if the temperatures aren’t optimal for paving work. It just requires some diligence when it comes to checking how it looks, and if it doesn’t stay, then another layer can be applied.
While cold mix can be used when the temperatures drop below a certain threshold, it should not be used in large amounts. This is because it’s not strong enough to stand up to repetitive driving, which would make it a bad choice for paving roads or driveways. Instead, it’s better to judiciously use it for time-sensitive asphalt repairs.
4. Dense-Graded Mix
Dense-graded mix is known as a multi-use hot asphalt. It’s strong enough to be used for everything from a highway to a driveway. It’s a hot mix, which means that it needs to be monitored or applied during hot days. However, it’s also a step up from traditional hot asphalt. That’s because it’s either fine-graded or coarse-graded, depending on the situation. What that means is that it can be smooth; on the other hand, you can see some coarseness or roughness in it, too.
When people are deciding what kind of asphalt to use, they have to consider things like traffic conditions. This type of asphalt makes that a moot issue thanks to its versatility. It can be used in all kinds of traffic conditions. It’s also extremely impermeable, which will keep it from getting cracked when the weather gets cold, unlike some other types of surfaces.
5. Porous Asphalt Mix
There are times when it’s good to have water go through the ground. You don’t want to have parking lots with huge puddles, especially after a big rainstorm. The porous material lets the water go through and soak into the stone recharge bed and then the soil. This is a great way to manage the situation in areas that are prone to getting a lot of rain.
It’s also great for the environment since the soil will get the water it needs. It’ll also keep sewers from getting overloaded while also being beneficial for local aquifers. This is a very durable type of asphalt, too, lasting up to 20 years or more, per ScienceDirect.
6. Mastic Asphalt Mix
Mastic asphalt is known as a bituminous material. This means that it’s made of a mixture of asphalt and a rubber or plastic material. To use mastic asphalt in the paving process, asphalt must be heated on its own and then mixed with rubber or plastic material. The black and sticky substance that results is excellent for sealing cracks in roads as well as paving driveways, highways, parking lots, and more.
7. Asphalt Emulsion Mix
Hence the name, asphalt emulsion mix consists of emulsifiers, water, and asphalt cement. This type of mix is used on roads with traffic volumes that are typically moderate to low. Asphalt emulsion is often used for overlay, paving, and patching projects.
Emulsifiers allow this type of asphalt mix to be used in environments with lower temperatures. This is because this part of the mix effectively reduces asphalt viscosity. The emulsifiers look like a thick brown liquid when applied but once it sets, the color changes to black.
What Type of Asphalt Is Best for My Commercial Project?
Do you need professionals to perform asphalt repairs for your commercial property? The best step you can take is to talk to an expert about the type of project you need to complete and the timeline you’d like to stick to. They’ll be able to walk you through the types of asphalt that they use and determine which will be best for your particular project. They’ll take your weather conditions, the season, and other details into consideration.
It’s best for asphalt paving and repairs to be handled by trained and experienced professionals. You might be tempted to try to do it yourself, but there are a lot of mistakes that can be made by a beginner, including the improper laying of the foundation. You don’t want to have to call in someone to fix something on top of what you already did, as you’ll waste money. Skip that initial misstep and hire a dependable commercial company that understands the best steps to take for your asphalt needs.
Are you looking for a company that can handle professional commercial asphalt repairs and paving in the St Louis, MO area? Offering over 40 years of experience, our team at Ford Asphalt Company can help! We’re accredited by the Better Business Bureau, and we use our extensive knowledge to your advantage. We focus on providing excellent customer service, too. Contact us today to learn more about how we can meet your commercial asphalt and paving needs. We also offer concrete services you can utilize! Call today.
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