Asphalt Paving Types And Their Uses - John Myers Construction

Asphalt is a paving material that is made up of asphalt and aggregate. It is often used for roadways and parking lots because it can be textured to provide a skid-resistant surface. Asphalt material is durable and can last for many years provided it is well-maintained. And it is usually applied by contractors who have years of experience working with this material.

Read more as we’re going to talk about asphalt paving types and their uses in today’s article.

Paving Types Using Asphalt Material

There are many types of asphalt that can be used for your paving project. So in this section, we’re going to tackle these types and also the dissimilarities:

Hot-Mix Asphalt – This is one of the most common types of paving that you can find in a construction project. It is also called hot-mix, blacktop, or bitumen. Hot-mix type of pavement can be further classified into 3 different categories: open graded hot-mix, stone-matrix mix, and dense-grade mix.

Open graded hot-mix is a type of mix that includes crushed stones and sand. It can effectively endure freezing and thawing, but it is recommended to be applied immediately as it hardens very quickly.

On the other hand, a stone-matrix mix has higher asphalt content and is known to resist rutting. It is the most expensive among the 3 types of hot-mixes and it’s very durable.

Dense-graded mixes are known for their impermeability which allows water to run away from the top layer of the pavement.

Warm-Mix Asphalt – This type of paving material is applied between temperatures of 50° to 100°. And the reduction in temperature has energy and cost-saving benefits, making it an ideal eco-friendly option due to the reduction of fuel consumption and greenhouse gas.
Porous Asphalt – This material has a porous texture to allow the water to drain from the surface and down to the soil bed, making it a cost-effective solution if you are looking to have an asphalt paving process with a long lifespan.
Perpetual Paving – This method of paving involves a multi-layer process. First, a flexible layer is applied to prevent the surface from cracking, then a sturdy middle layer is added. Finally, the last layer known as the driving surface is applied to complete the process.

Perpetual paving is a great choice for extending the lifespan of the pavement and is also cost-effective as you don’t have to replace the asphalt sooner.

Thin Overlay Paving – This type of paving is made up of recycled materials and is often applied to improve ride quality and reduce pavement distress. Thin overlays are also known to reduce lifecycle costs and noise levels of the road.
Quiet Asphalt Paving – This method of paving uses stone mix asphalt to reduce the noise level of the road by up to 50%, making it an ideal choice for roads and pavements with heavy vehicle traffic.
MC Cold Mix Paving – This method of paving is often applied in areas with colder temperatures, so the curing time is longer. The MC cold mix paving is only used as a quick fix and not a permanent solution to addressing asphalt issues.
UPM Asphalt – Lastly, this method of paving is applicable to all kinds of weather conditions and is seen as a permanent fix for addressing wet or dry potholes and cracks. And it cures quickly after application.

How About Sealcoating?

So when to seal a driveway after paving? Sealcoating is a necessary process to protect the pavement and maintain a good appearance of the asphalt. And once you have decided on the type of paving to do your area, its recommended to hire a paving company like Biondi Paving in Sacramento, CA to ensure quality work.