Choosing the Best Asphalt for Your Paving Project

Choosing the Best Asphalt for Your Paving Project

When devising a paving project, there is a lot for property managers, owners, and planners to consider. Of the countless decisions and issues that demand their attention, choosing the correct asphalt mixture is critical. The material you pick creates the foundation of your pavement.

Experienced contractors know which combination is most suitable for your project. So, ask a dependable contractor if you want an opinion about what materials are easily obtainable on the market, their cost, durability, and timeline. Our experts on asphalt paving in Austin, TX, can provide you with all the details and support you require and high-quality, cost-effective solutions.

Porous Asphalt

Porous asphalt, also called EPA, is an environmentally-friendly material that produces a permeable surface with minute holes that permit a more natural manner of managing water. The moisture percolates through the holes to be absorbed into the earth to form underground freshwater reserves.

Hot Mix Asphalt

A hot mix is the most commonly utilized asphalt material globally and can construct all sorts of surfaces. First, the mix is warmed and poured onto a prepared foundation once it reaches a temperature between 300°F and 350°F. After it is poured, it is compressed to complete a smooth and long-lasting surface. Hot mix asphalt is used mainly during the summer months and is ideal for warmer areas. However, you shouldn't use it during winter because the material will cool off too fast.

There are three types of hot asphalt mixtures, which are detailed below.

  • Dense-graded Mix

This dense-graded mix is impenetrable and the most widely utilized hot mix option, allowing water to glide off the exterior. Also, it is ideal for all kinds of traffic.

  • Stone Matrix Asphalt

Stone matrix asphalt offers excellent durability, perseverance, and top rutting resistance, making it highly stable and durable. This mix contains an increased asphalt content, fibers, and altered asphalt binders. Due to the elevated asphalt quantity, it is typically more costly than other hot mix asphalt. It has been in service since the 1980s and offers increased drivers' safety by delivering better friction, reducing reflective cracks, and minimizing tire noise.

  • Open-Graded Mix

This hot mix asphalt differs from the others because of its permeability. It consists of grains of sand and pulverized stones. There are two categories of open-graded mixes:

  1. Open-graded friction course provides a premium surface finish, considerably smoother than dense-graded combinations. It also has more air gaps, with a minimum prerequisite of 15%. Although the production price of this material is elevated, it has a lower installation price.
  2. Asphalt-treated permeable bases are used beneath dense-graded or stone mixes to deliver better drainage.

Warm Mix

Warm mix asphalt is the second most familiar material employed in asphalt paving behind hot mix. It is layered at a lower temperature than a hot mix, allowing it to emit fewer greenhouse gases and ingest less fuel. However, despite the lower temperature, it does not cool down as fast. This mix is perfect for all kinds of surfaces and is cost-effective, pliable, and slightly more environmentally friendly.

Cold Mix

Cold mix is regularly employed in cold temperatures and winter months to fill potholes. Its application is much faster and easier than other mixes but doesn't deliver the same level of endurance.

These are some of the different types of asphalt available for your paving project. Contact us today for more information on asphalt paving.

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