Also known as blacktop – known in our industry as asphalt pavement or hot mix pavement. Asphalt is an engineered mixture of aggregates. There are two basic ingredients in hot mix asphalt. The first is the aggregates (crushed stone, gravel and sand) and the second is asphalt cement (AC) – the black liquid that holds the pavement together. Mix the two ingredients and you get Hot Mix Asphalt.

Binder (also known as basecoat) and Topcoat are types of asphalt paving material, made from hot asphalt cement and aggregate. Depending on the specified use the percentages and sizes of aggregate vary. Typically a “Binder” Course also known as the load bearing coarse contains mostly 3/4” aggregate (The stone in the asphalt is larger), and is applied first at a thickness, depending on the application. “Finish” or “Top” coat contains mainly 3/8” Aggregate (the smooth topcoat that you see on most asphalt surfaces) for a smoother finish and is applied over the binder; its thickness is engineered, dependent on job specs.

We generally recommend that you wait 48 hours before driving on a new driveway; however the duration does vary depending on the time of year, how much sunlight your driveway is exposed to, as well as other factors.

In order for driveway to fully harden the Asphalt Cement needs to cure. This typically takes about a year. During the first year your new driveway may be come soft or tender on very warm days. This is normal. Care should be used on these days. For example don’t turn the steering wheel of a car without the car moving, also be aware that a jack stand, or even a bicycle kickstand could make an impression.

Most driveways are paved by a paving machine. However due to the size of the paving machine certain areas such as in front of garages, walkways or along walls are spread and raked by hand. These areas may have a slightly different texture as a result of hand tools. This is normal and as the driveway ages, these areas will become less noticeable.

A few examples are as followed: A milling machine is typically used to remove the surface material of existing pavement and the area is cleaned of loose debris on an overlay project. Distributor tanks are used to apply prime coats and/or tack coats. Dump trucks are used to transport hot mix asphalt material from the plant to the paving site and a heavy duty machine paver is used to pave a smooth pre-compacted mat. Then asphalt compactors/rollers with a vibration, are used to densify the material.

A tack coat is used on an overlay/resurface project, it is used to form a bond between an existing surface and the overlying course.

An overlay is the resurfacing of existing pavement. Existing asphalt or concrete pavements can be overlaid with hot mix asphalt with excellent results. Before paving, existing pavement should be checked for any repairs needed, cleaned of all loose debris and tacked for successful adhesion.

Asphalt thickness is engineered. Asphalt is generally 2″ thick, however it can be as thick as 4″+ depending on what kind of stresses you will put on the pavement. Pavement that is 3+” or thicker should be installed in multiple lifts/layers. (If your job is a “Spec Job”, we must follow plans/specs.)

There have been numerous studies which have shown that asphalt pavements have a lower life cycle cost. The initial cost of asphalt pavement construction is usually less than concrete. But, in addition to construction cost, an increasingly important factor is construction time. More area can be covered with asphalt pavement than with concrete in a period of time. Also, asphalt repairs are less expensive.

Asphalt is more cost effective than concrete, also less expensive to repair. It usually does not need to be removed, it can easily be resurfaced. Asphalt is designed to flex with slight settlements. See our asphalt paving advantages page.

All pavements require maintenance. Preventive maintenance is the less expensive, early detection and repair of minor defects, before major corrective action is necessary. A parking lot is an investment, as is a building, just as a building must be maintained, so must a parking lot/area.

Asphalt is a porous material, susceptible to oxidation from the sun and damage from water penetrating beneath the surface of the asphalt. Also chemicals such as gasoline, diesel fuel, oil, antifreeze and even salt. Asphalt pavement will also ravel away after time. Seal coating not only makes your pavement look new, it protects it from oxidation as well as petroleum spills. Seal coating extends the life and protects your investment in your new pavement.