WHY ASPHALT IS STILL THE KING OF PAVING

Why Use Asphalt Instead Of Concrete?

Though concrete once was used for paving roads, parking lots, and other projects, asphalt paving is the preferred choice today. To begin to understand why asphalt paving is superior to concrete paving, one should know how asphalt and concrete are made.

Concrete is made using aggregate (like crushed rock and sand), along with cement and water. The cement acts as the binder in concrete, holding the aggregate together. As the mixture dries it forms a stiff, unforgiving solid that is prone to cracking and breaking, especially if the surface beneath it is not perfectly smooth.
Like concrete, asphalt is made using aggregate. Its binder however, is bitumen. Bitumen is a dark, sticky substance derived from crude oil. While asphalt is extremely hard and durable, it offers enough flexibility to accommodate imperfections in underlying surfaces, a feature that concrete sorely lacks.
The other advantages of asphalt paving over concrete are plentiful, one advantage is that removal & replacement of damaged asphalt is a simple and relatively easy process compared to concrete. Asphalt construction projects can be finished and opened for traffic much faster and with a lot less expense than concrete.
Maintenance and repair of asphalt pavement is faster and less costly than that of concrete pavement as well. Repairing minor cracks in asphalt driveways and walkways can be so easy that homeowners can tackle this maintenance project themselves. Asphalt crack repair can be done by a single person in one afternoon. This simple, inexpensive task can increase the longevity of an asphalt surface significantly.
When more than just simple asphalt crack repair is needed, the solution still requires less time and money if one chooses asphalt paving over concrete paving. Unlike concrete, which needs to be removed and replaced when significant cracks appear, asphalt can be resurfaced in much less time and at a fraction of the cost!
Even better, asphalt resurfacing, while returning the asphalt to its original smoothness, also adds structural integrity so that it can continue to provide a durable and pleasant driving surface under higher traffic volumes and increased vehicle weight.

Consider The Climate

The first thing to consider is the climate where the project is located. In colder climates, where there is a hard winter, there is no doubt that asphalt is the better material to use for driveways, roadways and parking lots. Here are a few key reasons why:

Upstate New York gets extreme heaving effects from the freezing and thawing of the seasons. Asphalt will flex with the freeze and thaw. Concrete is prone to frost heaves, expansion and contraction, which will cause damage and deterioration.
Concrete deteriorates with salt use, which is spread on roads to melt snow and ice.
Asphalt is not affected by the cold and does not deteriorate from salt use.
Asphalt pavement absorbs more heat from the sun causing snow and ice to melt much quicker than concrete.

Why Asphalt?

From production and paving, to reclaiming, recycling and remanufacturing, asphalt is clearly the sustainable pavement of choice. In fact, approximately 94% of all paved surfaces in the United States are paved with asphalt due to the many advantages that asphalt provides.

Advantages Of Asphalt

For initial construction and over the long haul, asphalt pavement saves money on construction and maintenance. Typically, concrete is around 35% more costly than asphalt. The average asphalt driveway will cost from $2 to $6 per square foot. Installing a concrete driveway, on the other hand, will cost $4 to $10 per square foot.
Asphalt driveways can last up to 30 years – Quality craftsmanship is essential!
Unlike other more rigid materials, such as concrete, asphalt pavements are designed to flex and "give" with slight settlements or frost heave.
Low consumption of energy for production & construction; Asphalt pavements require about 20% less energy to produce & construct than other pavements.
Pavement smoothness is a significant determinant of vehicle fuel economy. Simply stated, the smoother the pavement, the less fuel consumed by the vehicle.
Because of its dark color it won't show stains easily.

The Most Important Advantage

Asphalt is 100% recyclable and is also America’s number one recycled product – more than newspaper, aluminum cans, or glass. About 100 million tons of old asphalt pavement is reclaimed every year, with about 60 million tons reused in new asphalt mixes, and some 40 million used in other pavement related applications, such as aggregate road base. Due to the heavy demand of asphalt for recycling purposes, you will rarely find this material taking up valuable and limited landfill space! When asphalt pavement is recycled, the old asphalt is ground up and reused. This is not always the case with concrete, which must be hauled away and disposed of in an environmentally approved facility.

What Is Hot Mix Asphalt?

Hot Mix Asphalt is an engineered mixture of aggregate (Stones and Sand) with liquid asphalt cement (a petroleum product). Varying sizes of aggregates are heated then mixed in exact proportions with asphalt cement that has been liquefied at about 300°F. While the mixture is still hot it is delivered to your property and specially designed paving machines place the mixture to the required thickness and grade specifications atop a prepared base or Subbase. The mixture is then rolled to desired compaction density, and very soon after, the mixture cools & hardens, and usually can be walked on within one-hour. Depending on weather conditions, you should wait at least 3 days to drive on it.

From New Construction, To All Types Of Repairs,
ASPHALT BEATS CONCRETE EVERYTIME.
Count On Asphalt For Attractive, Long-Lasting Performance &
A Substantial savings of both time & money!