If you’re planning for a new driveway or private road, you have the choice between hot and cold mix asphalt. While these two have different qualities and uses, paving contractors prefer hot mix asphalt for most projects. To learn more about if it's the right fit for your construction, use the guide below.
What Is Hot Mix Asphalt?
Hot mix asphalt is a combination of stone, sand, or gravel, with asphalt cement as a binder. Additives are often incorporated into the composition design to improve the mixture. These can be binder modifiers such as polymers, fibers, latex, or aggregates like lime and granulated rubber.
The hot mix paving is mixed at high temperatures—ranging from 300 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit—in a production facility, then loaded into trucks to be transported to the job site. Once at the project location, the paving contractor will pour the heated mixture and compact it by driving a pneumatic or steel roller over the freshly laid asphalt.
Why Choose Hot Mix Paving?
Paving contractors use hot mix asphalt because of its durability. Heating the mixture allows the aggregates to bind more strongly, allowing the pavement to handle and withstand constant use.
Hot mix asphalt is malleable due to its design mix. Its flexibility allows the pavement to contract and expand with ease during temperature fluctuations, making it less prone to cracking in locations with extreme temperature changes.
Hot mix paving allows for quicker installation than concrete. It cools down and hardens within a few hours, minimizing traffic buildup and wait times.
