There are different types of asphalt to meet the various needs of what it is going to be used for. Our goal is to give you the very best grand rapids road repair options.
We all see our paved roads and highways daily, but have you ever wondered what makes those up? Let’s take a look at the different types of asphalt and what they are. Of course, there are endless sub-categories of these but were just going to cover a few of the most popular types.
Cold Mix Asphalt
Cold-mix asphalt remains pliable even in colder temperatures. We often see this used for pothole repairs as it is very flexible and pliable. The mixture is pretty easy, which means that it can be manufactured just about anywhere. It is good for repelling water and keeping the pothole from getting bigger.
Porous Asphalt
Porous asphalt actually comes with some tax benefits as they would prefer people to use this material. It allows the water to go through and drain as it would naturally into the ground. This means that the rainwater is purified as it would be if it were in a field or other basic ground. This is a wonderful way to deal with stormwater and it is more environmentally friendly than some of the other options.
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Cold Mix Asphalt
Cold-mix asphalt remains pliable even in colder temperatures, so it can be used in both hot and cold environments easily. We often see this used for pothole repairs as it is very quick, easy and cost-effective. The mixture is pretty easy, which means that it can be manufactured just about anywhere. It is good for repelling water and keeping the pothole from getting bigger but it is not as durable as other options, meaning it should mostly be used for temporary projects.
Porous Asphalt
Porous asphalt actually comes with some tax benefits as they would prefer people to use this material. It allows the water to go through and drain as it would naturally into the ground. This means that the rainwater is purified as it would be if it were in a field or other basic ground. This is a wonderful way to deal with stormwater and it is more environmentally friendly than some of the other options. Although there are a lot of pros to this asphalt it can be very expensive and also hard to find since most companies don’t make it. It also needs to be checked on regularly to make sure that it remains safe and works properly.
Warm Mix Asphalt
This is asphalt that is made with asphalt binding materials at approx 200-250°F. It uses fewer fossil fuels than some of the other asphalt options, so it’s one of the more environmentally safe options for asphalt. It can be used in a versatile way since it can be used in some of the same ways as hot mix asphalt (highways and roads). Yet it can also be used for smaller projects like driveways and parking lots. Since this asphalt hasn’t been around for as long as the others, long-term effects are unknown just yet so it is yet to be discovered if it is as durable as hot mix asphalt.
Hot Mix Asphalt
Hot mix asphalt (HMA) is the most commonly used asphalt for building our roads and infrastructure. It’s durable and meant for high-traffic environments which is why it’s great for roads and highways. Since it’s also unaffected by water and any other weather conditions it does well for many different projects.
There are 3 categories of the HMA which are:
- Open Graded Mixes
- Dense Graded Mixes
- Stone Matrix
The dense grade comes in fine and course as well. This means that the fine grade will have more small stones and sand in it. While the course grade is more course. This type of mix has many advantages and great uses, but it also can be dangerous so you have to make sure that everyone involved with hot asphalt is specially trained.
Stone Matrix Asphalt
Stone matrix asphalt (SMA) carries another name which is stone mastic asphalt and is used on surfaces that have high traffic volume. It has been around since 1990, so it is one of the newer versions and it’s rut-resistant which means that it ensures a smooth road. It also has higher durability and can prolong the life of the current asphalt that is already down.
We hope that you have been able to learn something about the various mixtures of asphalt. Hopefully, we were able to tell you something you haven’t heard of before. We are here for your Holland Road repair or Parking lot repair needs.