Before embarking on a project to repair asphalt pavement, there are a few things that you should know about hot mix asphalt pavement. Also known as hot mix bitumen, it is one of the most cost effective asphalt paving mixes available. It also helps to create an extremely smooth overlay and last longer than other types of asphalt repair methods.
What is Hot Mix Asphalt Pavement?
Hot mix asphalt pavement is a mix of mostly stone, sand or gravel that is blended with an aggregate of asphalt cement. The asphalt cement is mixed at a high temperature and then laid down layer-by-layer to create a pavement structure. It is used for main roads and highways because it is highly durable and therefore, it can handle the high volumes of traffic. There are three types of asphalt paving mixes: dense-graded mixes, stone matrix asphalt, and open-graded mixes.
Dense-Graded Mixes
Dense-graded mixes are the most common type of road hot mix because they are the most permeable and the most damage-resistant. They can be fine-graded or coarse, depending on the type of mixture aggregates that are used. Dense-graded mixes can be used for all purposes and they are suitable for all structural, friction, leveling and patching jobs as needed.
Stone Matrix Asphalt
Stone matrix asphalt has gaps in it that are purposely implemented in order to prevent rutting and so that they can sustain durability. While it is typically more expensive than its dense-graded counterpart, this is because it requires a lot stronger and more durable materials to hold it together. In some cases, however, stone matrix asphalt is actually more cost effective in the long run because it does not need to be replaced as often and is therefore one of the more affordable asphalt paving mixes.
Open-Graded Mixes
Open-graded mixes are designed to be the most water-resistant out of the three due to the fact that they are usually made of crushed stones and fine-grade sands. This creates a smooth surface which allows water to flow easily right off of the surface of the pavement without causing any erosion.
There are two types of open-graded mixes: open-graded friction course and asphalt-treated permeable bases.
Open-Graded Friction Course
This mix typically has about 15 percent air voids and there is no maximum or minimum amount of air voids specified. The open-graded friction mix is used for the surface layer of the asphalt only as it is typically weather-resistant and prevents water splash-back from cars in wet weather conditions.
Asphalt-Treated Permeable Bases
Asphalt-treated permeable bases are used strictly under dense-graded hot mix bitumen, stone matrix asphalt or concrete. Its main purpose is to facilitate drainage of water.
The Advantages of Hot Mix Asphalt
There are many advantages to using hot mix asphalt as a primary asphalt repair method, especially for driveways. For one thing, it is highly cost-effective in the long run and for another thing, in most cases it is guaranteed to last at least 25 years. For road use, however, asphalt pavement repairs might need to be done more frequently due to higher volumes of traffic.
Hot mix asphalt repairs are the best way to permanently fix potholes because they offer a more long term solution and will be less costly than a simply cold patch in the long run. A cold patch is an easy, short-term solution to a long-term problem, such as potholes. With a simple cold patch, you are just covering up the surface of the pothole so that cars can still drive over it, but over time, the surface cover will begin to degrade.
Repairing the pothole with hot mix asphalt is a much more permanent solution that will end up saving you money in the long run. The pothole is first hollowed out and then the hot mix asphalt is poured, encompassing every possible crevice so there are no air voids in the depth of the pothole. This will ensure that the pothole will remain sealed and covered for a much longer period of time.
Contact Sure-Seal Pavement Maintenance for Asphalt Pavement Repair in Toronto
Sure-Seal Pavement Maintenance Inc. has over 20 years of experiencing working in all types of asphalt repair and we are always willing to offer premium services for affordable pricing. For more information, please call our number 416-410-3705 or if you’re in Toronto, 416-410-3705.