What Are The Types Of Mix For Morgantown Blacktop Paving Companies?
Did you know that Morgantown blacktop paving companies can use different types of asphalt mixes to create and patch paved surfaces? Asphalt is one of the best materials for residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal paving, but different mixes bring distinct properties that can make one better than another in specific situations. In this blog, we’ll cover the options that your asphalt paving company may recommend.
What Is the Standard Choice for Morgantown Blacktop Paving Companies?
Asphalt companies in Morgantown typically use hot-mix asphalt (HMA). It’s the standard choice because it offers superb workability and impressive strength after compaction.
During the manufacturing process, asphalt companies heat the various ingredients to temperatures up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. At that stage, the bitumen binder becomes molten, effectively fusing with the aggregates to create a highly workable material.
It arrives at the job site still hot, and blacktop paving companies work quickly to lay and compact the material before it cools too much. When the temperature drops to around 185 degrees, the material becomes too rigid. At that point, compaction becomes difficult, and the integrity of the finished surface will suffer.
When Would an Asphalt Company in Morgantown Choose Cold-Mix Asphalt?
Your blacktop paving company may choose to use cold-mix asphalt (CMA) during the winter or whenever using standard HMA is not possible. In the winter, cool air and ground temperatures make working with hot asphalt impractical. The material cools way too fast. However, blacktop paving companies still need to make repairs and patch damaged asphalt.
That’s where CMA comes in. Asphalt companies in Morgantown create this mix by combining ingredients at room temperature. Rather than standard bitumen, the binder of choice is an asphalt emulsion that cools via air exposure. The material is workable in cold temperatures, making critical repairs possible even in the dead of winter.
What’s important to know is that your blacktop paving company will use CMA as a temporary solution. It can reduce the risk of further damage and support heavy loads, ensuring your paved surface is safe and functional. However, its purpose is to buy time until conditions are better for your asphalt paving company to provide more permanent solutions later.
What If Black Top Paving Needs Significant Strength and a High Load-Bearing Capacity?
When your black top paving needs to be super-strong, your contractor may use dense-grade asphalt. Asphalt companies in Morgantown typically use this mix for highways, industrial properties, and other situations that require incredible durability.
The aggregates in dense-grade asphalt come in various sizes. During compaction, the smaller pieces effortlessly fill the voids between larger ones. The result is an ultra-dense surface with virtually no air gaps. Your asphalt company in Morgantown may recommend this material when your plans call for pavement with exceptionally high load-bearing capabilities. When engineered properly and laid to the right thickness, it’ll hold up to a lot more than standard black top paving.
When Would Morgantown Blacktop Paving Companies Use Warm-Mix or Porous Asphalt?
Warm-mix and porous asphalt are two eco-friendly alternatives to standard hot black top paving. During production, warm-mix asphalt reaches temperatures of 200 to 250 degrees. It’s a more fuel-efficient process that reduces emissions and lowers a project’s carbon footprint while creating a material that performs well across the temperature spectrum.
Porous asphalt has tiny gaps between the aggregates. It allows water to flow through instead of collecting on the surface. Blacktop paving companies often use porous material in flood-prone areas or when environmental impacts are a concern. Rainfall can refill groundwater, reducing stormwater pollution and lowering the risk of soil erosion.
Both are great options and worth discussing with your asphalt paving company.
Not sure which mix is right for your project? Erskine Paving can help you decide by developing solutions for all your paving needs. We’re a trusted asphalt company in Morgantown with years of proven experience and a commitment to quality. We’re a blacktop paving company that cares, working closely with clients to produce finished surfaces that last.
In addition to asphalt paving, Erskine Paving offers services like repairs, sealcoating, resurfacing, gravel hauling, dirt work, line striping, and more. Let’s talk shop! Get your free project quote today by calling Erskine Paving at (304) 892-8576, emailing Erskinesealcoating@gmail.com, or submitting our online form.