Which Type Of Asphalt Mix Is Best For Your Paving Project? - Doctor Asphalt

Planning to install an asphalt driveway or parking lot on your Maplewood, MN property? Asphalt is a great construction material. It is cost-effective, eco-friendly, and highly durable. However, part of the success with a paving project involves choosing the right asphalt mix.

At Doctor Asphalt, we perform high-quality paving and maintenance work for residential and commercial properties. Click here to get a free quote.

You can mix and match asphalt cement varieties and create infinite combinations. Today, we list down the main types of asphalt mixes available on the market. This info will help you manage your paving project better.

Asphalt Mix Varieties

Many factors account for differences in asphalt mixes. Contactors usually look at:

• Granularity
• Stress tolerance
• Thickness
• Temperature (at which the cement is heated)

Based on these factors, we will now go over four types of asphalt mixes: Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA), Cold Mix Asphalt (CMA), Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA), and Porous Asphalt.

HMA

First on our list is hot mix asphalt. The aggregate and binding materials in this asphalt mix are heated up to 3500⁰F. The material is laid out when it is extremely hot. HMA is the most commonly-used asphalt mix in paving projects because the pavement becomes really sturdy when cooled.

Benefits of HMA:

• Ideal for paving in warmer months
• Cools down quickly for fast asphalt installation
• Melts snow and ice faster

If you are paving in winters, however, HMA can cool quickly before curing fully.

CMA

Slightly weaker than hot mix asphalt, CMA is also a viable choice for pavement construction. Additives and oils in CMA allow contractors to pave in winters. It is best for surfaces that receive little wear and tear.

Benefits of CMA:

• Ideal for repair work in winters
• No heating required
• Available year-round for quick asphalt solutions

If you are looking for a middle path between cold and hot mixes, you can always go for warm mix asphalt.

WMA

Warm mix asphalt is heated up to 2500⁰F and can be used for paving in winters as well. This versatility is making WMA a popular choice among contractors. It is also a safe and eco-friendly choice since it has lesser petroleum content than HMA.

Benefits of WMA:

• Ideal for paving in any season
• Safe for workers
• Environmentally-friendly

Overall, asphalt mixes offer a ‘green’ element to construction, mainly because asphalt is 100% recyclable.

Porous 

When we talk about eco-friendly asphalt mixes, you can also go for porous asphalt. As the name suggests, this asphalt mix has tiny holes that allow water to pour naturally in underground water beds.

Benefits of porous asphalt:

• Keeps your pavement safe from water damage
• Businesses can receive tax cuts by option for eco-friendly asphalt

At Doctor Asphalt, we perform a full range of paving and repair services in Maplewood, MN. Click here to get a free quote. We will also help choose the right asphalt mix.