- Asphalt driveways provide a very rugged, durable and smooth surface for a driveway outside of a house or business. The asphalt works as a semi-flexible surface as well, that can stretch to some degree as temperatures change. The main purpose is to create a permanent driveway that needs little maintenance or repair, except for sealing every few years.
- There are two types of asphalt, rolled and mastic. Rolled asphalt is the most common and contains mainly bitumen and other fillers. This type of asphalt is used in driveways as well as roads and parking lots. Mastic asphalt contains less bitumen but similar fillers or aggregates like concrete and other materials. This type of asphalt is used in roofing shingles, foot paths and for sticky flooring materials.
- There are several ways to identify an asphalt driveway, the first by its black color and second by the tiny granules of aggregates that make up the mixtures. Asphalt is actually a sticky substance that is heated and mixed with these ground materials to form a viscous, semi-liquid that can be spread like peanut butter over a surface and pressed into a sheet, that hardens into a rock solid substance.
- Asphalt's main feature is its many applications. It can be pressed into any shape using a large machine, to pave curving roads, or long, steep driveways. Since it is mixed hot, it is relatively easy to use, provided you have the right machinery. It is also simple to repair potholes by filling them with small amounts of asphalt. It also supports a lot of wear and has some flexibility to absorb shock.
- Asphalt has allowed for the relatively quick construction of highways and roads all across the United States. It has also allowed the homeowner to build a relatively inexpensive driveway to access their homes in summer and during the coldest winters. It resists wear and is very durable so it allows homeowners to enjoy a maintenance free driveway as well. Without it, getting up your drive in a snowstorm would be nearly impossible.
- Asphalt first came into use in the late 1800s when it was first laid in Battery Park, New York, in 1872. Since then it has widely been used in roads. It was not until the invention of a smaller, more mobile paving machine that it became widely used in driveways. Up until the 1970s, most homes had concrete driveways, which is not as sturdy and can become brittle after a lot of use.
