We use it every day and probably don’t often give much thought to how it’s made. Asphalt is our ticket to roadways connecting towns to towns, cities to cities, and crisscrossing the country from one side to the other. So how is this product made in the first place?
Asphalt includes a whole host of ingredients that must be mixed together. Measurements of sand, aggregate (which is a blend of both small and large rocks), and asphalt (also known as bitumen cement) are blended. The asphalt cement must be heated before it is combined so that it blends completely and is easier to work with. The whole process is carried out at specific asphalt mixing facilities.
Uses for asphalt
The main use for asphalt is of course as a paving material that stands up well to lots of use and abuse. You may see road construction companies either paving or repaving roadways, or pouring new parking lots or even driveways for personal residences. Asphalt is a financially feasible option whether it’s being used commercially or personally, and it can easily be maintained no matter the climate that you live in. Holes and cracks can be reasonably easily sealed and, in the event that the entire surface needs work, asphalt can be resurfaced which avoids a messy removal and pouring of the entire location. Much of our asphalt contains recycled asphalt from previous jobs, making it a more environmentally friendly product than many others.
Less known uses for asphalt
Did you know that asphalt has many other uses around the personal property? If you’ve got lots of fencing then painting the bottom of your fence posts with asphalt paint can make them last years longer than they otherwise would. The paint helps to keep rot and decay at bay, caused by water seepage and inclement weather. It also helps to keep the nails or screws used in building the fence from rusting and maintains its solid black color for many years.
This paint can also be applied to metal pipes, masonry walls, and storage tanks as well. This wonderfully durable black asphalt paint will hide dust and dirt far better than other paints are able to.
In-vehicle design
Did you know that your vehicle itself contains an asphalt coating in many body parts to help muffle road noise? This coating reduces vibration during operation and can work towards absorbing sound. It also works the other way; insulating the interior of the vehicle from noises coming from outside. These coatings can be applied either as a liquid spray or even as an asphalt pad which is then fused in the appropriate locations.
In construction
Asphalt based waterproofing is a wonderful tool for contractors to use in the construction of homes and commercial buildings. This waterproof layer can be applied to basements and foundations to keep moisture out. It can also be used in place of tarpaper for the protection of wood siding, vinyl siding, or brick veneer.