Asphalte MD
Asphalt Index
Everything You Need to Know about Your Asphalt
Asphalt is more complex than it seems. Understanding its composition, maintenance, and repair options means knowing when to take action and avoiding unnecessary costs. Here is the essential information you need to better care for your surface.
What Is Asphalt Made Of?
Asphalt is a mixture of three main components:
- Aggregates: Gravel with a diameter greater than 63 micrometers that forms the backbone of the surface
- Fines (Fillers): Sand and dust particles smaller than 63 micrometers, essential for binding the bitumen to the aggregates
- Bitumen: a liquid hydrocarbon binder that gives asphalt its flexibility and durability
It is the right combination of these three elements, applied over a solid granular base, that allows asphalt to withstand years of traffic.
Why Does Your Asphalt Deteriorate over Time?
Bitumen is what holds everything together. Over time, exposure to summer heat, intense cold, and freeze-thaw cycles dries it out and oxidizes it. It loses its flexibility, and the aggregates begin to break down.
The first signs usually appear after 3 to 4 years: the surface turns grey, becomes drier, and more permeable. This is a sign that maintenance is needed, before cracks set in.
Why Choose Asphalt over Paving Stones?
Asphalt offers a cost-to-durability ratio that’s hard to beat:
- Installation costs are about 50% lower than those of paving stones, with a comparable lifespan
- Less susceptible to water infiltration than paving stones, whose joints allow moisture to pass through
- Significantly lower maintenance costs; treatments for paving stones are, on average, four times more expensive
A Question about Your Asphalt?
Have you noticed signs of deterioration in your driveway?
Asphalte MD serves Longueuil and the entire South Shore to assess the condition of your surface and recommend the right solution.
