Here's an easy to read guide to paving your roads and driveways with asphalt, with tips on the other uses of asphalt. The guide is also filled with insights to getting the best deals from top asphalt companies and offers ways to get the most out of your road construction projects.

Asphalt is a durable and beautiful solution for paving roads, driveways, and highways. Research has also shown that asphalt pavements are quieter too, and thus asphalt is frequently used to reduce road noise in urban areas.

Asphalt is very popular, with an estimated 70 billion lbs of asphalt being used annually in the U.S.

Due to asphalt's favorable characteristics, most (94%) of the nation's roads and highways are paved with asphalt.

As an example of well-designed and well-built asphalt's durability in use, the entire New Jersey Turnpike, built in 1951, is asphalt. According to National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA), they have never had a structural failure in the pavement.

Asphalt does need periodical rehabilitation. However, in most cases, the rehabilitation of the wearing surface can be done with minimum of traffic disruption.

In addition to roads, asphalt may be used, for example, to build different types of outdoor sporting grounds, such as a tennis field. High durability asphalt mixes are also popular in airport runways and freight yards.

Asphalt, as a material, is also used for roofing, with asphalt roof shingles being the most popular type of residential roof material today.

Choosing Asphalt Companies

There are a lot of asphalt companies available.

When building an asphalt driveway for your new home, the building contractor may be your best source of information on the best local asphalt contractors, or you can contact asphalt companies directly in your area, depending on your contract with the builder.

When choosing a asphalt company, it's a good idea to ask about references of similar types of asphalt work the company has done in the past.

Things to consider include

  • contractors’ quality of work,
  • attention to details,
  • on-time performance,
  • and ability to finish work completely.

The references provided should be able to help you determine whether the asphalt company meets your requirements in these regards.

This guide has been designed to provide helpful tips and guidelines to choosing a right type of asphalt company as well as getting the most out of your chosen company.