If you are planning to improve the looks of your commercial landscaping in Denver then you should probably start with the most used area, which is the parking lot. If your parking lot has seen significant wear and tear over the years and there are a lot of cracks and patches that you need to repair then hot asphalt mix is the best way to revive the pavement. Asphalt patching is the easiest and quickest way to patch the asphalt.
What Is A Hot Asphalt Patch?
Just as the name suggests, a hot asphalt patch uses asphalt that has been heated to a certain temperature for conducting the patchwork. The asphalt is first heated to a high temperature and then inserted into the potholes and cracks. Specialized equipment is used to compact the asphalt and level it off so that it becomes uniform with the rest of the parking lot. Also, if you want you can apply a whole new layer of asphalt patch all over the parking lot. For cutting some costs you can mix your new asphalt with old asphalt to save some money and it is also an environmentally friendly option.
Difference Between Hot And Cold Asphalt Mixes
- Hot Asphalt Mix
Hot Asphalt Mix or HMA comprises asphalt mixtures that are heated to a temperature of between 300 to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and are commonly used in roads, parking lots, and large stretches of pavement. Also, this type of asphalt is laid when the air temperature is around 40 degrees.
Hot-mix concrete is again classified into three types:open-graded, dense-graded, and stone matrix asphalt. The dense-graded asphalt mix is again divided into two subcategories: fine-graded and coarse-graded based on the size of the aggregate. This type of asphalt is basically used in high-traffic roadways. Stone matrix mix is generally used to prevent rutting. Open-grade mixes are also divided into two types: friction course and asphalt treated permeable base. The former type is for the construction of the top layer of the concrete and the latter is used for the specific purpose of draining water from the pavement.
- Cold Asphalt Mix
The cold asphalt mix is generally used to repair small patches, cracks, or holes. If your Denver asphalt repair is minor then you can go for cold asphalt mix. However, for bigger projects, it is not recommended. This asphalt mix is not as strong as a hot mix which is why it is used for small fixes or for temporary fixes. The cold asphalt mix is generally used when the outside temperature is too cold for a hot mix.
Uses Of Hot Asphalt Mix
- Fixing damaged areas in the parking lot.
- Pothole repair
- Crack repair
- Full-surface pavement repair
- Full-surface pavement overlay
Benefits Of Hot Asphalt Mix
- Strength
Hot mix asphalt is very durable and strong which is why it is mostly preferred for repair works and also in high-traffic roads and highways. Cold asphalt mix, on the other hand, is not as strong as hot mix and cannot be used for heavy traffic areas or big patch repairs.
- Does Not Break Easily
Hot mix asphalt is also very flexible which means it may bend under stress but the pavement won’t fail very easily. It can shrink and expand under temperature changes and so it is a great choice for use in areas where you see a huge change in temperatures over the year. If you live in an area where you see both high and low-temperature extremes then this is the choice for you.
- Cools Easily
Although hot asphalt mix is poured at 300 degrees, it cools down very quickly, which is one of its biggest advantages. So this mix is usually used in bigger projects as it means minimal downtime. For example, if there is a requirement for laying out a new road then, a hot asphalt mix is the ideal choice as it cools and hardens quickly and you can have the road opened within a few hours.
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