Asphalt Paving Glossary
ADA Signs
These signs comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and indicate accessible parking spots, pathways, or building entrances. This includes the signs and their installation locations.
Aggregate
Aggregate refers to the minerals or other solid materials that are mixed with cement to form the asphalt pavement. Aggregates are usually things like rock dust, gravel, sand, slag, crushed stone, and even bits of recycled pavement.
Alligator Cracking
A pattern of cracks in asphalt that resemble alligator skin, caused by fatigue or structural failure of the pavement.
Asphalt Binder
An asphalt binder is a form of petroleum that looks like a thick, sticky, black tar-like substance. This acts as a binding agent in the production of asphalt pavement. It is also sometimes called bitumen.
Asphalt Emulsion
An asphalt emulsion is a combination of water and asphalt material. It is then used as a uniform spray to act as a sealing agent of the topmost layer of asphalt.
Asphalt Index
The asphalt index is the average of suppliers’ selling prices.
Base
The base is the material laid on top of the subgrade before the asphalt is laid.
Bollards
Short vertical posts used to control or block vehicle traffic, typically placed in parking lots or around buildings for safety purposes. These are popular in high pedestrian traffic areas.
Cold Mix Asphalt (CMA)
Cold mix asphalt is as the name suggests a mixture of asphalt that doesn’t need to be heated to be applied. This makes it a convenient option for pothole work and other types of filling jobs.
Compaction
This is a process in which the newly laid asphalt is pressed and well-compacted. Doing so strengthens the asphalt and gives it the density needed to handle the weight and pressure of its anticipated load. It also lengthens the asphalt’s overall lifespan.
Crack Sealing
This is a repairing process in which hot sealants are applied within the cracks of the asphalt pavement to prevent water from seeping into the pavement which could cause potholes or other depressions in the asphalt.
Crack and Joint Repair
Crack and joint repair involves filling cracks and joints and then sealing the pavement to prevent water from penetrating and causing further damage.
Full Depth Patching
Full depth patching is a method of repairing pavement by completely removing and replacing both the surface and underlying base layers in damaged areas.
Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA)
Like Cold Mix asphalt, hot mix asphalt is made extremely hot for the bitumen, binder, and emulsion to properly combine to be laid properly. Often used to lay roads, streets, and similar structures.
Joint
A joint is a purposeful or intended space between two asphalt layers. Often used to accommodate things like manhole covers, sidewalk curbs, and the like.
Line Striping
Line striping is the process of applying the painted lines and markings on the pavement to define lanes, parking spaces, or traffic directions.
Milling
Asphalt milling refers to the process of removing the topmost layer of asphalt pavement.
Overlay
Overlaying is the process of adding new asphalt pavement over existing asphalt. Overlaying is another way to prolong the lifespan of your asphalt pavement.
Pavement
Put simply a hard surface that is overlaid, or the thing that is paved over. It can be made from asphalt or other materials as well.
Paver
A paver, or an asphalt paver, is a piece of heavy-duty machinery that spreads and levels asphalt to create smooth and even surfaces to create roads and similar pathways.
Pooled Water
Water that collects in depressions on the pavement due to improper drainage or uneven surfaces. Pooled water leads to alligator cracking as well as larger cracks that require patching or sealing.
Resurfacing
The process of removing and replacing the topmost layer of asphalt to prolong its lifespan.
Seal Coat
A seal coat is made of an emulsion and other binders and is used to provide a protective layer to protect the asphalt against water damage and more.
Subgrade
Subgrade refers to the foundation or soil that is prepared for the pavement. This is the bottomost layer of soil in the paving process.
Subbase
This is the layer of asphalt material that is laid on the subgrade. It is the second layer in the paving process, and will have the asphalt binder layered overtop of it once it is in place.
Traffic Control Signage
Arrows, and directions that are painted onto the pavement to manage the flow of traffic, such as enter and exit signs, crosswalks, and turning arrows.
Tack Coat
Tack is a liquid layer of asphalt that is applied between layers of hot mix asphalt that promotes stronger bonding between layers of asphalt.
Underdrain
An underdrain is designed to collect subsurface water before it saturates an asphalt surface.
Wearing Course
A wearing course (9.5mm) is a layer of asphalt that is used to create a smooth surface for roads, driveways, and sports surfaces. This the asphalt layer that you drive and walk on.
Wheel Stops
Wheel stops are concrete barriers placed at the end of parking spaces to prevent vehicles from moving too far forward.
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