Asphalt Calculator

Ashphalt Driveway

When thinking about the installation or replacement of a driveway, asphalt is a highly probable option to be taken into account. When installed correctly, an asphalt driveway can exhibit performance characteristics similar to those of concrete, while remaining more cost-effective. Asphalt necessitates periodic sealing for adequate maintenance, whereas concrete is essentially free of maintenance requirements.

Advantages

• Concrete is comparatively more susceptible to cracking than the ashphalt.
• It could be installed as much as half the cost of concrete driveway.
• It is less susceptible to damage from salt and ice melt
• Immediately usable, unlike concrete which takes seven days to set.
• Individuals who engage in do-it-yourself activities have the ability to perform repairs or apply a new sealant to deteriorated asphalt surfaces, thereby prolonging its lifespan.

Disadvantages

• Available in just one style
• Having rough edges
• Under intense solar radiation, the surface has the potential to undergo a softening process, become viscous and attain high temperatures.
• The durability of the ashphalt driveway is limited to a period of 15 to 20 years, which is comparatively shorter than the lifespan of concrete that can endure for twice as long.
• It is necessary to perform resealing every 3 to 5 years.
• The roots of trees have the potential to cause damage to asphalt surfaces.

There are five main kinds of asphalt paving that you may be driving on.

1. Porous asphalt
Porous asphalt has been in existence since the mid-1970s. This particular variant of asphalt finds its application in parking lots, facilitating the drainage of water through the pavement. It is a low-priced option that have lifespan of over twenty years and is being widely used as a pavement solution.
2. Perpetual Pavement
Perpetual pavement is a composite material consisting of asphalt and a multi-layer paving design process. It has a high degree of durability and longevity. It could be installed by minimal time consumption and negligible disruption to traffic flow.
3. Warm-Mix Asphalt
The production process of warm-mix asphalt is similar to that of hot-mix asphalt, with the exception that it is manufactured at a temperature range that is 50-100 degrees Fahrenheit lower. Lowering the temperature of asphalt yields several advantages. Among these measures are the use of less fuel and the creation of fewer greenhouse emissions .
4. Quiet Pavement
The utilization of asphalt for road paving purposes results in a notable decrease in the level of noise pollution both in the interior and exterior of residential and commercial establishments. It has been shown that replacing noisy road with stone-matrix asphalt or an open-grade friction course mix may significantly lessen the amount of noise emanating from a roadway.
5. Thin Overlays
The utilization of thin overlays has been found to enhance ride quality while concurrently mitigating pavement distress, noise levels, and life-cycle costs. The production process involves the utilization of warm-mix asphalt and recycled materials.

Process For Asphalt Pavement Installation

1. Demolition And Removal


Initially, the current surface is dismantled with the aid of robust machinery and excavators such as small bobcats, forklifts, front loaders, and large dump trucks.

After removing the resulting debris, a clean and blank canvas is created for laying down your new asphalt pavement.

2. Grading And Sloping

If water is allowed to pool on your asphalt, it can cause damage over time such as cracks, crumbling, and potholes So, Cutting-edge technology and tools are utilized to prepare the surface, ensuring that water drains away from your property effectively.

To ensure proper water run-off, the surface will be graded using laser-guided transits and automatic motor graders.

3. Preparing The Sub Base

If you had to guess, which component of asphalt pavement is the most significant, and why? If you have guessed asphalt, you would be incorrect.

If you don't have a sub-base to provide support for the new pavement, your asphalt will not have a long lifespan. It serves as a protective layer against frost, preventing the damaging effects of winter's freezing and thawing cycles.

The sub-base will be carefully laid, graded, and compacted to ensure the appropriate thickness and stability, which will help to preserve your asphalt for many years.

4. Proof Roll And Repair

A proof roll is used to assess whether or not your sub-base is ready to support fresh asphalt. This is done to ensure that your sub-base is in an acceptable condition.

To test for any flexing gravel or soft spots caused by weight, a quad-axle dump truck will be driven over the surface.

In case any soft spots are detected, the repair process involves undercutting, which requires digging two to three feet below the surface to fix them. The underlying clay or soft soil is reinforced with aggregate material to enhance its strength and provide additional support.

5. Binder Layer Laid


A binder layer will be applied to ensure that the new asphalt adheres permanently, which will enhance its strength.

The layer is highly durable and robust due to its composition of oil mixed with large aggregate.

6. Install New Asphalt Surface

Once the necessary supportive surfaces are in place, the final step is to lay the top layer of fresh surface asphalt.

The smooth and durable surface of jet-black asphalt is created by combining aggregate, sand, and oil to form surface asphalt.

7. Smooth Transitions

Asphalt pavements are typically connected to existing driveways, roadways, or parking lots and do not exist in isolation.

Therefore, they must make a smooth transition from the old to the new pavement.

To maintain the aesthetics, grading, and water run-off of pavement, paving contractor construct seamless transitions, or "butt joints," where old meets new.

8. Smooth Transitions

Using a roller truck, the freshly laid asphalt will be compacted, smoothed and leveled.

This eliminates any humps or bumps on the surface, making it safer, smoother, and more sustainable!

Purpose of Calculator

• To determine the amount of asphalt needed for any asphalt highway or airfield project.

How to use the asphalt calculator?

1. Specift the pavement Length, Width and Thickness. For thickness, A general rule of thumb is 100mm (4") for asphalt driveway and 150mm (6") for car parking lots (after compaction).

Did you know?

Asphalt pavement loses approximately 25% of its thickness during compaction, So if you prepare specification, always mention thickness after compaction.

2. Density of asphalt is 2400 kg/cu³ However, you could change it based on your requirements.
3. You could see the weight of the asphalt is calculated automatically.
4. Enter the unit rate of the asphalt paving cost, to estimate the total cost of the asphalt driveway.

How to calculate asphalt driveway cost?

1. Calculate the area of the pavement. Area of Pavement = Length * Width.
2. Find the volume of Asphalt required.Volume of asphalt required = Area of pavement * thickness.
3. Calculate the weight needed to construct asphalt driveway.Weight needed = Volume of Asphalt * Density of the Asphalt.