There’s more to asphalt than meets the eye.
The roads, driveways, and parking lots we have had for the past decades are modern marvels. Although they might not be glamorous, they do a lot of heavy-duty work. If you would like to learn more about this black-gray material, keep reading. Reliable Contracting presents these seven fun facts about asphalt pavement you might not have known!
1. Asphalt Is Derived from Petroleum
What is asphalt, anyway? It’s actually a byproduct of petroleum, also known as crude oil. It’s the same material from which we get gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and other products. The petroleum byproduct used for asphalt pavement is called bitumen, a sticky black substance. Asphalt pavements combine bitumen with sand, gravel, and other aggregates.
2. Asphalt Is the Most Recycled Material in the US
Asphalt is the number one recycled product in the United States, making it the most cost-effective, large-scale material around. Clean, recycled asphalt can be reheated, poured, and compacted into new pavements for parking lots, roads, sidewalks, or even playgrounds.
3. Asphalt Oxidizes in the Sun
Asphalt slowly breaks down over time. You might not be able to see it, but oxidation is the reason it turns from a smooth blacktop to a pale, cracked surface. Sealcoating the pavement every few years restores its strength.
4. Asphalt Has Multiple Layers
Asphalt pavements are more than just the top layer you see. They have at least three layers, depending on the expected traffic load. Besides a stable foundation, they have a base, a binding layer, and a top layer.
5. Asphalt Can Be Permeable
Traditional asphalt lets water run off it into the nearest drainage system or permeable soil. However, there are also permeable asphalt pavements, which allow water to drain directly through the surface into a drainage basin below.
6. There Are Different Types of Asphalt
Did you know that asphalt is a highly engineered product? There is more than one kind of asphalt! You can find hot mix, warm mix, and cold patch, all of which are suited to asphalt paving in different seasons. The mix allows it to cure properly according to the ambient temperature.
7. Asphalt Has Been Around for Over a Hundred Years
Asphalt pavements have been around since the first asphalt road installation in New Jersey in 1870. As of 2025, asphalt roads have been around for only a hundred and fifty-five years.
ABOUT RELIABLE CONTRACTING
Reliable is dedicated to delivering quality products, displaying professionalism within the firm, seeking new opportunities for expansion and profitability, and providing an environment for individual success. If you have a commercial or residential construction project that you need taken care of, please contact Anne Arundel County’s largest site-work contractor today by calling 410-987-0313 or visiting our website. You can also follow Reliable Contracting on Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Twitter!
Reliable Contracting Company serves the following and surrounding counties and areas: Annapolis, Queen Anne’s, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Baltimore City, Calvert, Caroline, Charles, Howard, Prince George, St. Mary’s, Talbot, and Washington D.C.