Asphalt is one of the most versatile, useful, and sustainable materials available in the construction industry, but there are still asphalt myths that make the rounds and give asphalt a bad rap.
At Tucker Paving, we’ve been in the asphalt paving business for over 20 years, and we’d like to set the record straight with the facts.
Debunking Asphalt Myths
Myth #1: Asphalt is bad for the environment.
This may have been true decades ago before scientific studies put the emphasis on the environment that we see today, but the asphalt industry has made great strides to ensure asphalt is a sustainable and environmentally friendly material. For instance, asphalt plants have adopted emission standards that are more stringent than those required by the EPA, and asphalt plants have been removed from the EPA’s list of major air pollution sources. Additionally, asphalt is a recyclable material, with 60 million tons of asphalt materials being recycled and reused every year, according to AsphaltFacts.com.
Myth #2: Asphalt is costly to install and maintain.
Installing pavement, driveways, and parking lots is never an inexpensive endeavor, but asphalt is the most cost-effective option. Concrete installation can be double the amount of asphalt paving. Furthermore, asphalt is low maintenance, meaning there isn’t a lot of costly upkeep. When asphalt does need to be fixed, repairs are easy, fast, and inexpensive.
Myth #3: Asphalt doesn’t last long.
The lifespan of asphalt paving is actually quite long—generally 15 to 30 years. When the low installation and maintenance costs are factored in, asphalt offers quite a lot of return on investment. When perpetual pavement is factored in, asphalt can have an indefinite lifespan because only the top layer requires maintenance.
At Tucker Paving, we’re proud to work with the cost-effective, versatile and sustainable material that is asphalt. From recycling and reusing asphalt to installation and maintenance of asphalt paving, we do it all. Contact us here or call (863) 299-2262 to discuss how we can assist you with your next paving project.
