There is an array of paving materials available for a variety of residential and commercial
applications, but the most commonly used are asphalt, blacktop, and concrete. Each option has its advantages and drawbacks, and paving experts like those at Tucker Paving recognize which applications require which form of paving in order to offer a cost-effective, long-lived, functional, and sustainable paving product. With over 20 years in the asphalt and concrete paving industry, we take pride in offering a quality product to our clients.

Paving Options: Asphalt, Blacktop, and Concrete
Each paving project has its own end-goals: is the client looking for a paving material that will last a long time, be able to withstand heavy traffic, or be aesthetically pleasing. Customers’ needs and the landscape features of the paving site all determine which paving material will best meet those needs and the challenges of the site. However, here is a general guide.

Concrete
Concrete is made up of three main components: water, cement, and an aggregate. Aggregates can be anything from rock, to gravel, to sand, depending on the consistency desired. Cement turns into a binding agent when water is added, holding the aggregates together. Concrete is used for a variety of applications, including driveways, walkways, and forms, such as wastewater pipes and curbs. It offers a hard and durable end product.

Asphalt
Asphalt is made from crushed stone and a black, viscous material called bitumen.
Bitumen is a crude oil byproduct that is made from petroleum distillation. Heated and mixed, asphalt has a thick, fluid-like consistency that is poured and formed. Flexible, smooth, and water-resistant, asphalt is used for roads and highways, airport runways, and more.

Blacktop
Blacktop is similar to asphalt in that it, too, is made from bitumen and crushed stone.
However, blacktop contains a much higher ratio of crushed stone to bitumen, and it is heated to a higher temperature before being poured. Blacktop is also flexible and relatively water-resistant, and it is used for residential roads, driveways, walkways, parking lots, and basketball courts.

Contact the concrete and asphalt experts at Tucker Paving by calling 863-299-2262, or
contacting us using our online form for your next asphalt or concrete project.