Asphalt paving makes up the groundwork of our civilization. All peoples over time need roads, driveways, and other pavements to travel safely. Today, asphalt is arguably the best material for paving and is the most recycled material on the planet. Are you curious about how roads are made? Learn the five basic steps in laying asphalt paving right here.

1. Excavate

Asphalt paving begins with excavation. All construction projects start by clearing the land of plant matter, rocks, and anything else in the way of a clean foundation. An asphalt company will use heavy machinery to dig up and dispose of all debris before continuing onto the next important step.

2. Grade

Before laying the foundation, another very important step must take place: grading. Grading the land means sloping it in a way that best drains stormwater runoff from the pavement into the surrounding soil or a stormwater drainage system. Without this sloping, the foundation and topmost layer will be incorrect and risk flooding the area.

3. Prepare the Base

The ground itself must be stable enough to support the new road or pavement. In some cases, the asphalt contractor may need to amend the soil as well to prevent erosion, shifts, and collapse. The sub base is a thick layer that is fundamental to the road’s integrity. The asphalt company will install and compact the sub base.

4. Add the Binder

A binder will hold the sub base and the surface layer together. It is made of an aggregate and oil. Without the binder, the surface layer is far more likely toshift and break down.

5. Install the Top Layer

The asphalt road you see every day only shows its topmost “skin,” the asphalt layer.Asphalt is a combination of gravel, bitumen, and other aggregates. Bitumen is a tar-like substance derived from petroleum that binds all the stone bits together. Once the asphalt is laid, the contractor will compact it and let it cure.

Receive Asphalt Paving Services with Tri-State Paving

Call Tri-State Paving. We’re a seasoned asphalt pavement company based in Maryland and have the experience and knowledge to help you with asphalt, concrete, and hardscaping projects.

We refuse to sell hot air to our customers, and that’s why we have been around for over 4 decades. We listen, inform, educate then decide what is best for our customers project and budget. If any problems arise during construction we keep our customers updated and respond to make the imperfect perfect.

Our area numbers are:

West Chester: 610.563.9456

Oxford: 610.932.3566

Delaware: 302.757.4100

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Tags: asphalt contractor, asphalt paving, asphalt paving steps

This entry was posted on Friday, May 9th, 2025 at 3:22 pm and is filed under Asphalt Paving. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.