Recycling asphalt has become a big deal.

These days, nearly 100% of the asphalt that is removed from former roadways is recycled and used in new roads, parking lots, and driveways, completely avoiding the landfill.

Pretty amazing. But, there's a reason for it. The strength and durability of the product is not compromised. There are actually many reasons that a road is recycled.

• Widening an asphalt roadway
• Replacing old & cracked asphalt
• Pulling up temporary asphalt used on larger projects
• Replacing interstate cement (with asphalt layer underneath)

Regardless how it was used, the material still retains the properties that made it so resilient against the elements in the first place. Through a bit of crushing and processing, the material can be used in new hot mix or aggregate asphalt applications.

In the past, any excavated asphalt would end up in a landfill with the dirt and other debris collected during demolition. Nowadays, a machine can scrape just the usable asphalt and leave behind the dirt and other construction materials, ending up with a clean, usable product. This product is delivered in trucks to an asphalt plant for processing.

Pulling it  up though does collect quite big chunks. These chunks would not be usable for any practical use so the asphalt plant processes it by crushing it down to smaller pieces, and using a screen to allow just the right size particulates through. From there, they can process it into the final materials that will be used or sold.

Hot Mix Asphalt

Every hot mix asphalt job we do has some percentage of recycled asphalt in it. This means we are recycling with every hot mix asphalt driveway, road, or parking lot we do!

Crushed Asphalt

When the recycled asphalt is crushed, we can use it in a cold application. As it turns out, this is a great solution for anyone wanting to make an affordable driveway or parking lot without the expense of cement or hot asphalt. It ends up semi-solid, with a base that hardens up over time, but still has a fine layer of loose material at the top.

The benefits are:

• Looks great
• No dust
• Perfect for long rural driveways
• Holds up better than gravel
• Does not get muddy like crushed concrete / gravel
• Cost Effective! The use of crushed recycled asphalt is equal to (or less than) other types of gravel!

We're glad to be part of such a massive recycling project in whatever small way we participate in it. Globally, recycling asphalt is a huge win for everyone, especially mother nature. Not only do we avoid excavating raw materials, but landfills are spared the burden of handling the waste, which as it turns out, isn't actually waste at all.

We found a pdf file you may be interested in taking a look at if you're looking for more information about the process of recycling asphalt.

Country roads and driveways are going green! ​

That's right! Using the asphalt millings off an interstate or highway that is being replaced or repaved means less waste and far fewer natural resources. That's because now, we're collecting all that roadway, crushing it into small consistent pieces, and because it retains much of its original adhesive properties, so it can be recycled.

The process of reusing the material is pretty straight forward. The first step is to assess the current driveway condition. If it is in need of repair prior to laying down recycled asphalt, then that would be next. Occasionally, it helps to address any drainage issues (culverts, etc.) at this time since we'll have the machinery there to fix them. Once the area is prepared, the material can be laid down and compacted.

From there, the material will harden over time. Heat and moisture will help this process. Considering we're in North  Texas around McKinney, Celina, Pilot Point, Sherman, etc., we have plenty of sun and most of the year we have plenty of moisture. Once that has a chance to take hold, the bottom layers will solidify while the top layer remains looser. A thin layer of loose stones will lay tight against a firmer base even after as little as a few weeks.

This material is very good for Texas, holding up to the heavy vehicles we tend to drive around here. 

It makes for the perfect rural driveway, country parking area, barn entrance, or ranch road without the expense of higher priced cement or hot asphalt.

Stylistically it looks great, being a grayer, lighter version of blacktop.

Functionally, it is dust-free, and long-lasting.

If anything happens it is perhaps the easiest to maintain. Adding more material or grading is always an inexpensive option. This is a reasonably priced way to do our longer country stretches, parking areas, barn entrances, etc.

Hit us up if we can show you some examples we've recently completed. Contact Us

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It only takes a short drive in the country to realize there's a problem and you may be experiencing it as well if you're in North Texas. Our roads and driveways take a beating. Not only from the heat, but from rain, and even the condition of the soil under them.

So, what are your options if you have a new country road, ranch road, or long driveway in need of replacement or repair?

The short answer is it depends on the money you want to spend and the condition of the driveway now.

Here is a list of paving for rural driveways in Texas:

1. Cement - By far the most expensive.
Pro - Long-lasting.
Con - Cracks in weather extremes, Expensive to repair.

2. Hot Asphalt aka Blacktop - Far cheaper than cement.
Pro - Long-lasting (Adapts to temperature extremes).
Con - to get max lifespan, sealcoating is recommended every 3-5 years.

3. Recycled Asphalt - Still cheaper than hot ashpalt.
Pro - Dust-free & Easiest to repair if needed.
Con - Thin top layer of stone stays loose while base hardens.

4. Recycled Concrete - Inexpensive.
Pro - Strong (Retains original concrete stability).
Con - Left as a top-coat it can be dusty.

5. Crushed Granite - Cost similar to recycled asphalt.
​Pro - Beautiful reddish color.
Con - May have to replenish some after a few years.

6. Tar & Chip - Cost is between hot asphalt and recycled asphalt.
Pro - Solid, long-lasting surface.
Con - Some loose stones remain on top unless removed.

7. Gravel - Lowest cost of all driveway materials.
Pro - Longest lifespan (if regularly maintained).
Con - Could be dusty. Needs grading at some point.

Pavers, bricks & cobblestones are not mentioned simply because in our area (North Texas) it's not all that practical for the long driveways we encounter, not to mention the movement of the soil can be a problem with these materials.

Country Roads Paving & Excavation is installing new driveways and roads with these materials so, if you have any questions, please contact us. If you are in Prosper, Celina, Gunter, Sherman, Pilot Point, McKinney, Frisco, Little Elm, New Hope, Princeton or anywhere close to these areas we'd welcome an estimate request as well. We hope this is helpful, and thanks so much for reading!

How Deferred Maintenance Costs You?

There are two main components to deferred maintenance at your home. First, there's things that could impact the sale of the property and then, there are things that effect your enjoyment of the home.

The reason this is important is that if you are selling, you could receive only lowball offers. This is because a future homeowner will not make a full price offer on a home that needs upkeep that they consider to be major in scope. This would be driveways in bad shape, roofs in obvious need of repair, broken windows or shingles, damaged or broken appliances, and are not the sort of thing new homeowners want to deal with on their own past the closing date.

They will lower the offer. But, that's not the only reason to take care of deferred maintenance. Studies show that every $1 not spent on maintenance costs $4 later. Avoiding regular upkeep can reduce the lifespan of all sorts of things around the house significantly. This means they have to be replaced earlier. Perhaps more importantly, letting some problems go leads to emergency repairs, or more serious repairs down the road.

(source: https://www.schooldude.com/community/discover/blogs/-1-deferred-maintenance-4-needed-later-in-capitalhow-does-that-math-work)

If you're living in the house with no plans to sell, there are still reasons to stay up with any emerging maintenance issues. For one, your enjoyment is at stake. Every time you see that crack, dent, hole, or broken thing, your frustration emerges, or your thoughts turn to the dilapidated. Focusing on what's broken without fixing it is most likely a cause of stress, anger, helplessness, or anxiety — all of which are negative influences on your well being. The simplest way to look at it is that every second you spend thinking about a repair, that's a second you aren't thinking about making money, making healthy choices, or relaxing. There's no doubt, that's a cost.

Asphalt Driveway Maintenance in Texas

There's no perfect solution for Texas roads and driveways. The hard-hitting storms combined with regular wind, rain, and temperature extremes breaks down all surfaces over time. Water can erode underneath, and our soil can heave and fall. In the end, if you keep a driveway or any sort long enough in North Texas, you'll be fixing it up at some point.

Sealcoating a Texas Driveway

So, what you can do with asphalt to protect it is seal coating. It's got a good cosmetic purpose being that it gives a driveway a nice deep black look, but it also serves as a protective layer which repels water. If the water takes longer to penetrate into the asphalt, the driveway lasts longer.

Hot Rubber Crack Repair

Next, if deep cracks do appear, they can be filled with hot rubber through a process called hot rubber crack repair. This really is the last line of defense. If you fill the deep cracks, you'll add years to the driveway.

Hot Asphalt Patching

In some cases, you can do what we call a hot asphalt repair or hot asphalt patching. This involves taking out damaged areas, fixing any problem under it, and adding new hot asphalt to recover the damaged area.

So, what happens when none of these things are done to extend the life of the road or driveway? Well, they can degrade pretty far. Don't be surprised to find cars bottoming out or worse. 

Here's where it gets good. 

There is a point somewhere along the line where a driveway has to be taken out in order to be fixed. That could mean starting over from scratch completely. That would cost a homeowner more — a lot more! (See photo below.) This rural driveway had worn to the point where none of the regular maintenance listed above would be able to fix or extend the life of the driveway any further. 

Believe it or not, we could still fix this long driveway affordably! Now, instead of bottoming out on a bouncy ride to the house, it's smooth as butter. So, if you need some good news and you're living somewhere around North Dallas (from Frisco, McKinney, or Allen north all the way to Whitesboro, or Sherman, we'll come see what we can do for you too.  Contact Us