Recycled asphalt (sometimes referred to as 'crushed asphalt') is old roadway that has been removed and crushed at an asphalt plant. It goes from large compacted chunks to a granular product like you see here:

An asphalt plant accepts deliveries of our old highways and they end up crushed into a big pile like this:

The material retains the tar from the former road so it can be mixed with new asphalt, or used in new and different ways. Presently, driveways, walking paths, RV or boat pads, and rural parking lots are using recycled asphalt to create a dust-free semi-solid surface doesn't get muddy.

When it first gets delivered it has a darker look to it but as time goes on it lightens up. This next photo shows a new pile being put on top of one that is a few months old:

After a driveway, ranch road, or rural parking lot have been covered by recycled asphalt it begins to tighten up as heat, water, and humidity help filter the finer particles downward and harden them. Even though it begins to turn back into a road it will continue to have a thin layer of looser small rock at the top:

Congrats go out to this homeowner as they wrap up construction on their newly paved home. This involved grading out some material that was there, putting in a few drain pipes, and paving recycled asphalt through a paving machine and compacting. Low price compared to concrete or hot mix, but fits into the country surroundings perfectly. Looks amazing!

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

​