MANEL PAVING & SEALING, CORP.

For all your residential and commercial paving

Phone: (585) 647-1025

Fax: (585) 254-1207

E-mail: cmanel1452@manelpaving.com

BINDER VS TOP

What you should consider when determining whether a binder or top asphalt should be installed.

Binder asphalt is a coarser grade of blacktop containing a higher percentage of larger stones.  These larger stones, when added to the asphalt mix, increases its stability.  This raises the load factor for which the driveway can endure before breaking or cracking.  Generally the larger the stone in the asphalt the stronger it will be and the more pounds per square inch it can support.  We generally use a #1 fine dense binder on our residential applications.  To the eye, it looks only slightly coarser than top, but it is a much stronger mix.  Many paving contractors use a fine binder which is several dollars cheaper, but does not hold up nearly as well because of its lower asphalt tar and sand quantities.

Binder applications include new construction (where lot settlement will probably occur during the first two years,) or in areas where the existing base is to undergo major reconstruction, such as in widening or altering of an existing asphalt or stone driveway.   Many times, on new construction, settlement of garage footings, sewer laterals, or underground utilities will create problems with your brand new driveway.  We suggest that if you are installing a driveway under these conditions it would be far better to construct the driveway with binder and then to wait at least a year before the top asphalt is applied.  This way the driveway will have time to settle and repairs to the binder (if any) can be made prior to resurfacing to insure that the finished product will last a long time.  Also, you will still have an asphalt surface to make snowplowing, parking and house cleaning easier.  Doing it this way, the driveway will be constructed the way a road is built, with the heavier, stronger binder providing a base for the top.

Top asphalt only contains fine stone and therefore doesn't have the strength of a binder.  The best application of top asphalt would be on a re-surface or on a driveway where the base has been in place for a number of years.  Top asphalt is more cosmetic in appearance, being less porous than binder it will prevent water from going through and undermining the base.

In either case a sufficient stone base is important.  The stone helps draw the surface water that penetrates through the asphalt as well as supporting the asphalt surface, we usually "recommend" a minimum, depending on soil conditions.  On our new construction however 8" is installed.  Proper stone thickness is probably the most important factor in the longevity of an asphalt driveway.  If we did not install the stone, we will check it to make sure it is acceptable.