Posted on: August 15, 2018

What Is The Difference Between Tarmac And Asphalt?

Asphalt and tarmac are some of the most widely used road surfacing materials on earth.

Although they can look extremely close when they are matched up against each other, there’s actually quite a difference in the quality of the materials and the variations between the two.

Original Tarmac was produced using macadam. The name itself comes from a short form for Tarmacadam. The process involved adding layers of crushed gravel onto the surface of the road and then spreading tar over the top of it to act as a sealer.

These surfaces are known for being extremely strong and durable and adding the top coat also ensures that there’s a bit of water resistance and new grip. What makes tarmac impractical for the roads is that it can become damaged quite easily in diesel or gasoline spills. Adding Bitmac instead can produce the same surface that extremely smooth but without the drawbacks associated with old mixtures for tarmac. Tarmac has become a popular choice for airport runways, racetracks and more.

Asphalt is a much less expensive road surfacing solution.

It can wear a bit harder than tarmac but it’s also far less resistant to scuffing from the use of car tires. Asphalt often requires far less maintenance over time and is not quite as widely affected by extreme weather events. Most types of modern asphalt are also more environmentally friendly for road surfaces. Mixing and asphalt and concrete surface also ensures that asphalt can last much longer especially in surfaces like driveways. Although mixing asphalt can add a higher price, it has become a more popular option for building owners so that their parking lot or driveway can become far less susceptible to temperature fluctuations and wear.

Keep some of these differences in mind if you want to know more about the difference between asphalt and tarmac.