The Top 5 Benefits of Asphalt Milling You Should Be Aware Of

Though asphalt milling has been around for a few decades, there is no better way to keep your asphalt pavement in good shape. Milling is a cost-effective and practical solution for cracked or worn asphalt pavement — no wonder it is often used in place of complete demolition and repaving.

What does asphalt milling exactly mean?

To understand asphalt millings, it is necessary to understand one unique property of asphalt — it is recyclable. When used asphalt reaches the end of its useful life, it is recycled through milling to restore its functioning. In fact, asphalt is the most recycled material in the US, with up to 80% of the asphalt pavement removed each year during widening and resurfacing projects is reused.

A German construction company, Wirtgen Group, developed the first cold milling machine in 1979 to provide the asphalt paving industry with a revolutionary restoration technology. These machines remove a specified thickness of the asphalt surface by spinning dozens of carbide-tipped drill bits on a fast rotating drum.

Asphalt milling is the process of grinding and removing the uppermost layer of existing asphalt pavement using a milling machine. This technique eliminates the need to demolish the entire pavement and rebuild it from scratch. After removing the top layer, it is crushed into gravel-size bits or a specified depth that hardens when compacted. This ground material is called asphalt millings and can be used for a myriad of applications.

For example, it can be used as a raw material when building driveways. The best thing is that when properly compacted, milled asphalt creates a more durable surface. Milled surfaces can provide a sturdy basis for subsequent paving with, for example, tar. Additionally, because asphalt millings are durable, cost-effective, and resistant to harsh weather, they can be used in other low-cost construction projects.

While many property owners are unfamiliar with the benefits of asphalt millings, it is a superior alternative to typical gravel due to its unique properties.

Are you still unconvinced of the wonders of milling? The following are just five of many benefits that property owners can expect when they schedule asphalt repair services with a reputable asphalt contractor:

1. It is cost-effective.

Although most asphalt surfaces are over 4 inches thick, milling removes and replaces just the top 1.5 to 3 inches. As a result, asphalt milling is faster than a complete rebuild, lowering costs through time and material savings and making it the preferred solution for most property owners and developers. Additionally, because the project’s materials are recycled, the cost is far cheaper than if you bought all new materials.

2. It is eco-friendly.

Any recycled material can be carefully preserved for future use, ensuring that little to no material is wasted. Furthermore, the method is smokeless and does not need torching, which helps reduce its environmental impact. The minimal amount of dust generated is also reasonably manageable.

3. It is strong.

Even though asphalt is quite durable, it does deteriorate with time. However, when asphalt pavement is installed correctly — with a sturdy aggregate base and an adequate thickness — it only deteriorates from the surface down. As a result, milling is a critical step in the pavement life cycle since it removes the deteriorated surface and replaces it with new asphalt.

4. It makes your pavement look new.

While milling does not entirely replace the pavement, it does restore the visible layers and gives the appearance of a new one. In other words, you will get the same curb appeal benefits as you would with a brand new pavement — but at a fraction of the expense.

5. It improves your property’s drainage.

While milling an asphalt surface may remove precisely two inches of pavement in some cases, a professional milling crew will often mill at varying depths to optimize the parking lot’s drainage. Improved drainage is the most effective technique to combat one of asphalt’s greatest adversaries and the main culprit of cracks — water.

Contact a professional asphalt contractor today for more information about asphalt milling or schedule asphalt repair services.

Address

Commonwealth Paving, 136 Outerloop, Louisville, Kentucky 40214
Phone: 502-459-7283, Fax: 502-456-2678

Opening Hours