Macadam vs Asphalt – What You Need to Know

Macadam vs Asphalt

What the primary differences between Macadam and Asphalt?  As you do your research, you will find that these terms are synonymous with one another. This is because macadam is simply another name for asphalt. The term ‘Macadam’ can be traced back to the history of the inventor, John Loudon McAdam. Therefore, people in construction and the asphalt industry may use these terms interchangeably when they are talking about this type of pavement materials.  

Pros and Cons of Asphalt

Pros

1. Asphalt is widely used and recognized

Asphalt is relatively easy to recognize, even if it is material that has been used on a rooftop of a building instead of a driveway or a city road.  This is because you can find this type of pavement on approximately 94 percent of the paved roads in America today.

2. Safe

When you research the pros of asphalt, you will also find that this type of material is considered to be safe for numerous reasons, including minimizing splashes during rainstorms, while also reducing accidents and fatalities on streets and highways.

3. Cost-effective

In addition to minimizing accidents and fatalities, asphalt is also more cost-effective than other options like Macadam.  In fact, many highway and city roads are made out of asphalt because they save the taxpayers money. 

4. Energy-efficient and environmentally friendly

When you choose asphalt over other options, you may also discover that this type of pavement is more efficient. For example, less energy is required to warm the mix before it is used in the construction of various kinds of projects (driveway, roads and etc.). Also, when you do your research, you will also discover that asphalt is one of the top recyclable products in the U.S. 

5. Flexibility is Extremely High – Asphalt is Used in So Many Different Types of Projects

• Driveways
• Parking lots
• Driveways
• Airport runways
• Racetracks,
• Tennis courts
• Roofing

Asphalt is a material that is very useful and flexible too. Therefore, you may see asphalt laid virtually anywhere that a hard wearing and very smooth surface is a requirement.

Cons

1. Prone to Defects

Asphalt must be laid properly from the start or it is prone to defects. Therefore, you need to make sure that you are hiring a professional to apply these materials for driveways, city streets, highways, and any other place that this type of pavement is used.

2. Life Expectancy Shorter

Whenever asphalt is laid on the property of a home, apartment buildings, business or etc., the life expectancy may be shorter than expected. This is because these materials must be well maintained by cleaning at least once every 2 years. Therefore, these materials will often require a certain amount of maintenance to be done.