I was told that here in Virginia VDOT changed the asphalt specification to something that is cheaper and doesn't last as long, and that's what they use for driveways because the biggest customer is VDOT and they won't mix up a small batch of something different for a driveway.
I had my driveway refinished with new asphalt two years ago. It seems as if the new asphalt is softer and not a hard as the original. Has anyone else noticed this?
And if you believe there is only one specification for bituminous (asphalt) paving and the plant can't make something different, you've been misled...
Straight from one of our major suppliers: Each asphalt batch is produced to customer specifications, much like ready mix concrete....
The mix used on each of roadways varies depending on the road design, soils, and traffic load among other parameters
You normally get whatever the plant may be running on a particular day. When a plant is running a certain mix for a big paving project, the smaller companies get in line and buy whatever is being produced at that time. The plant isn’t going to stop and make a small batch for one customer.
Recycled asphalt roads around here disintegrate after three years..
My town / county has a mobile recycling unit that grinds the old pavement in the front of the unit and recycles it and puts it right back on at the rear of the vehicle. Thinnest, worst paving job I've ever seen.. And its implemented on almost all the roads here.. One road was worked over last year, and it has been crumpled apart and has massive holes in it. SO friggin cheap, I haven't seen new pavement laid down in years!!Asphalt gets heated up at the asphalt plant and laid down while it's still viscous enough.
It stands to reason that the stuff they spread on roads can be thicker, as they have an organized caravan to get it there just in time.
Now for one-off driveway jobs, they need to do "something" to get it to the house and have it still spreadable. Since residential service sees much less traffic, they (feel they) can compromise.
Mine is 22 years old and is very good plus shape
I am seeing limited life in newer installs as well.
A bunch of shady characters in that business