What Is Asphalt Milling?

April 28, 2020

Asphalt milling is a method of restoring asphalt pavement that serves as a cheaper, less invasive alternative to completely demolishing the existing asphalt to repave the area. The process involves grinding the asphalt surface to make a smooth, even surface for repaving without having to completely refinish it. The depth at which the asphalt may need to be ground up depends on the issues facing it.

While asphalt pavement has been used for many years in developing urban areas, the process of asphalt milling is actually relatively new, dating back to the 1970s. The process gives municipalities and property owners a more affordable and sustainable method of restoring their pavement.

Here’s a quick overview of some of the most important benefits of asphalt milling in Nashville, TN:

  • Affordability: As we’ve already mentioned, the primary benefit of asphalt milling is that it is a much more affordable alternative to completely ripping up the asphalt pavement to start from scratch. For pavement with widespread damage across the surface, such as cracking, holes or uneven slope, milling is a possibility so long as the sub base remains intact. The layers that have been affected by the damage and weathering can be removed with a milling machine, and a new hot mix can be poured on top. This takes less time, less material and involves less labor and cost overall.
  • Environmentally friendly: Because the process only involves removing some of the asphalt, it’s a much more environmentally-friendly procedure than completely replacing it, because you maximize the life span of the sub base materials. In addition, the asphalt that gets milled from the surface can then be collected for transportation to nearby recycling facilities, where it will then be used as an important aggregate material for new asphalt. This process and recycling capability is one of the biggest reasons why asphalt has become so popular in urban areas around the country.
  • Maintain pavement height: Applying an overlay is another way to restore the surface of the pavement. Overlays are new layers poured on top of existing asphalt. While this takes even less work than milling, there is a drawback in that every time this procedure happens, it raises the pavement height. Multiple overlays mean more issues as you keep adding height to the surface. By first milling the asphalt rather than just putting more asphalt on top, you’ll be able to ensure your pavement maintains its original height, which helps it stay up to code and avoid other issues.
  • Focus on smaller areas: Milling also allows you to address specific problems and problem spots. If the damage is limited to just a single small area of a parking lot, for example, you can mill the asphalt in that area and correct the issue without having to tear up the whole parking lot to repave it.

These are just a few examples of some of the biggest benefits of asphalt milling in Nashville, TN. Contact the team at RoadBuilders today for more information about the services we provide.

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