Tarmac, or tarmacadam, is a type of road and pavement material. It is made from a mixture of crushed stone and sand which is bound together with tar.
Tarmac is a hard-wearing and durable surface, perfect for roads and driveways. It is also weather-resistant and able to withstand heavy traffic. You can hire a tarmac company to lay the material.
Durability
Tarmac is known for its durability, which makes it a great choice for driveways and roads. It’s extremely resilient to heavy vehicles and can withstand a lot of wear and tear over the years. It also doesn’t crack easily and is easy to repair if necessary.
Modern tarmac resurfacing uses recycled materials and environmentally conscious techniques to enhance its durability, longevity, and visual appeal. This also helps to reduce its dependence on petroleum-based materials, which can loosen the binding and lead to cracking. Some tarmac surfaces also come with UV-resistant coatings to protect against degradation from prolonged sun exposure.
Installation
Another benefit of tarmac is that it’s very easy to install. This is a good thing because it means that people can get their driveways or roads paved in a much shorter timeframe. It also reduces traffic disruption as a road or pavement can be constructed one lane at a time, rather than having to close the entire area for construction.
Aesthetics
Whether you’re driving down an airport runway or simply parked in front of your home, the black surface of tarmac creates a sleek aesthetic that enhances many types of architectural styles. In addition, a tarmac driveway is easy to clean and can be made even more visually appealing with the inclusion of decorative edging or coloured aggregates.
The “tar” in tarmacadam refers to an extra layer that a businessman named Edgar Purnell Hooley chose to add to John Loudon McAdam’s macadamized pavement after passing a tar factory where he noticed a barrel of the gooey black substance had tipped over and spilled onto it. This new layer of tar helped the material become stronger and created a dust-free road surface.
Recyclability
The durability of tarmac makes it an excellent choice for driveways, roads, motorways and car parks. It is resistant to rain, sleet and snow which can easily wear down other surfaces like concrete and paving slabs. It also dries quickly, meaning the road or driveway doesn’t need to be closed for long and it can remain in use while the surfacing is completed.
The incredibly smooth surface of tarmac reduces the amount of friction between the tires and the road, reducing fuel consumption which in turn cuts down on carbon emissions and pollution. In addition, asphalt is one of the most recycled materials in first world countries, with millions of tonnes being used each year.
The material is also environmentally friendly as it is recyclable in many first world countries. It can be recycled again and again, which helps to cut down on waste. It is also a very energy efficient paving solution as the surface of a tarmac road or driveway reduces friction between tires and the road, which in turn cuts down on fuel consumption.
