What is tarmac?
Tarmac and asphalt appear exactly the same from the surface. But, despite being strikingly similar, there are still significant differences.
Different names are used to describe the surfaces, such as bitumen tarmac or tarmac asphalt. There are many things to take into consideration when choosing between asphalt or tarmac, regardless of what the surface is called.
Tarmacadam, also known as Tarmac, is a strong and long-lasting surface. Tarmac is made by coating crushed stone with tar. Tarmac is water-resistant, strong and provides a great aesthetic. Tarmac driveways are where it is most common.
Today, tarmac has been replaced almost entirely with bitmac that is less prone than tarmac to being damaged from accidental spills of petrol or diesel.
Bitumen and tar are removed to make bitmac. This creates a new surface that is more like asphalt. Bitumen is more similar to asphalt, but bitmac has a higher concentration of sand-filler.
Asphalt is a mixture of more dense aggregates and bitumen. A surface that is created by combining certain aggregates and using bitumen as a binding agent.
Asphalt is a popular road surface because it can be used to resurface large areas at a low cost. It can be expensive for smaller surfaces. Although asphalt tarmac may be called this, they are not the same thing.
Asphalt is more durable than tarmac, but asphalt is less resistant to constant scuffing from car tires.
This is another important difference to be aware of when comparing asphalt surfacing and bitmac. Asphalt is more durable and requires less maintenance than tarmac.
Asphalt is kinder to the earth than tarmac. Asphalt can be recycled once it is worn down and used again. Remember that asphalt concrete may also be used to make driveway surfaces. This is a completely different type.
Asphalt concrete is made from asphaltic cement and sand, which gives it a durable and hard-wearing surface. These surfaces can be much more costly than asphalt and tarmac and are also harder to fix. The temperature fluctuations can cause asphalt concrete to be more susceptible to damage.