Tarmac is one of the main elements that make up a smooth paved road. It can be thought of as a paving paste or a thin layer of sand, concrete, or other crushed stone. It is used as the underlay for driveways, sidewalks, and all sorts of other paved areas. Tarmac is commonly used for outdoor events such as parades, festivals, road races, fairs, schools, parks, and neighborhood associations’ events. In North America, tarmac is made from a mixture of coarse and fine sand, with additives to make it hard and consistent enough to serve its purpose.
Tarmac Is Everywhere
Tarmac is also the name given to the fine aggregate or layer of fine sand that serves as a base for the application of many paving materials such as asphalt and concrete. Tarmac is made from fine sand and coarse aggregate materials such as gravel, sand, pea gravel, and other coarse organic materials such as pea gravel, crushed stone, sandblasting grit, and paint chips. There are various types of tarmac based on their applications and construction techniques including: routine traffic streets, through roads, interstates, arterial expressways, private roads and others. Tarmac is also used for parking lots and as a part of the design and preparation for building and structures.
Tarmac History
Tarmac was first utilized on streets and highways when it was first developed in the 1920’s. Since then, it has found its way into other industries, such as with construction vehicles. They are a very durable material that is both flexible and easy to work with. This is why they are used on the job sites and in various industries, where reliability is crucial. Tarmac Scotland was one of the first places where it was explored and developed into the types of tarmac that we see today.
Modern Materials
Tar and asphalt are the two most common materials for tarmac because they provide the most flexibility in terms of shape, size, and thickness and are also the most durable. In terms of pavement construction, tarmac consists of a heavy layer of aggregates, which is then combined with finer aggregate layers beneath it for greater flexibility. The layers of aggregates work together to create the important characteristics of tarmac such as slip resistance, water-resistance, heat-resistance, chemical and physical resistance, sound insulation, aesthetic qualities, drainage and compactness. Asphalt on the other hand is composed of finely ground water and oil crystals that are suspended in natural gas or oil. This oil (phalt) serves as the main ingredient of asphalt, which is composed of several coarse aggregate materials such as sand, clay, limestone, and coal. Oil and water make the asphalt soft, while the fine aggregate materials and the fine oil combine to provide the basic structure of asphalt.
Improvements
Both asphalt and tarmac are quite popular for public spaces because both provide excellent drainage, comfort, flexibility, and increased safety. Furthermore, both can be used to improve the aesthetic appeal of the area through the application of surface paints and decorative materials. The main difference between asphalt and tarmac is that bitumen tarmac has been created through the process of mechanical taping, where asphalt is rolled and pressed onto prepared surfaces.
Summary
Lastly, tarmac and asphalt differ from other types of driveway surface in terms of maintenance requirements. Asphalt and tar are much easier to maintain than crushed stone, pea gravel, medoliths, and quartz sand. They do not require regular pressure washing, do not need sealing, and they do not crack under pressure. They are perfect for driveways in dry climates. However, in wetter climates or locations where rainwater may cause drainage problems, tarmac may be a more appropriate material.