Recycled bitumen, also known as recycled asphalt profile is an extremely versatile road material. It’s made from post-consumer and industrial waste – including the remnants of old tires – mixed with asphalt cement. Recycled bitumen is flexible enough to be used for driveways, paths and other outdoor areas, not just roads. But it’s most commonly used as a cheaper alternative to traditional hot-mix asphalt (HMA) in residential areas, parking lots and other low-traffic road applications. In many cases, RB can be used in place of standard hot-mix asphalt at a lower cost and with minimal negative environmental impact. Let’s take a look at some situations where you can use recycled bitumen.
The Various Applications and Uses of Recycled Bitumen/Asphalt
Repairing and Resurfacing Existing Roads
If a road’s surface is cracked or potholed, it can cause serious problems for drivers. Cracks can lead to tire damage and blowouts. Potholes can potentially cause damage to vehicles’ suspensions and axles. They can also pose a risk to pedestrians. Often, the best solution is to simply resurface the road. To do this, you’ll need to tear up the existing surface, remove any old asphalt and replace it with fresh material. Because of the work required and the disruption it causes, resurfacing a road is often more expensive than simply laying down a new asphalt surface. Recycled bitumen can be a cheaper alternative to laying down fresh asphalt. If a road is in good shape, it might be better to simply add recycled bitumen to the surface. This will protect the underlying road and extend its lifespan.
New Road Construction
If you’re building a new road, you might be in a position to construct it from scratch with recycled bitumen. This kind of project is ideal for recycled building materials like recycled bitumen profile. It gives you the opportunity to build a road that meets your exact requirements at a much lower cost. It’s also a great way to reduce the environmental impact of your road construction project. This is particularly true if you’re building a new road in an area where there’s a shortage of high-quality asphalt. This could be the case if you’re building a highway in a remote part of the country. It helps if you have a reliable source of recycled asphalt that you can use for your road construction materials. Many states have programs that collect and process old asphalt. You can get recycled asphalt from these programs and use it to build your new road. This will help you cut costs and protect the environment at the same time.
Paths and Pedestrian Areas
If you’re laying down a path in a park or a sidewalk near a residential area, you might want to consider recycled bitumen. The same goes if you’re laying down a path in a school or other public area. Paths are not subject to the same high-traffic that roads are. But they may require frequent repairs and regular resurfacing just the same. In these situations, recycled bitumen can be a great choice. It’s inexpensive, durable and easy to repair. If a path is frequently used by pedestrians, you’ll probably want to choose a recycled bitumen product with a softer surface. That will make it easier on people’s feet as they walk along it. You may also consider adding an anti-skid surface to make the path safer for walkers.
Durable Road Materials for Hilly Terrain
If you’re building a new road in an area with extreme terrain, you may need to choose durable materials that can withstand the heavy traffic the road will see. In many cases, recycled bitumen can be a perfect choice. You can mix it with additives that make it more durable. You can even select a recycled bitumen product that has been engineered specifically for use in extreme terrain. Mixing bitumen with additives can make it more durable. But you’ll need to make sure that you choose additives that don’t impact the recyclability of your road material. You’ll also want to make sure they don’t cause any negative environmental effects. If you’re mixing recycled bitumen with additives, you can do so right at the job site. Or you can buy premixed recycled bitumen that already contains additives. This can help you cut construction time and save money on your project.
High-traffic Areas with Limited Visibility
If you’re building a road in a low-visibility area, you may want to choose recycled bitumen over fresh asphalt. This is particularly true if the road will see a lot of truck traffic. Fresh asphalt can crack and break up in these conditions, which can cause serious damage to tires and rims. You can mix recycled bitumen with additives that improve its durability in low-visibility conditions. This can help you protect the road’s surface without compromising safety for passing vehicles.
Choose CRI Sands for Your Recycled Bitumen/Asphalt Needs
Whether you’re building a new road, or repairing an old one, you can opt for recycled bitumen, instead of fresh asphalt. This is an environmentally-friendly material that is cheaper and easier to use than new asphalt. It’s a great choice for extreme-terrain areas, low-visibility conditions, and paths used by pedestrians.
At CRI Sands, we’ll never compromise on quality. If you’re interested in using recycled products, or need high quality concrete aggregate for a residential or commercial project, contact us today or enquire online to get a free quote.