Asphalt or bitumen? What’s the difference?

Asphalt and bitumen are often thought of as being one and the same thing however asphalt is quite different because it is a mixture of bitumen and fillers such as sand, grit and stone particles. It is commonly used in the construction of road surfaces.

In Australia we typically think of our road surfaces as being “bitumen”.

But what’s the difference between Bitumen and Asphalt Driveways? Should I use Bitumen or Asphalt?

Bitumen is actually the liquid binder that holds asphalt together. The term bitumen is often mistakenly used to describe asphalt.

A bitumen-sealed road has a layer of bitumen sprayed and then covered with an aggregate. This is then repeated to give a two-coat seal.

Asphalt is produced in a plant that heats, dries and mixes aggregate, bitumen and sand into a composite mix. It is then applied through a paving machine on site as a solid material at a nominated or required thickness, relative to the end use.

Asphalt results in a smoother and more durable surface than a bitumen-sealed road.