What Asphalt Mix Should Be Used for a Driveway?

Blended Aggregate

• Asphalt mixes for driveways usually contain a blend of uniformly graded aggregate and a binder suited for various weather conditions. This aggregate mixture typically contains crushed gravel, stone or sand and it should have a proven performance history. More stone applied to the mixture can minimize depressions.

Base and Surface Sizes

• Base mixes typically have a depth of about an inch, but in some cases, the depth measures as shallow as three-eighths of an inch. An asphalt mixture for driveways should have a 3.5 percent air void to make application easier, according to Tim Murphy and Dwight Walker at AsphaltMagazine.com. Application requires a hot mixture, and warm and dry weather conditions.

Binders

• Petroleum-based asphalt binders keep the mixture together. Driveways don't have to support heavy loads associated with public roads, so the mixture doesn't need a modified or extra-strength binder. Such binders present application challenges, requiring work by hand, so they serve primarily for large paving projects.