Asphalt milling is also referred to as cold planing or cold milling. This is the process of removing all or a portion of the existing pavement to restore it to a uniform texture, making it possible to repair/replace the top layer of the pavement without having to demolish the entire structure. The discarded pieces are called millings and are recycled in resurfacing the pavement.
This is one of the many services offered by Capital Paving and Sealcoating in Anne Arundel County. Contact us today if you need asphalt milling or other asphalt surface installation or maintenance.
Asphalt Milling Steps
There are several steps in the asphalt milling process:
Will the surface benefit from asphalt milling?
The first thing we will do is determine if the surface would benefit from milling. You’ll get the best results if only the top layer is removed and not the underlying sub-base. If the answer is yes, we will move forward with milling.
Grind up the top layer of asphalt
We will use a milling machine to grind up the asphalt, adjusting it to the appropriate depth based on the damage and the requirements of the project.
Place millings into a dump truck
We will place the crushed asphalt into a dump truck to be recycled/reused in resurfacing.
Clean milled surface
Next, we will wash away any dust/loose millings before laying the new asphalt.
Which Projects Require Asphalt Milling?
Asphalt milling is a budget-friendly way to restore pavement such as roads, sidewalks, parking lots, or driveways that are uneven/bumpy, have irregularities such as ruts/potholes, or have been damaged.
Asphalt milling addresses the following issues:
Cracking
For pavement with surface flaws such as cracks, asphalt milling can help. Eliminating cracks protects the surface as well as the underlying layers from deterioration.
Raveling
When asphalt unravels, or disintegrates, the aggregate materials are loosened. This makes it rougher, more susceptible to damage, and dangerous to use. Milling removes the surface layer, turning the old asphalt into aggregate for the new asphalt.
Bleeding
Bleeding, or flushing, is when the voids between the aggregate pieces are filled by the oil-based asphalt binder. This typically happens during traffic compaction or hot weather and is usually the result of over-asphalting.
Benefits of Asphalt Milling
If an asphalt surface needs to be repaired, milling is a great option compared to other methods. Some of these benefits include:
- Environmentally friendly
- Recycles materials for current/future projects
- Cost-effective
- Improves surface to prevent skidding
- Minimal traffic disruption
How are Millings Reused?
The process of asphalt milling generates a material known as reclaimed asphalt pavement or RAP. This material is almost always recycled back into the roadway structure. This can be done through hot or cold recycling, or it can be used as an aggregate in the sub-base or base layer.
Except for roadways, RAP isn’t usually used in areas with a lot of traffic. However, it may be used in other construction applications, such as an aggregate substitute in recycled asphalt paving, fill material, embankment, a granular sub-base or base, or as a stabilized base aggregate.
If you need a cost-effective solution for dealing with an asphalt surface that is cracking, raveling, or bleeding, asphalt milling might be your best option.
Contact Capital Paving and Sealcoating today and schedule a consultation. We will come to you and evaluate the area. This will help us determine the best course of action. We have been in business since 1956. We have the experience and expertise to handle all of your asphalt paving needs.