| Blacktop is a combination of gravel, sand and | | | | can suffer damage due to sunlight and ultra-violet |
| asphalt while concrete is a mixture of cement, | | | | rays and hence is not used in places with warmer |
| gravel and sand. Although both are entirely | | | | climates. |
| different products, they may be used together in | | | | Other uses of blacktop concrete |
| layers in big construction projects. When a | | | | Blacktop may get damaged due to the use of |
| combination of blacktop and concrete is used, it | | | | snowplows. But the potholes occurring can be |
| may be referred to as blacktop concrete. | | | | easily patched using blacktop. This may not be the |
| Although it is a commonly referred term, the fact | | | | case with concrete. However, concrete is of |
| is that blacktop is very different from concrete | | | | more use in warmer climates. Although concrete |
| and is not necessarily used with concrete always. | | | | may not be as beneficial as blacktop in cold |
| Similarly, concrete has its own uses and | | | | countries, in warmer places, concrete has the |
| advantages and is only occasionally combined with | | | | best flexibility to handle sunlight and ultra-violet |
| blacktop for specific projects only. | | | | rays that can cause a lot of damage to blacktop. |
| Where is blacktop used? | | | | Combination advantage |
| Blacktop is more likely to be used in building roads, | | | | Many construction companies and contractors |
| bridges and even driveways in places that have | | | | who are involved in big projects such as the |
| cold climates. This is because blacktop has the | | | | construction of roadways and bridge decks make |
| ability to withstand salt that is mainly used to | | | | use of layers of both concrete and blacktop. A |
| thaw ice that may collect on the surface. It is also | | | | foundation layer of concrete of about eight inches |
| flexible in the sense that it allows for expansion | | | | in thickness and then a layer of blacktop of about |
| and contraction of surfaces when there is a | | | | six inch thickness. This gives a unique advantage |
| change of season from cold weather to hot | | | | with the combined properties of both the |
| weather. This is the unique advantage that | | | | concrete and blacktop. |
| blacktop has over concrete. However blacktop | | | | |