Existing driveways of asphalt or concrete can be overlaid with asphalt with excellent results. Usually for driveways, a surface course 1.5 to 2 inches thick will suffice. Before paving, be sure the contractor patches any serious holes or cracks with asphalt and compacts it.  Asphalt pavement is made up of stone (aggregate), sand, additives and liquid (petroleum) asphalt. Liquid asphalt – a sticky black substance – is used as the binding material in asphalt pavements. It is viscous in nature and can also be found in semi solid forms. Another common term for asphalt is bitumen. The pavement – once mixed – consists of 90 to 95% aggregate and sand, and 5 to 10% asphalt or bitumen. Once the asphalt mix is compacted on the driveway, it should be left for solidifying. A minimum of 24 hours is required for the asphalt mix to solidify before it can be used. If enough time is not allowed for solidification, then it will result in poor a quality pavement. Naturally occurring asphalt/bitumen is sometimes specified by the term crude bitumen. Its viscosity is similar to that of cold molasses while the material obtained from the fractional distillation of crude oil boiling at 525 °C (977 °F) is sometimes referred to as refined bitumen. In British English, the word 'asphalt' is used to refer to a mixture of mineral aggregate and asphalt/bitumen (also called tarmac in common parlance). The earlier word 'asphaltum' is now archaic and not commonly used. In American English, 'asphalt' is equivalent to the British 'bitumen'. To begin to understand why asphalt paving is superior to concrete paving (also called cement paving), one should know how asphalt and concrete are made. Concrete is made using aggregate (like crushed rock and sand), along with cement and water. The cement acts as the binder in concrete, holding the aggregate together. As the mixture dries, it forms a stiff, unforgiving solid that is prone to cracking and breaking, especially if the surface beneath it is not perfectly smooth. Like concrete, asphalt is made using aggregate. Crocodile cracking is characterized by interconnecting or interlaced cracking in the asphalt layer resembling the hide of a crocodile. Cell sizes can vary in size up to 300 millimetres (12 in) across, but are typically less than 150 millimetres (5.9 in) across.  The word “Asphalt” originates from the Greek “Asphaltos” and “Asphalton”. There have been variations through the ages in Latin, French and Middle English. “Asphalt” is an abbreviation for the product we use in your paving called “Asphaltic Concrete”. It is often mis-spelt “Ashphalt”. Asphalt is also called “Bitumen”, “Tar” and “Pitch”. The true definition of “Asphalt” is a black, sticky resin. It is usually a by-product of petroleum refining. To produce “Asphaltic Concrete”, aggregate (sand, stone dust and small stones) is preheated in an agitating drum to 180 degrees celsius.  The other advantages of asphalt paving over concrete or cement paving are plentiful. One of those advantages is that removal and replacement of damaged asphalt is a simple and relatively easy process compared to concrete. Asphalt is also a 100% recyclable product. The cement acts as the binder in concrete, holding the aggregate together. As the mixture dries, it forms a stiff, unforgiving solid that is prone to cracking and breaking, especially if the surface beneath it is not perfectly smooth. Like concrete, asphalt is made using aggregate. Until the 20th century, the term asphaltum was also used. The word is derived from the Ancient Greek ασφάλτος asphaltos; its source was an Eastern word. The primary use (70%) of asphalt/bitumen is in road construction, where it is used as the glue or binder mixed with aggregate particles to create asphalt concrete. In British English, the word 'asphalt' is used to refer to a mixture of mineral aggregate and asphalt/bitumen (also called tarmac in common parlance). The earlier word 'asphaltum' is now archaic and not commonly used. In American English, 'asphalt' is equivalent to the British 'bitumen'. Mastic asphalt is a type of asphalt which differs from dense graded asphalt (asphalt concrete) in that it has a higher asphalt/bitumen (binder) content, usually around 7–10% of the whole aggregate mix, as opposed to rolled asphalt concrete, which has only around 5% added asphalt/bitumen. In British English, the word 'asphalt' is used to refer to a mixture of mineral aggregate and asphalt/bitumen (also called tarmac in common parlance). The earlier word 'asphaltum' is now archaic and not commonly used. In American English, 'asphalt' is equivalent to the British 'bitumen'.
http://www.asphaltpavement.org/driveways http://www.pavemanpro.com/article/how_to_sealcoat_parking_lot_chapter_1/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asphalt http://www.dykespaving.com/blog/why-use-asphalt-instead-of-concrete/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocodile_cracking http://gmuellerasphalt.com.au/why-asphalt/ http://www.dykespaving.com/blog/why-use-asphalt-instead-of-concrete/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asphalt https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asphalt
why is asphalt called asphalt