01248 353 595 On a properly built surface, stone mastic asphalt will give you around 20-25 depending on proper installation. It’s tougher than standard tarmac, so on roads, car parks and busy yards that are well laid and looked after, it can comfortably reach the upper end of that range. How long it lasts on your site depends on how you use it and how it’s been put down.
Traffic: Heavy vehicles, forklifts and farm machinery will wear asphalt out faster, especially where they’re turning sharply or braking hard. In quiet areas such as small car parks or residential streets, which are kinder to the surface, it will last longer.
Installation: If the SMA is properly laid on a solid base and well compacted, it will remain stronger for longer. When people cut corners on the base or don’t compact it enough, the surface is much more likely to crack, rut in the wheel tracks and start throwing up loose stones sooner than it should.
Weather and drainage: Water is the main enemy. If it sits on the surface, freezes and thaws, or mixes with fuel or oil, the asphalt will break down faster. Good falls, decent drainage, and quick cleanup of spills all help the surface last much longer.
Maintenance: Simple routine care makes a big difference. Keeping gullies clear, sealing small cracks and sorting out local defects early can add years to the life of SMA. If you leave issues to “see how it goes”, it almost always ends up costing more to fix later.
Mix quality: A well-designed SMA mix, using quality stone and binder, is more resistant to rutting and general wear, so it will normally outlast cheaper, softer mixes.