What is asphalt used for?

Hot rolled asphalt (HRA) is a dense, hard-wearing road surfacing mix used wherever you need a tough, reliable finish. From busy roads and junctions to car parks and urban streets.

Durability: Hot rolled asphalt stands up well to constant heavy traffic, so it does not rut or push around under lorries, buses or tight turning movements.

Skid resistance: Chippings are rolled into the surface to create texture and grip, helping drivers brake and steer with more confidence, particularly in wet conditions.

Longevity: When it is laid and maintained properly, hot-rolled asphalt offers a long service life, reducing the number of interventions and patch repairs you need over time.

Versatile use: It is widely used on roads, highways, town centres and parking areas where clients want a robust, smooth surface that can handle constant traffic

HRA (hot rolled asphalt) and SMA (stone mastic asphalt) are both tough asphalt mixes, but they are built and used differently.

HRA is a dense, heavy-duty surface that’s built to cope with big traffic volumes and lots of turning, so it’s often used where the loading is highest. SMA is usually picked where you want a quieter surface with extra texture and grip, for example, on certain main roads or junctions.

In the end, it comes down to what the job needs – traffic levels, location and any spec you must work to – and the designer will choose the mix that best fits that brief.

Hot asphalt is simply the go-to material when you need a hard-wearing, smooth surface that will take a lot of use without breaking up. You’ll see it most on roads, car parks and other busy paved areas because it goes down quickly, carries heavy traffic, and, if it’s laid properly, will last for years.