Paving Terms Glossary

Asphalt types

• HMA: Hot Mix Asphalt. Standard mix used in most paving jobs.
• WMA: Warm Mix Asphalt. Mixed and laid at lower temperatures.
• RAP: Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement. Recycled asphalt content.

Layers and treatments

• Base layer: Compacted crushed stone under asphalt.
• Tack coat: Bonding layer for overlays.
• Sealcoat: Protective surface coating.
• Overlay: New asphalt layer on top of an existing surface.
• Patch: Local repair of damaged areas.

Measurements

• Square foot (sqft): Area measurement used for estimating.
• Linear foot (lf): Used for striping and edge work.
• Thickness: Depth of asphalt layer in inches.

Estimating terms

• Line item: A priced component of the estimate.
• Margin: Profit percentage added to subtotal.
• Subtotal: Sum of line items before margin.
• Estimate version: A saved snapshot of the estimate.

Operations

• Work order: Internal job execution plan.
• Schedule: Planned job dates and crew assignment.
• Job costing: Actual cost tracking after work completes.

Milling

Removal of existing asphalt surface to a specified depth using a milling machine. Typically priced per square yard.

Chip seal

Surface treatment applying emulsion and aggregate chips for pavement preservation. Also called "seal coat" in some regions.

Geotextile

Stabilization fabric placed between pavement layers to prevent reflective cracking and improve structural performance.

Labor burden

Employer costs beyond base wage including taxes, insurance, and benefits. Typically 35-45% of base wage for construction trades.

Material vs labor split

The proportion of total cost attributable to materials versus labor. For asphalt paving, typically ~70% materials and ~30% labor on large projects.