CW Matthews Hot Mix Asphalt (19mm, 12.5mm, 9.5mm Superpave) Asphalt Mixes
The Superpave hot mix asphalt Quality Paving specifies for base, binder, and surface courses.
At A Glance
- Manufacturer
- CW Matthews Contracting Co. (Georgia asphalt supplier)
- Product Type
- Hot-mix asphalt (HMA) — Superpave gradations
- Gradations We Use
- 19mm, 12.5mm, and 9.5mm
- Primary Purpose
- Base, binder, and surface course paving
- Specification Style
- Superpave mix designs
- Delivery
- Hot from the plant to the job site in insulated trucks
- Placement
- Machine-laid and roller-compacted at spec temperature
- Surface Type
- New base or existing asphalt (as overlay)
- Typical Service Life
- Varies by materials, construction, drainage, traffic, climate, maintenance, site conditions, and use
- Maintenance Recommendation
- Crack fill annually; sealcoat on a 2–3 year cycle
What CW Matthews HMA Is
CW Matthews is one of Georgia's established asphalt producers and paving contractors, operating hot-mix plants across the state. Quality Paving sources CW Matthews hot mix asphalt (HMA) for projects that require Superpave mixes — commercial parking lots, industrial pavements, church and school lots, and residential driveways where the finished surface has to perform under normal use.
Superpave ("superior performing asphalt pavements") is the modern mix-design system used by state DOTs. Mixes are named by the nominal maximum aggregate size — 19mm, 12.5mm, and 9.5mm are the three gradations we specify most often, each engineered for a specific layer of the pavement structure. Combining the right gradations produces a pavement that carries load, resists rutting, and finishes smooth.
The three gradations, in the roles we use them: 19mm is a coarser mix used as a base or binder course where structural strength matters most; 12.5mm is a workhorse intermediate mix used as a binder or a durable surface course on commercial lots; and 9.5mm is a finer surface mix that finishes tight and smooth, ideal for driveways, top courses on parking lots, and any application where the appearance and ride quality of the finished surface is critical.
Every load is hauled hot from the plant, placed with a paver at the specified lift thickness, and compacted with steel and rubber-tire rollers before it cools out of the compaction window. Mix selection, lift thickness, and rolling pattern are project-specific details that belong in a written scope.
Why We Use It
We source from CW Matthews because their Superpave mixes are consistent load to load. On a paving job, the biggest variables we can control are the mix and the crew — if the mix arrives at spec temperature with the right gradation every truck, the crew can deliver a pavement that meets our standard. That consistency is what we're paying for.
Access to all three common Superpave gradations from a single supplier lets us design each pavement section correctly. A commercial lot with heavy delivery traffic gets a 19mm binder and a 12.5mm surface; a residential driveway gets a single lift of 9.5mm; an overlay on an existing lot gets 9.5mm or 12.5mm depending on ride quality and structural need. We're not forcing one mix to do every job.
Reliable delivery windows matter as much as the mix design. Paving is temperature-sensitive, so scheduling, haul time, placement conditions, and compaction methods are coordinated before installation.
Advantages & Limitations
- Superpave mix designs with consistent gradation and binder content
- Three gradations (19mm, 12.5mm, 9.5mm) cover base, binder, and surface courses
- Delivered hot at spec temperature for proper compaction
- Documented mix designs from an established Georgia asphalt producer
- Compatible with standard paving equipment and rolling patterns
- Engineered to carry commercial loads and resist rutting when placed correctly
- Designed for long-term performance when site conditions, base preparation, drainage, materials, installation, use, and maintenance are appropriate.
- Hot mix asphalt placement depends on favorable weather windows, appropriate haul timing, and proper compaction methods.
- Not a repair for failed base — even the best surface mix cannot compensate for saturated or under-built subgrade. Failing base must be addressed first.
- Overlay mixes require sound existing pavement; alligator-cracked or heaving pavement typically needs milling or full-depth reclamation before an overlay.
- Not appropriate for very thin repairs where cold patch or specialty mixes would be more suitable.
- Delivery distance from the plant affects mix temperature — jobs far from a supplying plant require tighter scheduling to avoid cold loads.
- New asphalt must cure before sealcoating — typically 90 days minimum in Middle Georgia, longer for thicker lifts.
Typical Applications
New Commercial Parking Lots
New-construction retail, medical, industrial, and church lots — designed as multi-lift pavements with a 19mm base or binder and a 12.5mm or 9.5mm surface course.
Residential Driveways
Single- or two-lift asphalt driveways, typically finished with 9.5mm surface mix for a tight, smooth appearance.
Overlays & Resurfacing
Overlays on structurally sound existing pavement using 9.5mm or 12.5mm surface mix to restore ride quality when site conditions support overlay work.
Patching & Repairs
Full-depth patches, utility cut repairs, and localized pavement repairs on parking lots, driveways, and access drives.
Industrial & Heavy-Traffic Pavement
Warehouse aprons, truck yards, and industrial access roads engineered with heavier lifts and coarser binder courses to carry the loads.
Church & School Lots
Community-critical pavements designed for long-term performance across decades of weekly use and long-term maintenance stewardship.
How We Apply It
- 01
Site Evaluation & Mix Design
We evaluate the existing pavement or subgrade, confirm loading and drainage requirements, and specify the mix gradations and lift thicknesses for the job.
- 02
Base Preparation
Failing pavement is removed or milled; subgrade or aggregate base is graded, compacted, and confirmed to spec before any asphalt is placed.
- 03
Tack Coat
An asphalt emulsion tack coat is applied to bond a new lift to the existing pavement or the underlying HMA course.
- 04
19mm Base / Binder Placement
Where the pavement section calls for it, a 19mm Superpave mix is placed as a structural base or binder lift and compacted before the next course goes down.
- 05
12.5mm Intermediate or Surface
A 12.5mm mix is placed as either an intermediate binder or a durable surface course, depending on the pavement design.
- 06
9.5mm Surface Course
The 9.5mm surface mix is placed as the final wearing course on projects that require a tighter, smoother finished texture — most driveways and many parking lots finish here.
- 07
Compaction
Each lift is rolled with steel-drum and rubber-tire rollers to hit the target density inside the compaction temperature window.
- 08
Cool-Down & Traffic Control
The pavement is closed to traffic until it cools; we publish a specific re-open time for the customer on every job.
- 09
Punch List & Maintenance Plan
Final walk with the customer, documentation of the mixes and lifts placed, and a recommended crack fill and sealcoat schedule to protect the investment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 19mm, 12.5mm, and 9.5mm mix?
The numbers refer to the nominal maximum aggregate size in each Superpave mix. 19mm is coarser and used for structural base or binder courses; 12.5mm is an intermediate mix commonly used as binder or as a durable surface; 9.5mm is finer and used as a smooth surface wearing course. We specify the combination that fits each pavement's loading and finish requirements.
Which mix goes on a driveway?
Most residential driveways are placed in one or two lifts of 9.5mm surface mix, which finishes tight and smooth. Heavier driveways or long approach drives may include a 12.5mm binder lift beneath the surface course.
Which mix goes on a commercial parking lot?
A typical commercial lot uses a 19mm or 12.5mm binder course carrying the load and a 12.5mm or 9.5mm surface course on top. The final specification depends on traffic, subgrade, and drainage — we design each section to the job.
How long before I can drive on new asphalt?
New asphalt is typically ready for passenger traffic once it has cooled — often the same day. Heavy loads should be kept off longer to let the mat continue to gain strength. We publish a job-specific re-open time on every project.
How soon can new asphalt be sealcoated?
New asphalt needs to cure before sealcoating so the binder oils can evaporate and the sealer bonds properly. In Middle Georgia the standard minimum is roughly 90 days, longer for thicker lifts or cooler seasons.
How long does asphalt paving last?
General industry service-life ranges vary widely. Actual performance depends on materials, construction, drainage, traffic, climate, maintenance, site conditions, and use; Quality Paving does not present those ranges as a guarantee.
Technical Data Sheets & SDS
We link directly to CW Matthews's official Technical Data Sheet (TDS) and Safety Data Sheet (SDS) hosted by the manufacturer — always current, never a stale copy.
Official Documentation
We link directly to CW Matthews's official resources rather than hosting copies. Always refer to the current manufacturer documentation for authoritative specifications.
What We've Learned Using CW Matthews HMA
Real crew observations from Middle Georgia installations of CW Matthews HMA — weather, cure, customer feedback, and long-term performance notes captured on the job.
CW Matthews HMA In The Field
Explore More
- Projects using CW Matthews HMA will be linked here as they are added.
- → Aggregate Base: The Foundation Under Your Pavement
- → Annual Inspection Checklist: What To Look For
- → Asphalt 101: A Property Owner's Guide
- → Asphalt Life Expectancy: How Long Should Your Pavement Really Last?
- → Asphalt Mixes: Why One Size Does Not Fit All
- → Common Asphalt Failures and What They Actually Mean
A Professional Notice
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