A common misconception is that bitumen is the same as asphalt, and you’ll often find resources using the terms asphalt driveways and bitumen driveways interchangeably. While these two materials are related to one another, they are definitely not the same substance!
Asphalt is a combination of aggregates (sand, rock, gravel, etc.), filler, and binder. Bitumen, on the other hand, is a sticky, tarry substance that keeps asphalt together. While bitumen can be used to pave roads, it usually results in looser rocks that wear down over time.