2026-05-17 update
Quick answer: hot-mix vs cold-mix vs warm-mix asphalt
Hot-mix asphalt is laid at 140–160°C straight from the plant — strongest bond, used for new roads and full resurfacing, but needs dry weather, surface temperature above ~10°C and a same-day plant run.
Cold-mix asphalt is pre-mixed with a solvent or polymer carrier so it stays workable at ambient temperature. Bagged or palletised, place-and-compact, works in rain. Polymer-modified cold-mix (EZ Street, Cemix Bitupatch, UPM, QPR) is the contractor-grade tier — bagged supermarket cold-mix is the emergency tier.
Warm-mix asphalt is hot-mix produced at 100–130°C using foaming additives or zeolites — same end-product as hot-mix but 30°C cooler in production. Lower emissions, longer haul window, and contractors can keep it workable for ~2 hours instead of ~45 minutes. Same use-case as hot-mix — not a domestic-driveway material.
Warm-mix asphalt — the third option most NZ guides miss
Warm-mix asphalt (WMA) is a hot-mix variant produced 20–40°C cooler than conventional hot-mix using one of three additive approaches:
- Foaming (water-injection or zeolite): tiny water droplets flash to steam inside the bitumen, briefly expanding it 5–10× — gives the same coating action at lower temperature. Used by Fulton Hogan and Higgins on larger NZ contracts.
- Chemical additives: surfactants reduce the viscosity of the binder so it coats aggregate at 110–130°C. Common brand: Evotherm.
- Organic waxes (Sasobit and similar): dissolved into the bitumen, lower viscosity above ~90°C then re-stiffen on cooling.
Should you ask for warm-mix on your driveway or carpark? Probably not. Warm-mix is a production-side optimisation — for the customer the end-product behaves like hot-mix and is priced like hot-mix. It's useful when the plant is far from the site (longer haul window) or when ambient temperature is borderline for hot-mix (gives extra working time). On Auckland residential driveways under 50 m² the logistics cost still dominates — it's the wrong tool for the job, same as standard hot-mix. The right question to ask a contractor is "what mix type fits this defect", not "do you offer warm-mix".
For the full decision tree by site type — driveway, carpark, council road, body-corp common area — see the NZ pothole repair cost guide 2026.
Where to buy each type of mix in NZ
Customer-facing supplier shortlist as of May 2026. Prices indicative for 20 kg bag or per-tonne equivalent; minimums and freight extra.
| Mix type | Where to buy in NZ | Indicative price | Best for |
|---|
| Hot-mix asphalt | Fulton Hogan plants (Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch); Higgins plants; Downer plants. Direct supply only — minimum 2–3 tonnes typical; smaller quantities via paving contractors. | $220–$320/t ex plant | Resurfacing, new driveways > 100 m², road carriageway works. |
| Polymer-modified cold-mix (EZ Street) | Fulton Hogan NZ (manufacturer / NZ licence holder). Distributed via paving contractors and trade channels — not normally retail. | $28–$38 / 20 kg bag (trade) | Pothole patching, carpark defects, body-corp common areas. Wet-weather capable. |
| Polymer-modified cold-mix (Cemix Bitupatch) | Cemix Products Ltd (Auckland). Trade and selected retail outlets. | $22–$30 / 20 kg bag | Driveway potholes, edge repairs, small < 30 mm depth defects. |
| Polymer-modified cold-mix (QPR / UPM) | Mastermix NZ (NZ distributor). Trade-only typically; ring-direct. | $25–$35 / 20 kg bag | Council/asset-owner repair, contractor jobs requiring documented warranty. |
| Standard bagged cold-mix | Bunnings, Mitre 10, Placemakers. Retail. | $18–$26 / 20 kg bag | Emergency only — not a permanent fix. Plan to redo or upgrade within 6 months. |
| Warm-mix asphalt | Fulton Hogan and Higgins on larger contracts. Not sold in retail/small quantities. | $230–$330/t ex plant (similar to hot-mix) | Large carparks, long haul-distance jobs, low-emission projects. |
Note: Rapidpatch sources polymer-modified cold-mix in volume from EZ Street (Fulton Hogan licence) and Cemix Bitupatch. We don't sell bagged product to the public — we use it on customer repairs at a fixed per-job price.
2026-05-17 updateQuick answer: hot-mix vs cold-mix vs warm-mix asphalt
Hot-mix asphalt is laid at 140-160°C straight from the plant - strongest bond, used for new roads and full resurfacing, but needs dry weather, surface temperature above ~10°C and a same-day plant run.
Cold-mix asphalt is pre-mixed with a solvent or polymer carrier so it stays workable at ambient temperature. Bagged or palletised, place-and-compact, works in rain. Polymer-modified cold-mix (EZ Street, Cemix Bitupatch, UPM, QPR) is the contractor-grade tier - bagged supermarket cold-mix is the emergency tier.
Warm-mix asphalt is hot-mix produced at 100-130°C using foaming additives or zeolites - same end-product as hot-mix but 30°C cooler in production. Lower emissions, longer haul window, and contractors can keep it workable for ~2 hours instead of ~45 minutes. Same use-case as hot-mix - not a domestic-driveway material.
Warm-mix asphalt - the third option most NZ guides miss
Warm-mix asphalt (WMA) is a hot-mix variant produced 20-40°C cooler than conventional hot-mix using one of three additive approaches:
- Foaming (water-injection or zeolite): tiny water droplets flash to steam inside the bitumen, briefly expanding it 5-10x - gives the same coating action at lower temperature. Used by Fulton Hogan and Higgins on larger NZ contracts.
- Chemical additives: surfactants reduce the viscosity of the binder so it coats aggregate at 110-130°C. Common brand: Evotherm.
- Organic waxes (Sasobit and similar): dissolved into the bitumen, lower viscosity above ~90°C then re-stiffen on cooling.
Should you ask for warm-mix on your driveway or carpark? Probably not. Warm-mix is a production-side optimisation - for the customer the end-product behaves like hot-mix and is priced like hot-mix. It's useful when the plant is far from the site (longer haul window) or when ambient temperature is borderline for hot-mix (gives extra working time). On Auckland residential driveways under 50 m² the logistics cost still dominates - it's the wrong tool for the job, same as standard hot-mix. The right question to ask a contractor is "what mix type fits this defect", not "do you offer warm-mix".
For the full decision tree by site type - driveway, carpark, council road, body-corp common area - see the NZ pothole repair cost guide 2026.
Where to buy each type of mix in NZ
Customer-facing supplier shortlist as of May 2026. Prices indicative for 20 kg bag or per-tonne equivalent; minimums and freight extra.
| Mix type | Where to buy in NZ | Indicative price | Best for |
|---|
| Hot-mix asphalt | Fulton Hogan plants (Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch); Higgins plants; Downer plants. Direct supply only - minimum 2-3 tonnes typical; smaller quantities via paving contractors. | $220-$320/t ex plant | Resurfacing, new driveways > 100 m², road carriageway works. |
| Polymer-modified cold-mix (EZ Street) | Fulton Hogan NZ (manufacturer / NZ licence holder). Distributed via paving contractors and trade channels - not normally retail. | $28-$38 / 20 kg bag (trade) | Pothole patching, carpark defects, body-corp common areas. Wet-weather capable. |
| Polymer-modified cold-mix (Cemix Bitupatch) | Cemix Products Ltd (Auckland). Trade and selected retail outlets. | $22-$30 / 20 kg bag | Driveway potholes, edge repairs, small < 30 mm depth defects. |
| Polymer-modified cold-mix (QPR / UPM) | Mastermix NZ (NZ distributor). Trade-only typically; ring-direct. | $25-$35 / 20 kg bag | Council/asset-owner repair, contractor jobs requiring documented warranty. |
| Standard bagged cold-mix | Bunnings, Mitre 10, Placemakers. Retail. | $18-$26 / 20 kg bag | Emergency only - not a permanent fix. Plan to redo or upgrade within 6 months. |
| Warm-mix asphalt | Fulton Hogan and Higgins on larger contracts. Not sold in retail/small quantities. | $230-$330/t ex plant (similar to hot-mix) | Large carparks, long haul-distance jobs, low-emission projects. |
Note: Rapidpatch sources polymer-modified cold-mix in volume from EZ Street (Fulton Hogan licence) and Cemix Bitupatch. We don't sell bagged product to the public - we use it on customer repairs at a fixed per-job price.
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