As cities across Canada struggle with deteriorating roads, growing infrastructure backlogs, and budget constraints, the materials used to maintain and repair these surfaces matter more than ever. While imported asphalt solutions—especially from the U.S.—have long dominated the market, a Canadian-made alternative is proving not just competitive but superior.
That alternative is DuroMastic, a polymer-modified mastic asphalt manufactured in Mississauga, Ontario. Created for Canadian climates, by Canadian workers, and with Canadian infrastructure in mind, DuroMastic offers municipalities a smarter, faster, and more self-reliant solution for pavement and pothole repair. It’s more than a product—it’s a statement of national confidence in our ability to innovate from within.
Table of Contents
Rethinking Asphalt in a Global Supply Chain World
Over the past two decades, construction materials—from concrete additives to asphalt patching compounds—have increasingly come from cross-border or overseas suppliers. At first glance, it may seem harmless. But behind those long-distance purchases lie significant risks: unpredictable lead times, fluctuating currency costs, longer delivery windows, and reliance on foreign labor and regulatory environments.
Canada’s public works departments have begun to feel the strain. Delays in receiving asphalt mixes or repair products can throw off repair schedules, increase road closures, and drive up costs. And when a product isn’t designed for Canadian winters, it often doesn’t last long enough to justify the initial savings.
That’s why a shift is happening—one that favors domestic manufacturing, localized distribution, and products built for Canadian reality.
Why Local Matters: The Canadian Advantage
DuroMastic is produced entirely in Canada—right out of Mississauga, Ontario—making it the only Canadian-manufactured mastic asphalt of its kind. Unlike many patch products imported from U.S. companies, DuroMastic is crafted with full control over its supply chain, quality assurance, and climate-readiness.
This local manufacturing base translates directly to:
- Shorter lead times: No border delays, customs, or long-haul freight issues.
- Stable pricing: No currency volatility or import fees.
- Faster deployment: Orders can be fulfilled and delivered within days.
- Job creation at home: The product is made by a unionized, living-wage workforce.
When municipalities choose DuroMastic, they’re not just investing in a patch material—they’re investing in Canadian workers, Canadian innovation, and Canadian resilience.
Cold Weather Performance, Proven in Canada
Imported asphalt products are often designed for milder climates or generic use across markets. DuroMastic, by contrast, was specifically engineered for extreme Canadian winters. It can be installed in temperatures as low as –10°C, a game-changer for cities like Winnipeg, Sudbury, Edmonton, or Quebec City that face brutal freeze-thaw cycles for months on end.
DuroMastic’s formulation is:
- Self-compacting (no roller needed)
- Voidless and impermeable to water, salt, and chlorides
- Resistant to cracks, rutting, and fatigue
- Quick curing—traffic-ready in as little as 40 minutes
Because it’s built for freeze-thaw environments, DuroMastic outperforms traditional asphalt and many American imports that tend to degrade quickly under sub-zero stress. It’s not just a patch—it’s a long-term fix that lasts seasons, not weeks.
Track Record of Results
The performance of DuroMastic isn’t theoretical. In real-world applications across Canada and the U.S., it has exceeded expectations.
At the Toronto Eaton Centre, DuroMastic was used in a high-traffic area prone to wear. While previous repair systems degraded in just two years, DuroMastic has held up for more than eight years and counting—a testament to its superior material science and long-term durability.
Even the Michigan Department of Transportation, no stranger to snow and salt, has embraced DuroMastic for infrastructure work, with over eight years of success documented on road and bridge applications.
Municipalities with shrinking budgets and rising maintenance costs are beginning to notice: a longer-lasting patch is a smarter financial move.
Municipal Momentum Toward Local Solutions
Canadian municipalities are increasingly prioritizing self-sufficiency, climate-appropriate materials, and lower long-term costs. With maintenance budgets under constant scrutiny, solutions that reduce the frequency and cost of repairs are winning attention.
DuroMastic has already been proposed as part of Toronto’s $5 million pothole repair strategy, and similar conversations are taking place in mid-sized cities across the country. The appeal is simple: stop importing quick-fix products and start using a permanent, local solution that serves both the road and the economy.
Duron Ontario Ltd., which produces DuroMastic, has emphasized the importance of local innovation in solving national infrastructure problems. Their broader work in waterproofing, terrazzo, and concrete systems across hospitals, arenas, and transit hubs shows the same commitment to Canadian-built quality.
A Case for National Confidence
Choosing Canadian-made materials like DuroMastic isn’t just good economics—it’s good policy. It reduces dependency on foreign supply chains, keeps dollars circulating in the local economy, and ensures accountability throughout the product’s life cycle.
And from a workforce standpoint, it supports skilled, unionized labor—ensuring that the people who build our country also benefit from its prosperity. In a time when many industries are struggling to retain skilled tradespeople, these kinds of locally supported jobs are more essential than ever.
By contrast, imported asphalt products rarely contribute to the Canadian economy beyond the final sale. Their production, shipping, and employment benefits are enjoyed elsewhere, leaving little behind.
What Choosing Canadian Really Means
When a city, contractor, or province chooses DuroMastic, they’re choosing:
- A material designed for Canada, not adapted for it
- A shorter supply chain with faster fulfillment
- A product made by a certified Living Wage Employer
- More reliable cold-weather performance
- Lower life-cycle costs due to extended durability
- An economic boost to local industry and skilled trades
And perhaps most importantly—they’re choosing confidence: confidence that when the temperature drops and roads crumble, a Canadian-made product has their back.
The Border Isn’t Just a Line
In construction, as in many industries, the border between Canada and the U.S. can feel invisible—until something goes wrong. Delays, poor performance in northern climates, and long-term maintenance headaches often result from relying on materials never intended for Canadian use.
DuroMastic changes that. It’s built for Canadian roads, manufactured by Canadian hands, and tested in Canadian winters. It gives cities a chance to take back control of their infrastructure strategy—on their terms, in their climate, and with their people.
With every pour of DuroMastic, there’s more than pavement being laid. There’s a foundation for self-reliance, resilience, and pride in what we build—north of the border.
