Planned maintenance
We analyse information from surveys and inspections to determine the best treatment and timing for repairs or preventative maintenance.
Surface dressing
We sweep the road to remove loose material, then apply a bitumen emulsion spray followed by chippings. The surface is then rolled and swept to remove excess chippings.
Surface dressing seals the surface, preventing water from getting into it. It also improves the texture and skid resistance and helps prevent potholes from forming. It also helps keep disruption to a minimum as most sites can be treated without road closures and used immediately afterwards.
Treating a road just before faults occur can prolong its life and prevent the need for more disruptive treatments. Surface dressing is designed to last for between up to 12 years.
Road micro-asphalt
We apply a cold mix of bitumen emulsion overlay to the surface. Road micro-asphalt seals the surface, preventing water from getting into it. It also improves the texture and skid resistance and helps prevent potholes from forming.
It is quick to lay and can be used immediately afterwards, keeping disruption to a minimum. It is usually used on lightly used roads as an alternative to surface dressing.
By treating a road before faults occur, we can prolong its life and prevent the need for more disruptive treatments.
Resurfacing
This involves replacing the roads top bituminous layer and is used where the surface has failed and there is either the need to restore ride quality, resolve poor drainage characteristics or where there is excessive patching and reinstatements.
We plane off the surface of the carriageway and replace it. When we resurface, we will seek to maintain kerb upstands to aid drainage, and we may lift or lower existing metal covers and gullies to improve ride quality.
Resurfacing will typically require a road closure to enable the works to be carried out safely. Once completed, resurfacing has a lifespan of up to 20 years.
Patching
Patches are repairs to small areas, replacing one or more bituminous layers. We use patching to repair areas where the surface or structural layers are failing.
Depending on the size of the road and the patches, patching can be carried out using traffic management but can also require a road closure. We design patching to have a minimum design life of 10 years.
Patching and surface dressing
Where a road is primarily suitable for surface dressing but has some areas of failure in the structural layers, we aim to patch and then surface dress.
We may patch up to a year before the surface dressing. Surface dressing over the patches can prevent water from getting into the road and provide a uniform surface.
Reconstruction
Reconstruction involves replacing a substantial depth of the bituminous layers. Reconstruction is considered when there are extensive areas of structural failure.
When designing a reconstruction scheme, we use lots of data from our lab to determine the right design to achieve the best results. We utilise locally recycled material such as foam-base bitumen where possible to reduce the scheme's and our carbon footprint.
Reconstruction works are extensive and can be disruptive as they will mainly require a road closure to carry out the work safely.
Re-tread
Re-treading involves planing the road, then re-grading and re-profiling on site before a surface dressing is applied. Additives may be used to stabilise the works further.
It is usually used on lightly used roads with significant areas of structural deterioration. It uses very little new material, reducing the carbon impact of the work.
While works are happening a full road closure will be required while works are happening due to the machinery's size and construction depth.