The UK is said to have more than one million potholes, or about six potholes per mile across council-controlled roads in Britain and Wales. This significant number affects many people’s willingness to drive, impacting confidence and comfort.
A study by RAC has found that vehicular damage has increased significantly from 2022 to 2023, with 33% more breakdowns due to potholes.
Contributing to this decline is weather, heavy traffic, larger vehicles, and a decrease in construction quality and maintenance. The RAC pothole index currently stands at 1.70, which is an alarming figure that needs to be improved.
While there are many ways to improve road conditions, one way is to implement tarmac surfacing. In this article, we will look into tarmac surface dressing and how it can increase the durability of the roads for an improved driving experience. Let’s get started!
An Overview of Tarmac Surfacing Dressing
To understand surface dressing, it’s essential to understand the process behind it.
When it comes to tarmac surface dressing, surface dressing contractors will spray a thin bitumen layer on the surface of the road and then cover it with stone chippings. This method is not only simple but also cost-effective, giving long-term durability.
The methods of surface dressing in road construction used by the contractor and civil engineers vary depending on the current road conditions and traffic levels.
The different types of tarmac surface dressing are:
Single-layer surface dressing
Double-layer surface dressing
Triple-layer surface dressing
Now that we know how tarmac surface dressing works, let’s explore the benefits.
The Surface Dressing of Roads: Top 3 Benefits
1. Enhances Durability
The biggest advantage of surface dressing is that it extends the lifespan of roads. The UK climate is known for its regular rainfall, and this is one of the key reasons that the roads are deteriorating so significantly.
Constant rainfall erodes away the top layer of the road, causing weak points that eventually lead to cracks. Water penetrates these cracks and weakens the surface, leading to potholes that grow over time.
By spraying bitumen, the cracks in the road are sealed, preventing base layer damage. Bitumen also acts as a waterproofing barrier, preventing the creation of potholes, and extending the longevity of the road, which is particularly important in winter.
Surface dressing contractors usually add aggregate material like stone chipping to slow down the oxidation process, thus minimising wear and tear.
Repairing damaged roads using surface dressing equipment is a preventive measure that expands the lifespan of older roads, and reinforces the integrity of newly built ones.
2. Improves Skid Resistance
Road conditions dramatically affect safety, with friction being a particularly important variable to maintain for stability. With constant usage and overtime, naturally the grip of the road is reduced. This can lead to increased instances of accidents.
However, using surface dressing on roads can prevent such mishaps and improve the road’s texture. This helps tyres hold a better grip and is especially beneficial in a rain-prone area like the UK, where the chances of skidding-related accidents are more common.
Aggregate material used in the methods of surface dressing in road construction improves the structure of the road surface by reinforcing the rough, high-grip texture.
3. Prevent Environmental Damage
Roads are always exposed to nature’s onslaught of harsh UV rays, incessant rain, and extreme temperatures. As a result, cracks can begin to form and worsen throughout the seasons.
However, tarmac surface dressing can help to reduce the formation of cracks on the road surface and slow the effects of the freeze-thaw cycle that further exacerbates the damage. Surface dressing adds flexibility to the road structure, helping it better withstand the temperature difference.
This additional aggregate layer acts as a protective barrier against environmental damage, wear-and-tear, and also chemical damage. Road surfaces are exposed to various chemicals like vehicular fuels and icing salts, but with surface dressing, damage is slowed.
Looking for Quality Surface Dressing? Choose LSL Surfacing!
Surface dressing of roads extends their longevity, prevents skidding-related accidents, and slows environmental damage. At LSL Surfacing, we have years of experience working with businesses and private property owners in Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk and Bedfordshire.
Our team offers a range of services, including path resurfacing, golden chipping, and hot tar application, amongst others.
Contact us today or give us a call on 01223 420369 or 07899 756373 to discuss your requirements.