Surface Dressing

Driveway Surface Dressing

Surface dressings are used to repair worn and badly weathered roads and prevent them from falling into further disrepair. Surface dressing is often used as a preventative measure and is often employed to revive a road in the first instance before more expensive and potentially disruptive resurfacing is considered.

Whilst many materials like asphalt (mastic and regular) or tarmac are long-lasting and durable, there will be inevitable damages over time such as cracks and chips. Applying quality surface dressings work in two ways by filling the pre-existing damage whilst also resealing the worn surface to protect it from further problems such as weathering.

Enquire today at either our London office on 020 81665109, or our Kent Office on 01233 840088. Alternatively, you can email us on estimated@swiftsurfacing.co.uk

Surface Dressing Road Maintenance

Surface dressing can give a new lease of life to a road surface by protecting against common problems like:

Lowered skid resistance

Over a period of time, the repeated kinetic force from car tires can wear down the coarse texture of a road surface affecting its “gripability”. This can result in low skid resistance which presents all kinds of safety issues for motorists. Quality dressing can revitalise the coarseness of the road surface to increase skid resistance.

Water ingress

Water ingress is a well-known culprit responsible for potholes, cracks and deformations. Thoroughly sealing any trouble spots on the road with a waterproof surface dressing will stop water ingress and reduce the likelihood of further water-induced problems further down the line.

Frost/Ice damage

Surface dressings are a great preventative measure for combating frost damage. When moisture penetrates a poorly sealed surface and freezes, it expands thus rupturing and forcing the surfacing apart. In the way that it keeps water out, a good surface dressing will prevent moisture from getting into a position where it can expand and cause damage.

Surface Dressing Types

Resin Bonded/Resin Bound

Resin bonded surfacing is non-permeable and must be laid on a non-porous fine wearing course asphalt or concrete base. With resin bonded paving, soakaways and proprietary drains must be installed to prevent run-off which could lead to flooding.

Resin “bonded” paving is made by sprinkling loose aggregate onto resin. It’s a great, low-cost option for redevelopment projects or for giving a project an instant facelift. However, it’s not as durable as resin bound paving: the bonded aggregate particles may loosen over time depending on the aggregate size; the depth is generally 3mm.

Tar and Chip (VLS Surfacing)

Tar and Chip dressing also referred to as Leochip or VLS dressing is mechanically sprayed. Tar and Chip dressing creates a stable mosaic of stone chippings, securely attached to the surface by a bitumen emulsion. Quite simply, the bitumen emulsion glues the stone chippings to the surface. The chippings may look loose, but are firmly held in place by the bitumen.

Tar and Chip should be applied at temperatures in excess of 10°C and dry conditions should prevail for at least 12 hours after application.

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Contact Swift Surfacing

Surface redressing fixes and protects at the same time whilst also saving the need for disruptive works. In the majority of cases, roads that require surface dressing often do so because they experience consistently high footfall rates. At Swift Surfacing we have close to 30 years of experience providing lasting surface dressing and have built up a reputation for excellence. Our highly skilled specialists are capable of delivering a rapid and high-quality outcome to ensure that any inconvenience is minimised.

We are an independent contractor and have been able to maintain the same quality standards that have propelled us from a small family business to one of the most respected surfacing companies in London.