Leeds Road Surfacing

Surface dressing must be carried out when the road is dry. The process is relatively quick, with busy sites taking less than a day to complete and quieter roads needing only 1 to 2 hours, depending on the size of the road.

The wearing course is the upper layer of bituminous material, often denser and stronger than the base layer. The thickness depends on the material specification and the amount of wear that is expected. Desired properties are good non-skid capabilities, minimal glare and acceptable durability.

Top layers of roads generally need resurfacing or surface dressing every 10-15 years. Full road tarmac replacement is often only required after a number of decades.

Surface dressing involves treating roads which are in relatively good condition with preventative maintenance treatments to maintain their good condition. Resurfacing is a more extensive structural maintenance treatment which involves removing up to 300mm of a worn-out road surface and replacing it with new material

Surface dressing is a maintenance and prevention treatment that helps prolong the life of the surface. Surface dressing will re-seal and waterproof a road, whilst also increasing tyre grip to improve braking and overall safety.

The majority of UK roads are made of Tarmacadam/Asphalt, which consists of sand, gravel and stone in a bitumen binder. This material is very hard wearing and can support great weights and fluctuations in temperature. Some roads may also be made of concrete.