To seal the road surface against ingress of water.

To arrest the deterioration of the road surface.

To provide a skid resistant road surface with the resultant benefits of reduction in accidents.

To reduce spray.

To maximise the cost effectiveness of limited highway maintenance funds.

When to Surface Dress

Before the road surface deteriorates to the stage at which expensive major patching and/or reconstruction is required.

Before surface skidding levels fall below the nationally accepted level for the class of road in question.

Cost effectiveness

Low initial cost - in the region of £1.20p/sq m for routine single dressings to £2.50/sq m for specialist multi- layer dressings for high speed roads.

Low cost/life index. When done properly, at the right time, surface dressing is the most cost effective treatment over a period of time.

The product can be likened to painting one's house. It needs doing before deterioration occurs and means that expensive preparation or replacement is not required.

Which roads can be Surface Dressed?

All classes of road, from single track, unclassified roads and footpaths to national high speed motorways can and have been successfully treated.

Some important considerations

The dressing required must be designed for the conditions of the road surface on which it is to be laid and the traffic expected on it. Road Note 39, 5th edition, revised gives guidance on all aspects of design. The RSDA runs regular Training Courses on surface dressing, which include tuition on design.

The work should be carried out by a fully experienced contractor who can demonstrate that he has a record of quality work. All RSDA member companies are accredited to ISO 9002 standards and most have achieved accreditation to the QA National Sector Scheme No 13a - Surface Dressing. Clients are urged to specify such quality accreditation requirements in their Contract Documents.

Surface dressing binder technology has developed enormously over the last 10 years or so. It is important to specify the binder quality required to give the optimum end product. Failures and nuisance will be minimised by the proper selection.

Proper "aftercare" is essential. This, together with the correct design and binder specification, will minimise any loose chipping problem.

Environmental considerations

Surface dressing minimises the use of scarce national aggregate resources - all the stone used is in direct contact with the tyre of the motorist, not buried below the road surface.

Accident levels will be reduced.

Proper attention to detail can minimise the surface use noise.

The speed of the process means that disruption to road uses and frontagers is minimised.

Life expectancy

Proper attention to design and execution has given dressing lifetimes well in excess of 10 years, even on very heavily trafficked sites.

Summary

Surface dressing is an established, proven process. It is the most cost-effective surface maintenance treatment when properly designed, specified and executed.

Developments in surface dressing materials, techniques and equipment mean that problems of which it is often accused can be minimised or eliminated.

Unless the amount of surface dressing is increased our roads will continue to deteriorate. This will result from the lack of sealing of the surface and less roads being treated because of higher alternative costs and financial constraints on budgets.