Chip Seal Conventional
Contract-Ready Construction Specification Guidelines
Download GuidelinesLearn about the benefits of Chip Seal Conventional Treatments
Oftentimes, a simple software update can radically improve the performance of an electronic device. A similar theory is true of a conventional chip seal’s ability to revitalize roads. A conventional chip seal is an asphalt binder that is applied on an existing surface, followed by a layer of aggregate chips that are rolled and embedded into the aggregate binder. Conventional chip seals can be used as a method of preventative maintenance or to upgrade a gravel road to a paved road.
Conventional chip seals reduce life-cycle costs by 48 percent and can extend the life of a roadway by roughly 5-7 years, making them a fast, cost-effective way to perform roadway maintenance and upgrades.
Conventional chip seals can be used to treat or prevent areas of oxidation, top-down fatigue cracks, raveling and loss of friction, making it a swift and inexpensive way to complete the project.
While conventional chip seals can be used in several different maintenance scenarios, they should never be used on unsealed cracks greater than ¼” or ruts deeper than ⅜”.
Douglas Gransberg, PhD, completed research on the many different types of chip seals used. He found that conventional chip seals were ideal for roadways with low average daily traffic volume, less than 500 vehicles per day.
Best Practices
- Follow a prepared design.
- Seal cracks larger than ¼”.
- Use a single size, clean stone for aggregate.
- Adjust target rates on site depending on field conditions.
- Ensure equipment is properly calibrated.
- Do not over apply aggregate.
- All traffic, including construction equipment, should be controlled to less than 35mph until final sweeping.
Pavement Preservation Success
Success Story: Conventional Chip Seal with CRS-2
DownloadAs with anything subject to deterioration, roads require regular maintenance to reduce the need for more extensive rehabilitation down the line. But even with proper maintenance, a road will eventually call for more expansive repairs where a contractor must be utilized. To maintain the balance between low-cost routine maintenance and major rehabilitation, Blount County, Alabama, invested in their road maintenance and chip seal program and is reaping the rewards.