Micro-surfacing

 Micro-Surfacing has replaced traditional chip sealing in Credit River in recent years as it was discovered that chip sealing can cause pavement delamination to occur. This process seals the surface of the road extending the life of the pavement.

What is micro-surfacing?

Micro-surfacing is a thin lift of polymer modified asphalt emulsion mixed with finely crushed stone which adds a protective layer and adds surface friction to the bituminous pavement.

How thick will the new surface be?

The approximate thickness of the micro-surface is 1/8 inch. 

Will the surface be smooth?

No, the product is “rough” by design since it contains finely crushed aggregate.  However, the “roughness” is generally less than ¼ inch at overlaps. 

Are there any benefits to the roughness?

Yes, the added roughness causes increased surface friction between vehicle tires and the roadway. 

This new surface is “new pavement”, right?

No, it is not new bituminous pavement.  The bituminous pavement that was used for your road is “Hot Mix” which is applied at 300 degrees Fahrenheit and is compacted before it cools.  This product, in contrast, is applied at ambient temperature uses an asphalt emulsion in which the water evaporates to allow the product to set.

Why does Credit River do micro-surfacing?

The Local Road Research Board (LRRB) research estimates that micro-surfacing extends the pavements life by 8-9 years.  Credit River desires to maintain the City streets in good condition while achieving the lowest possible life cycle costs. 

Why can’t Credit River just Chip Seal (sealcoat) our roads?

Chip Sealing is a similar product in which the finished surface is also rough.  However, the rocks are not encapsulated in the bituminous emulsion and therefore it is common to experience many more “loose rocks” with newly chip sealed streets.  Also, many road agencies have suspended chip sealing roads pending more information regarding delamination of pavement that has been chip sealed.

Will the roughness and visual appearance get better over time?

Yes, in our experience the normal traffic will continue to “smooth out” the surface during the first summer and winter plowing removes ridges during the first winter.  Further, the sheen of the product reduces over time, improving the visual appearance.