Getting you ready for surface dressing season
Surface dressing season is in sight and as soon as that weather window of opportunity arrives, local authorities and surface dressing contractors will need to be ready to spring into action. After all, it is one of the busiest times of year for highway repairs.
What Is Surface Dressing?
Surface dressing is a vital part of highway maintenance. Not only does it guarantee the best road surfaces for vehicles, but it also prolongs the life of the road too.
Surface dressing involves spraying bitumen binder on a clean, dry road surface. Stone chippings are then spread over the top and the surface is rolled to embed these small stones. This process seals and waterproofs the road to improve braking and increase safety for drivers.
Why Is It Carried Out?
Over time, road conditions deteriorate due to wear and tear from heavy traffic. Repairing these issues by resurfacing the road is vital and not only improves driver safety, but also prevents more major issues, like potholes, developing.
The benefits are plenty – from improving skid resistance and grip, to smoothing roads and making them waterproof. Surface dressing is a quick, cost-effective way to maintain good quality roads, and extends the life of that stretch of highway by at least 10 years.
What Are the Challenges of Surface Dressing?
Typically surface dressing season lands in spring, usually between late March and early April. However, the activity is very much dependent on the weather conditions as dry roads are essential, so local authorities and contractors never know too far in advance when they can hit the road.
This means that hiring the right tools for the job can be tricky. A number of specialist vehicles are required for surface dressing, from tippers and hotboxes to rollers and road sweepers. But accessing them from suppliers at a moment’s notice isn’t always easy.
Hiring such equipment in advance can be an expensive task for the machines to be just sat waiting to be put to use. So how do local authorities and contractors overcome this?
Flexible Contract Hire
Contract hire presents the ideal solution. It enables customers to access the most prestigious vehicles on a flexible, affordable basis, without the need for major financial outlay.
Our Smarter Asset Strategy provides bespoke solutions which streamline processes, improve efficiencies and reduce costs. Customers also benefit from our first-class service and maintenance. From manufacturer trained engineers and 24/7 nationwide assistance to driver and operator training, our aftercare ensures clients stay safe and operational at all times.
Premium Fleet
As local authorities and surface dressing contractors prepare for one of their busiest times of the year for highway maintenance, we have a number of vehicles ready and waiting for when demand hits. These include:
- Bucher VT652 – the ideal sweepers for collecting loose tarmac, dust and other debris during the surface dressing process. These vehicles also have the ability to convert into street cleaners, with Supawah chisel jets cleaning roads and kerb lines.
- Bucher V80 – this heavy-duty cleaning machine can sweep away any remaining debris with ease.
- JCB 3CX Compact Highways Master – a high-performance backhoe loader that specialises in a wide variety of duties in urban and limited-space work environments.
- 32T Thompsons Tipper – with a Loadmaster body, this is the ultimate tipper for carrying materials to and from surface dressing sites. Nothing beats it for strength, durability and reliability.
- 32T Thompsons Tipper Grab – with a high payload, this tipper grab is extremely strong. Designed to handle heavy-duty work, it can load, move, remove and deliver all materials on site.
- Thompsons 18T Hotbox – this machine is ideal for transporting materials, such as bitumen binder, at the required temperature for road dressing.
All these vehicles play a vital role in the surface dressing process, enabling local authorities to restore and redress damaged roads to protect them against dangerous factors such as frost and water damage.
Get In Touch Today
With over 20 years’ experience supporting local authorities, Dawsongroup emc is perfectly placed to support you this surface dressing season. To find out more, get in touch with the team today on 01484 400111 or contact us here.
