About Microsurfacing Contractors, LLC
Microsurfacing Contractors, LLC is the recognized micro-surfacing leader in the Midwest. Our ISSA award-winning staff and crews, combined with our state-of-the-art equipment including Bergkamp continuous pavers, gives us a decided edge in delivering projects that are on budget, on time and done with the highest level of professionalism and safety.
What is micro-surfacing?
Microsurfacing is a thin surface wearing treatment that involves laying a mixture of dense‐graded aggregate, asphalt emulsion, water, polymer additive, and mineral fillers to correct or prevent certain deficiencies in pavement conditions. Microsurfacing primarily used to extend pavement life by sealing any cracks in the pavement surface. This also improves surface friction and corrects rutting.
What are the advantages of Micro-surfacing?
By implementing a proactive pavement preservation plan that incorporates crack sealing, minor patching and micro-surfacing, the overall life of the surface can be extended by as much as 45 years. Compare that to performing major rehabilitation of the surface that extends the life of the surface by about 22 years and you’re getting an additional 20+ years of service.
There are cost savings to be gained as well. Rather than spend $375,000/mile on major rehabilitation, you instead spend $10,000/mile on distress repair, have two micro-surfacing treatments spread out over a several-year period each at $50,000/mile, and many years down the line the surface would then need minor rehabilitation at $250,000/mile bringing your total M & R Cost to $360,000/mile – that’s a $15,000/mile savings.
Improves Safety
As pavements wear down over time, they become slick, especially around curves. The aggregate mix in micro-surfacing restores surface quality and improves skid resistance helping to dramatically reduce accident rates.
Installation Anytime
Day or night, micro-surfacing is a process that can be performed on high, medium or low volume roadways without causing extensive construction delays.
One hour after the micro-surfacing treatment has been applied, it’s ready for traffic and gives the appearance of an all-new surface.
Seals Pavement Oxidation
Asphalt oxidation causes major changes to binder properties and is a major contributor to age-related pavement failure such as fatigue cracking. The additional 3/8″ surface provided by micro-surfacing adds a new, protective layer to the pavement.
Micro-surfacing FAQ
How long will my street be closed?
There may be parking restrictions and road closures the entire day the work is scheduled. Once placed, microsurfacing requires at least 1‐2 hours to set or harden before the road can be opened to traffic. Weather conditions and/or turning movements (non-turning traffic has less of an impact) can extend this curing time up to 4 hours or more.
How soon until i can walk on the street?
Pedestrians should keep off the street until the roadway has had the required cure time to set and harden, typically an hour depending on weather conditions. The material is a brown color when applied and turns black as its cures. Be aware that “wet” microsurfacing is “tacky” and is difficult to remove from clothing and fur. The final product provides a finished surface that is black in color and looks similar to that of an asphalt surface.
What should the residents do to prepare for their streets to be microsurfaced?
Residents will be notified in advance. On the day the street is scheduled for microsurfacing, the residents will be required to remove all personal items from the roadway (vehicles, trash cans, basketball nets, etc.). Residents will need to park their car on an adjacent street that is not getting microsurfaced. Please turn off sprinkler systems the day of paving.
A resident turned out of their driveway and it left a mark.
When microsurfacing is first placed, the surface is tender and can be marked up by sudden turning movements. Do not worry, these imperfections on the pavement are temporary as seasonal weather and traffic will smooth out these imperfections over time.
Why does the street seem rough?
A piece of thick rubber is dragged behind the paver during the application process to give the microsurfacing its desired texture. During this process the rubber pulls a small amount of the aggregate to the surface of the material, which gives it an initial coarse appearance. Over the next few weeks traffic will do its job of rolling down that aggregate and smoothing the surface. Be aware that the texture is not exactly that of new asphalt. When complete, your roads will be protected with a strong, less expensive, wearing coarse with improved skid resistance, to provide a safer driving environment.
Is the microsurfacing hot?
One of the many benefits to microsurfacing is that NO it is not hot! Because of the improved polymer modified binders used in the product, heat is not needed to produce this special mix. Therefore microsurfacing is an environmentally friendly process that cuts down carbon emissions and allows for reduced energy consumption!