What's Involved In Bitumen Spray Sealing A Driveway?
When it comes to having your driveway sealed, you'll want the job to last for years and be durable enough to handle constant traffic and heavy rainfall. You'll want to avoid potholes opening up and you'll want your driveway to provide good traction on wet days. Bitumen spray sealing can meet these criteria and is a relatively low-cost option for resurfacing and sealing driveways.
What Is Bitumen?
Bitumen is a durable, water-resistant binding substance that resembles a thick paint. It is highly adhesive when wet and resistant to damage when dry. It spreads easily and dries quickly and can easily be confused with tar due to its appearance. Bitumen is a component in other materials commonly used to resurface driveways, such as asphalt, but it can be applied without being mixed with other materials and can last on driveways for several years when cared for.
How Is Bitumen Spray Sealing Applied?
Bitumen is applied in liquid form to driveways using a sealcoating spray machine, which allows the average driveway to be sealed with bitumen in as little as a couple of hours. Once the bitumen is applied, a layer of aggregate is applied before the bitumen dries. A second layer of bitumen and aggregate may then be applied to create a dense, durable surface. The top layer of aggregate prevents the bitumen surface from being slippery even in the wettest of conditions and gives your car tyres good traction on your driveway. Bitumen dries in just a few hours, so it's possible to have your car on your driveway the same day it's resurfaced.
What Types Of Aggregate Are Used?
Various types of stone aggregate can be used on a bitumen driveway, and the choice often comes down to your personal preference. Pea shingle and grey granite are popular. Pea shingle consists of small, round stones and will give you a light-brown driveway with a uniform appearance. Grey granite is flat and reflective and consists of angular pieces that will glint when the sun hits your driveway. Slag, which is an industrial by-product, and silica sand, which consists of quartz grains, are also popular aggregate materials used with bitumen. Review samples of each type of aggregate before work begins on your driveway.
If you'd like to know more about bitumen spray sealing, speak with your contractor. They can answer questions about the installation process and explain how to keep bitumen driveways in good condition to ensure they last several years.
For more information about bitumen spray sealing, contact a local company.