Top Benefits of Foam Bitumen Stabilisation
Not long ago, repairs on pavements and roads were accomplished by excavating and laying a fresh mix of asphalt. Not only was the process expensive, but it was also time-consuming. Moreover, repaired sections needed cordoning until they were dry and ready to accommodate vehicle traffic. However, this changed with the discovery of foam bitumen. Although bitumen has been in existence for about 50 years, it only became a mainstay in paving repairs less than two decades ago. This article highlights reasons paving contractors prefer foam bitumen as a stabilisation component when repairing paving and roads.
Less Work
One of the main challenges that contractors experienced with traditional paving and road repairs techniques were the need to excavate damaged sections to the sub-base. Not only did this take a lot of time, but it also meant that the sub-base needed new aggregate. If repairs are being done on a main road or pavement, then the works might curtail normal operations. However, this is different from foam bitumen stabilisation because the amount of work involved is less. Instead of excavating the damaged area to the base, contractors pour hot foam bitumen to the damaged section of a road. A compactor is then used to drive bitumen deep into asphalt, and this only takes a few hours regardless of the extent of the damage.
No Business Stalling or Delays
Repairs on main roads are sensitive because of the economic implications and disruptions. Unfortunately, this is precisely what businesses have to go through with traditional road repairs since they have to wait until repaired sections of a road are completely dry. For instance, if delivery trucks use a particular road, redirecting traffic to a feeder road might significantly slow down deliveries. However, you don't have to worry about delays or stalled operations if you use foam bitumen stabilisation for your paving repairs. The reason is that foam bitumen dries fast, and car traffic can resume immediately once the repaired sections are dry.
Reduction in Moisture Susceptibility
Moisture can cause significant damage to roads once it finds its way into the aggregate cavities. Even if freshly compacted sub-base aggregate is laid to a damaged section, it does not eliminate air pockets in a sub-base. Notably, foam bitumen flows like molten lava and completely seals any cavities in a sub-base. The compaction process also ensures that bitumen squeezes into any air pockets that are present. Consequently, it makes the repaired sections of a road less susceptible to moisture, thereby enhancing durability.
To learn more about foam bitumen, reach out to a local paving contractor.
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