Taiyo Kogyo Column
How to choose pavement surface repair materials [7 checkpoints].
Today, roads are an inseparable part of our lives. Roads are paved with concrete or asphalt to ensure safe and smooth passage. In addition to roads, many other areas such as buildings, plazas, and parking lots are also paved with concrete or asphalt. Pavements and road surfaces themselves gradually wear and tear day by day. Worn and damaged areas can cause accidents and must be repaired properly. What criteria should be used to select the right repair material? This paper will provide some pointers on how to select repair materials for pavements and road surfaces. If you are considering repair work, please familiarize yourself with the points we will introduce and use them as a reference for selecting the right repair material for your specific purpose.
What is Pavement/Surface?
To begin with, let us briefly explain what pavements and road surfaces are.
pavement
Paving is the process of paving the surface of a road with stones, bricks, concrete, asphalt, gravel, etc. to increase its durability.
road surface
The paved road surface itself.
Reasons why pavement and road surface repairs are needed
As mentioned above, pavement and road surfaces are subject to daily wear and tear due to vehicle traffic and other factors, and eventually become worn out and deteriorated due to bumps caused by damage. If bumps and damages on roads and parking lots are left unattended, they can lead to the following situations.
- Accidents can occur when wheels of cars, bicycles, and other vehicles get caught.
- Drainage is not done properly.
- Stress is placed on places where loads are not originally applied, causing structures to fail.
Repair of pavements and road surfaces is very important to prevent such a situation. The service life of a typical asphalt pavement is approximately 10 years. It is advisable to consider repairing the pavement within this service life. In addition, there are various types of pavement and road surface damage, as described below. It is important to keep in mind that the repair response will vary depending on the situation.
- crack
- digging up mud
- Longitudinal irregularities (corrugations)
- being close to
- hollow
- separation
- pothole (circular hole bored deep in a riverbed by stones rotating in an eddy)
- difference in level
Types of pavement and road surface repair methods
There are several methods for repairing the actual pavement/road surface when it is damaged or destroyed. The three main methods are as follows
Request repair work from contractor
This is a method of hiring a professional repair contractor to perform pavement and road surface repair work.
Purchase asphalt repair materials from general retailers
You can purchase asphalt repair materials at home improvement stores or through mail order websites. Overall, the prices of the products sold are low, and the quality is commensurate with the price.
Purchase asphalt repair materials from repair company
Some repair companies sell repair materials. Their prices are higher than those at home centers, but their quality is more reliable.
Challenges facing pavement and road surface repair methods
Each of the above three repair methods has no small number of challenges. Please be sure to organize the issues so that you do not respond to them without a good understanding of them.
The challenge of “requesting repair work from a contractor.”
To the extent that you do not handle the work yourself, you will naturally need to arrange for a specialized business to handle the work. Some businesses may use heavy machinery, so it is necessary to confirm in advance whether they can handle the work. Since you will have to request the construction work, the cost will be higher.
The challenge of “purchasing asphalt repair materials from a general retailer.”
Many of the repair materials sold at retail stores are only for temporary use and are less durable than those used by professional businesses. They are also prone to cave-ins and breakage, and are therefore intended for emergency treatment. Another disadvantage is the large grain size of the repair material, which causes unevenness and makes it difficult to slope the surface. Many repair materials have coarse grains, and the finish tends to be rough.
The issue of “repair materials sold by repair companies.”
Compared to repair materials available at retail stores, the price is about three to four times higher. On the other hand, many of them are highly durable, and a beautiful finish can be expected. However, there are some points to note when handling them, such as the need for a certain degree of familiarity in handling them and the need to wash the equipment used with thinner after installation.
Issues with repair materials and repair methods in general
Not a few repair materials in general have low durability, and such repair materials are prone to damage such as potholes (localized circular damage). In addition, repairs by amateurs tend to be inadequate, and the original durability of the repaired material tends not to be demonstrated. In such cases, it is better to have the repairer damper the pavement. Many repair materials produce odors, so be careful about the smell of the products you choose in locations where neighborhoods need to be considered.
Seven points to keep in mind when selecting pavement and road surface repair materials
The following are some of the criteria that should be used to select a pavement and road surface repair material from among the many types available. The following seven points should help you choose the right repair material without making any mistakes.
- Fast curing
- Low variation in curing speed
- Low odor
- Easy handling and plastering
- Easy washing after installation
- Clean finish and few steps
- High durability
KF Road Maintenance N, an excellent repair material that addresses all seven points
One recommended repair material that satisfies the above seven points is a repair material called “KF Road Maintenance N”. The following is a specific explanation of the performance of this excellent repair material.
Easy to construct
KF Road Maintenance N is extremely easy to install. Ease of handling includes the following points
- Powders and resins are easily mixed (stirring can be completed in about 30 seconds)
- Low viscosity for easy spreading
- Does not stick to the iron
- Easy handling and plastering
- Low odor
- Easy to wash with water
- Less garbage generated
High degree of freedom of construction
KF Road Maintenance N is a repair material that can be applied in any location or situation with a high degree of flexibility. This versatility is an attraction not found anywhere else.
- Can be applied on wet road surfaces, etc.
- A thickness of about 10 cm can be applied at a time, allowing for quick repair of even deep repair areas.
- Small particle size and smooth surface and slope can be formed
Fast curing
In road repair work, the fast curing time of repair materials is important so that they can be used immediately after installation. KF Road Maintenance N has a fast curing time.
- Fastest curing speed in the industry, with curing completed in less than 40 minutes (traffic can be completed in 60 minutes)
- The temperature range for installation is 5 to 40°C, allowing for implementation regardless of climate, and the curing time is constant.
Various property values are also good
Compared to other companies’ products, KF Road Maintenance N has a high level of various physical properties. This simply means that it has high durability, making it an excellent repair material.
- High adhesion strength
- High compressive strength
- High bending strength
- Slip resistance values are also high compared to typical roadways
summary
Aging and damage to pavement and road surfaces are very high risks if left unchecked. Please keep the contents of this paper in mind so that accidents and other problems can be managed properly and appropriate repairs can be made when necessary. In addition, KF Road Maintenance N introduced here can handle various types of damage, so if you are not sure what to do about repair work, please feel free to contact us first at the following link.
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