How we treat or resurface roads

Types of treatment and resurfacing that we use

Resurfacing is an expensive and extensive treatment where layers of a worn-out road surface are removed and replaced with completely new material.

Alternative, cost-effective and preventative treatments like surface dressing can protect the road surface and keep it safe for longer. They're also better for the environment as they use less carbon than resurfacing.

Surface dressing, which we've used on 82 roads this year, can extend the life of the road surface by up to 10 years. It adds protection to the carriageway, seals it from water and improves its skid resistance.

We know these treatments might not look as obvious as a full surfacing, but we assure you they're highly effective and, given our limited resources, a sensible way to keep every road and footway in our borough safe to drive or walk on.

We're inspecting all the sites we've treated to ensure they're fully protected, and we've got a one-year warranty with our contractors so any issues can be resolved.

We use 3 types of treatment and resurfacing:

1. Full resurfacing 

Full resurfacing is a more extensive treatment that removes layers of a worn-out road surface and replaces it with new material.

The process and aftercare

Also known as plane and inlay, is when the old road surface is removed and replaced. This is used when the surface or other layers of the road have deteriorated to a point where they need to be replaced.

Stage 1 – Preparation

The old resurface is removed by a process known as ‘planing’, where a large machine with a rotating drum covered in teeth chews off the old surface. This process is noisy and generates quite a lot of dust, but it is fast and, in the case of night works, can usually be completed before midnight.

Sometimes only the surface layer is removed (30-40mm) but if the damage to the surface is deeper then more of the existing road will be removed in this way.

The planed surface is cleaned and sprayed with asphalt, also known as bitumen, to help the new surface stick to it.

Stage 2 – Laying

The new asphalt is laid at a high temperature and so is brought to the site in insulated lorries. There it is fed into a paving machine which lays a controlled thickness of the chosen material, this is then rolled to compact it and give an even surface.

Stage 3 – Aftercare

Once the material has cooled the road can be reopened to traffic. The white lines can be replaced before the road is reopened to traffic although, for operational reasons, they are sometimes replaced as a separate operation shortly after the resurfacing. In most cases, no other special aftercare is needed.

2. Surface dressing

Surface dressing adds protection to the carriageway surface, seals it from water, and enhances its skid resistance. This protection can extend the life of the carriageway surface by up to 10 years. You can watch the video below to see how it works.

How surface dressing can help

Surface dressing can be used when the road surface layer fails to bond with the road layer beneath, known as delamination. Delamination isn't a danger in itself, but surface dressing stops it from getting worse and eventually becoming unsafe.

The process and aftercare

Surface dressing is preventative work to significantly extend a road’s life. It costs less than a tenth of full resurfacing and means that more money is available to invest in resurfacing where it is most needed. Surface dressing restores skid resistance, seals the road to prevent water from getting in, and reduces the likelihood of potholes.

Stage 1 – The road is sprayed with a single or double spray of bitumen.

Stage 2 – Stone chippings are applied to the top of each layer.

Stage 3 – The chippings are then rolled to press the stones. Once the road is open, the moving traffic further embeds the chippings. 

Stage 4 – When the chippings have bedded in, we sweep the road two or three times to remove the excess chippings and refresh road markings if necessary. This can take up to two weeks.

Until we clear the chippings there is a 20mph speed limit on the road. This is to prevent damage to your vehicle and to maintain safety. The limit will be made clear with signage. We may need to close the road for short periods of time while we remove loose chippings and seal the road. We only seal roads that have low volumes of traffic, such as cul-de-sacs, as it is harder for the chipping to bed in. Busier roads, with high volumes of traffic, do not need to be sealed as the traffic assists in bedding in the lose chippings.

Loose material left on the road after surface treatment

Loose material left on the road after surface treatment is normal. Our contractors roll the chippings in, but once the road is open, the moving traffic further embeds the chippings. We will come back to check up on the road and keep it tidy.

Re-painting road markings

We have to wait a while for the new surface to bed in before re-painting the road markings. Key markings will be replaced with signage until the road is ready for us to paint.

We don’t just treat the road and go, we check back in the weeks afterwards to:

• Check out any snags or defects
• Manage ironworks, manhole covers
• Repaint road markings

3. Retexturing

Over time, roads can become smoother as traffic passes over them and wears down the surface. They can also become "fatted", where bitumen rises to the surface and makes it harder for tyres to grip.

Retexturing makes the road surface rougher again, for both the overall surface (macrotexture) and the individual pieces of material embedded within it (microtexture).

It uses two techniques:

• Hydroblasting: high-pressure water is blasted to clean and etch the surface, with a machine instantly vacuuming up debris

• Shot blasting: uses steel shot to wear down the surface and improve texture

By restoring micro and macro texture, retexturing significantly improves the road's skid resistance and braking performance.

It's a quicker, more affordable alternative to resurfacing, and it’s better for the environment as it emits up to 96 per cent less carbon because it avoids using new materials.

4. Slurry Seal 

We use a treatment called slurry seal to help keep footpaths in good condition for longer.

• It is a thin protective layer spread over the existing footpath.
• It seals the surface, helping to stop water getting in and causing damage.
• It also repairs small cracks and worn areas, improving the overall surface.
• This helps extend the life of the footpath, delaying the need for more expensive full reconstruction.

Think of it like painting or sealing a fence – it protects what is already there, rather than replacing it completely.

How it can help

We carry out this work as part of our asset management approach, which means:

• Maintaining footpaths before they fail
• Preventing bigger and more disruptive repairs later
• Providing better value for money for residents
• Keeping surfaces safe and usable

The process 

Stage 1 – Pre-works

Before applying the slurry seal, we prepare the footpath to make sure the treatment works properly. This includes:

• Vegetation clearance – We cut back overhanging bushes and grass and removing weeds and plant growth to ensures the full width of the path can be treated.
• Cleaning and “siding out” – We remove soil, dirt and debris that has built up along the edges which helps restore the full width of the footpath and improves drainage.
• Surface preparation – We clean the footpath so it is dry and free from loose material. We may also carry out any minor repairs or patching if needed. These steps are important because the new surface needs a clean, stable base to bond properly. 

Stage 2 – Slurry Seal works 

On the day of the works, a liquid mixture (made of bitumen and fine stones) is spread over the footpath.

It is then smoothed and levelled to create an even surface.

The material is left to set and harden, which usually takes a short time.

The surface may look dark or slightly messy at first, but it will quickly settle and lighten over time. 

Access for residents

We understand that access to your home is important and we aim to keep disruption to a minimum. Footways may be temporarily closed while the work is carried out.

The new surface usually sets within a short period (often within an hour or two).

Where possible residents will still be able to access their properties but you may be asked to wait a few minutes while the team ensures it is safe to cross.

Our teams on site will assist with safe access where needed. After the surface has set, the footway will be reopened for normal use as soon as possible.