Surface Dressing FAQs

Surface Dressing is very messy, why not use an alternative ‘cleaner’ method?
Surface dressing is a cost effective treatment that minimises further deterioration of the road surface. It seals the surface and provides good texture to enhance skid resistance.

Why cause this disruption during the summer months?
This treatment can only successfully be applied during warm weather. In colder and wetter weather the bitumen fails to bond to the existing road leading to early failure.

Why are there so many loose stone chips?
We purposely lay more chips than required to ensure that the whole surface is covered and we don’t end up with bare patches. We leave the loose chips for a short period to be embedded by the action of traffic, after which any surplus chips are swept clear.

Advisory speed limit signs are left out for a few days until most of the loose chips have been removed.  This is both to protect the new dressing and to prevent damage to vehicles.  Depending on the weather we may carry out additional sweeping or dusting to minimise the effect on traffic.

What can I do to help?
Motorists can help by driving slowly and observing the speed limit signs, particularly during the works and for the first few days after application of the treatment.  We appreciate that there may be some delays but motorists are urged to be patient.

Residents in the area receiving treatment can assist by making sure that their cars are not parked in the area to be treated. In urban areas we will try to advise residents a day or two before treatment.

Although we will try to treat your road on the advised date it must be recognised that the process is very much weather dependent so the work may be carried out earlier or later due to the prevailing conditions.

Parents are asked to keep small children away from the area being treated. Heavy plant and machinery is dangerous and children’s clothes, skin and toys can all get marked with bitumen.