For Pavement Condition
A cape seal is a roadway surface treatment designed to extend the life of pavements in fair to good condition, consisting of a chip seal treatment, which is then covered by a slurry seal or micro surfacing treatment. Cape seals provide the benefits of both the chip seal and the slurry seal or micro surfacing treatment, namely sealing moderate cracks, providing skid resistance, sealing the pavement against moisture intrusion, protecting the structure from further oxidation and raveling, and restoring a uniform black appearance.
The chip seal can be polymer modified as well to improve aggregate retention and provide for a quicker return to traffic. Cape seals boast quick construction times and reasonable disruption to the traveling public. This treatment excels in urban areas where a stand alone chip seals are not be welcomed but the need for sealing cracks is warranted.
- Reduces life cycle costs by 25% when compared to HMA overlay
- Reduces greenhouse gases by 30% and energy use by 15% when compared to HMA overlay
- Return to traffic in 1 - 4 hours per treatment and each treatment will need additional cure time before application of 2nd treatment
- Adds 8–10 years (when applied for optimum preservation performance)
Issues Addressed
- Moderate cracking
- Loss of friction
- Oxidation
- Raveling
- Lack of uniform color for restriping
Attributes
- Seals moderate cracks
- Increases skid resistance
- Improves color contrast between pavement and striping
- Restores surface characteristics
- Protects the structure from moisture intrusion
- Protects the structure from oxidation
- Maintains drainage patterns and curb reveal
Common Combinations
Chip Seal + Slurry Seal or Micro surfacing or Thin Lift Asphalt
Scrub Seal + Slurry Seal or Micro surfacing or Thin Lift Asphalt
Note: Cape seal refers strictly to the combination of a chip seal plus a slurry seal.
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