Micro Surfacing Expectations

To get the best life extension from your micro surfacing treatment, think in terms of preservation and address minor issues early, before serious, irreversible underlying structural damage occurs. In this way, asphalt pavement life can be substantially extended at comparatively low cost.

Of course, micro surfacing can be used to address certain asphalt pavement distresses in addition to its pavement preservation benefits. In doing so, it is important to understand the life expectancy of the micro surfacing decreases as the distress severity increases. Optimal micro surfacing performance occurs when the treatment is applied before existing asphalt pavement distresses become too severe or widespread.

Many agencies have reported 10 years or more of service life when micro surfacing is installed on newer asphalt pavements in good condition. However, when used as a “band-aid”, or as a stop-gap measure on marginal asphalt pavments in order to delay rehabilitation/reconstruction, surface treatments including micro surfacing will have a shorter service life .

Other factors affecting micro surfacing performance include climatic conditions, traffic volumes, application rate, material quality, mixture design, and construction quality.