The quickest, simplest, and cheapest pavement rehabilitation is a thin overlay. The photograph illustrates two thin overlays peeling off an original surface.
We have some issues with multiple simple overlays, primarily:
- The overlays flatten the surface and slow storm water drainage
- The curb heights are reduced
- Each overlay layer has a shorter performance life than the earlier layer
Our preferred approach is to remove portions of the asphalt concrete layers. In the example of the top photograph, we would, at a minimum, remove the top two layers and scratch the third layer, patch failures and tack coat the surface prior to applying a HMAC overlay.
Zimmer Consultants photograph