When it comes to paving, concrete and asphalt are the first things that come to our minds. However, there is another option which is the chip seal method. Chip seal is used for various reasons including driveways, paving the road, and many more!
f you’re unfamiliar with this method, this article is for you! To feed your curiosity, we will discuss what a chip seal is and its pros and cons.
What is a Chip Seal Paving?
Chip seal is a method where the liquid asphalt is applied and sealed to the road. After that, a layer of asphalt coated chipped rocks are applied to protect the seal and improve traction. Once the chip seal is completely applied, it prevents the road from becoming brittle.
Typically, chip seals are applied on a one-time basis. To determine if the chip seal is appropriate, the weather, location, pavement condition, and traffic loading should be considered.
Pavements are subject to traffic and heavy loads. When an asphalt pavement ages, it becomes brittle and develops cracks. A chip seal helps seal narrow cracks and bind cracked pavement.
How Does a Chip Seal Driveway Look Like?
A chip seal driveway can have various looks because it’s highly customisable. That’s one of the reasons why chip seals are popular. You have an option to choose various types of stones for the top layer of the mixture. There are also different stone colours that will suit every design and aesthetics.
Pros and Cons
Although chip seals provide unique benefits, it also has some drawbacks. The right paving method for you will depend on your preferences and circumstances.
Pros
It’s affordable and easy to maintain than most common materials like asphalt.
Better surface for traction. During wet or snowy conditions, concrete and asphalt provide less traction compared to chip seal
Easily customise the look of your road surface because of the variety of stones to choose from.-
Cons
Since chip seal is more flexible than asphalt, it needs to be resurfaced from time to time
It’s hard to find qualified and experienced professionals to install it
Can easily be damaged by heavy machinery
Asphalt vs Chip Seal
Both are quite similar as chip seal contains asphalt components and both are great options for road work.
The main difference is chip seal is more difficult to resurface compared to asphalt. Also, asphalt is more rigid which means heavy machinery can’t easily damage it. Asphalt is also a more expensive option than chip seal.
Conclusion
Now that you know what a chip seal is and its pros and cons—is chip seal paving an option for you? If you’re still undecided, it is better to get advice from an expert. Deciding on which one to choose will depend on your needs and preferences.
At Toowoomba Concreters, our team are experts in installing driveways and pavers. If you’re undecided, our team will help you from start to finish. If you want to know more about our services, we will be happy to assist you!
