heywood business park

The Macadam Specialist were appointed on Heywood Business Park to attend to various failed areas of concrete.

The agreed plan for the works was to operate one side of the site to keep traffic live, whilst our specialist's broke out the failed concrete areas, regraded the existing stone and installed a full construction of tarmac (road base/binder course/surface course).

The works were undertaken in this manner, as the majority of the concrete was in good condition and would have been a vast expense for the client to replace it unnecessarily. This process saved the clients a lot of time and expense, whilst ensuring the business park could carry on trading as usual.

Overlaying concrete isn't typically the best option.

 Laying tarmac (asphalt) directly on top of concrete is generally not recommended for several important reasons: 

1. Compatibility of Materials: Tarmac and concrete have different properties and behaviors. Tarmac is a flexible and bituminous material, while concrete is rigid and made of cement and aggregates. These materials expand and contract at different rates in response to temperature fluctuations. Placing tarmac directly on concrete can lead to cracks and premature deterioration due to the differing movement patterns of the materials.
2. Lack of Bond: Tarmac does not adhere well to concrete surfaces. The lack of a strong bond can result in the tarmac layer separating from the concrete base over time, leading to delamination and the development of cracks.
3. Surface Irregularities: Concrete surfaces may have irregularities, such as joints, cracks, and surface imperfections. These can telegraph through the tarmac, causing reflective cracking and an uneven tarmac surface.
4. Drainage Issues: When tarmac is placed directly on concrete, water may become trapped between the two layers. This can lead to water infiltration and damage, especially during freeze-thaw cycles. Proper drainage channels and expansion joints are often required to manage water effectively, which can complicate the project.
5. Weight Bearing Capacity: Concrete surfaces are designed to bear specific loads, and adding a tarmac overlay increases the weight on the concrete. This additional weight can stress the concrete slab, potentially leading to structural issues
6. Waste of Resources: Overlaying concrete with tarmac without addressing the underlying issues may be a temporary fix. If the concrete base is damaged or deteriorating, it is generally more cost-effective to repair or replace the concrete base before applying a tarmac overlay. 

If you have failed areas of Tarmac or Concrete, contact our team of specialist's today for a free no-obligation site visit, to assess your options and pricing. We'd love to help.