What is Chip Seal and Is It The Right Pavement Treatment For You?

Is chip seal paving right for you? To answer that question, we'll explore the basics of chip seal paving, followed by chip seal pros and cons, concluding with some details about chip seal vs asphalt paving.

Construction requires a lot of planning and forethought. We're here to simplify that process for you. Read on to understand chip seal paving—and to know whether it suits your needs.

What Is Chip Seal Paving?

In some ways, chip seal paving is similar to other forms of paving. For example, it usually begins with a base layer of gravel. That's followed by a layer of liquid asphalt. Finally, this foundation is covered with crushed stone mixed with asphalt.

This final layer is actually made up of several applications of the chip mixture. The first layer is compacted by a steam roller, after which the excess is cleaned away. Then another layer of the same material is applied on top, finishing the process.

Chip Seal Pros and Cons

Chip seal has unique benefits, as well as some potential drawbacks. As always, making the right decision depends on your circumstances and preferences. The pros and cons below are presented in no particular order.

Pros

Chip seal paving allows you to customize the look and feel of your road surface. That's because you can choose which stones to use in the top layer of compacted chips. Different stones have different colors, so this is an opportunity to add an esthetic touch to what might otherwise be a fairly typical asphalt surface. This is particularly beneficial if you have an overall site design that you'd like to match.

Chip sealing is less expensive to maintain than more common counterparts like asphalt. That's because the renewal and resurfacing process is simpler.

Chip seal paving can also be better for traction than other road surfaces. In snowy or wet conditions, asphalt and concrete provide less traction—and more danger—than chip seal.

Cons

Chip seal paving does need to be resurfaced more often than asphalt. That's in part because it's more flexible than asphalt. The additional flex causes more wear and tear.

Because chip seal is less common, it can be challenging to find qualified professionals to construct it. Even so, you may be able to find a good crew with a little web searching.

Chip seal is also prone to damage from heavy machinery like snowplows. Again, that's largely a tradeoff for its flexibility and traction.

Chip Seal vs Asphalt

Chip seal paving and asphalt paving have some things in common. They both include asphalt components, and they are both solid options for road work.

As mentioned above, one key difference is the difficulty of resurfacing asphalt as compared with chip seal. Asphalt also tends to be more rigid, which can help prevent damage from equipment like snowplows.

Hit the Road With Chip Seal Paving

You've now learned enough about chip seal paving that you should have a general idea of whether or not it's right for you. If you'd like to learn even more about chip seal paving, take a look at this article about 6 Signs Your Road Might Need Chip Seal.

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