MARVIN JOLES III
BLACKTOP BANTER
COMPACTING COLD-MIX PATCHES
MARVIN JOLES III
L et ’ s face it : as asphalt maintenance contractors , we would much rather they just have us cut and replace with hotmix , infrared or even skim patch a spot . But when they want the “ cheapest ” solution to fix a hole or broken spot , it ’ s cold-mix . Yes , it has its place , and most of the time that ’ s in roadways where the traffic will do the compaction work and there aren ’ t any risks of real sinking , marring issues or complaints . It contains a lot of oils so that it doesn ’ t cure while it sits in piles , bags or buckets . The stone is mostly large rock and all one size , so it has some structure but is hard to compress . Lastly , it just doesn ’ t look pretty and doesn ’ t look better after we sealcoat it . It is hard to get packed in , especially well enough so that it doesn ’ t move and does its job . So , I ’ m going to give you some things to remember to give you the best shot when aiming to compact cold-mix asphalt . Let ’ s jump into it :
Temperature : Ensure the cold-mix is at the right temperature for optimal workability . Warmer is always better . While it doesn ’ t need to be hot like hot-mix asphalt , it should be warm enough to spread and compact effectively .
Moisture : The surface should be clean and free from debris , oil or water . Excess moisture can hinder adhesion and compaction . Just like crack-sealing , water is going to create a bonding barrier .
Layer Thickness : Apply the cold-mix in layers . If you need to do these spaced apart by days , do it . Ideally , each layer is no thicker than two inches to allow for proper compaction . More than two layers is too much .
Compaction Method : If you can , use a drum roller . It ’ s your best shot at the ultimate compaction you can achieve with this stuff . Second best is a plate compactor . That ’ s what we use at
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