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Ultra-thin whitetopping for streets
and parking lots is a no-compromise material that delivers the long
life and superior performance characteristics of concrete at a price
competitive with asphalt overlays.
Although concrete is widely
acknowledged as the strongest and most durable paving material,
budget constraints often prevent it from being chosen for pavement
maintenance and repair projects. Now, with the development of
ultra-thin whitetopping, the superior performance of concrete can be
achieved with fewer tax dollars. Overlays made with this
high-strength, fiber-reinforced concrete product require a thickness
of only 2-4 inches, resulting in low cost and simple, fast
installation.
The process and technology of
ultra-thin whitetopping evolved from conventional whitetopping
methods. Over the past 30 years, whitetopping overlays of 4-20
inches have yielded exceptional results in the rehabilitation of
asphalt parking areas, streets, highways, and airport runways. In
the late 1980s, researchers developed ultra-thin whitetopping by
reducing the thickness, reinforcing the material, and redefining the
joint spacings of standard whitetopping.
In 1991, this new technology was put
to the test in a Louisville, KY parking area. Since then, more than
250,000 square yards of ultra-thin whitetopping have been placed
throughout North America. Offering the best solution for today's
overlay projects, only ultra-thin concrete whitetopping delivers a
combination of benefits that include:
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Durability Research
indicates that ultra-thin concrete whitetopping lasts 2-3 times
longer than asphalt overlays.
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Strength
Reinforced with synthetic fibers, the concrete
develops strengths upwards of 3,000 psi
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Appearance
Provides the superior appearance and cool light
reflectance unique to concrete surfaces, and resists the rutting
and "washboarding" that often appear within a year on asphalt
surfaces.
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Price
Ultra-thin whitetopping is an affordable way to
reap the many advantages of concrete pavement, and it is
competitively priced with asphalt overlays.
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Ease of placement
Surface preparation is minimal, and paving can
be accomplished with the same equipment used in conventional
concrete installation.
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Speed of placement
With a curing time of less than 24 hours, most
ultra-thin whitetopping projects can handle traffic within 1-2
days after construction.
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Broad applicability
Ultra-thin whitetopping is the ideal solution
not only for parking areas, but also for city streets and
intersections, local or low-volume roads, and even general
aviation applications such as taxiways, runways, and aprons.
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Life cycle
A properly-designed concrete overlay can be
expected to provide 20 to 40 years of low-maintenance service.
Links:
National Center for Pavement Preservation
The World of Whitetopping
Concrete Parking: Whitetopping
American Concrete Pavement Association
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