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My street needs resurfacing, but I'm told the City is going to
"chip-seal" it. What does that mean?
Chip-sealing is a common practice of resurfacing moderately worn
streets that is comparable to other methods in durability and
effectiveness, but costs far less.
This type of sealing is performed by applying a layer of asphalt
emulsion which is then covered with crushed gravel. Once it cures,
the surface provides a safe, all-weather surface perfect for light
to medium traffic on residential streets.
Chip-sealing is both skid- and water-resistant and, because of its
low cost, allows the City to improve conditions more quickly when funding
for asphalt repaving may not be available.
While chip-sealing has many advantages, it does present some
inconveniences during and immediately after application. This
includes temporary dustiness, as well as the short-term presence of
wet tar and loose gravel. These problems typically last less than a
week until the curing is complete.
Return to the Street Maintenance page
here.
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Chip-Sealing
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Slurry or Microsurfacing
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Ashalt Resurfacing
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| Life Expectancy |
5-7 years |
3-5 years |
10-12 years |
| Cost/square yard |
$0.50-0.70 |
$0.90-1.35 |
$4 |
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Residents and motorists are advised to follow the guidelines below in areas
where chip-sealing is being applied.
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Tips for Minimizing Temporary Effects of Chip-Seal Treatment
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- Limit driving speeds to 15 mph or less to prevent
loose gravel from being thrown by car tires and help reduce
generation of dust.
- Auto and home windows should be kept closed
to keep dust out.
- Residents should refrain from hanging laundry
on outdoor lines until dust settles.
- Watch for "no parking" signs.
We will set them up 24 hours ahead of time, weather permitting,
to give you advance notice to move your car out of the area to
be sealed.
This will help us to resurface your street that much
faster and avoid getting any chip seal residue on your
vehicle.
- Keep your pets indoors or fenced-in the day
of resurfacing for their safety and to avoid their
tracking any chip seal residue into your home. Should
your pet manage to get out and get emulsion residue on
its paws, the residue can be removed with vegetable or
olive oil.
- Emulsion residue can be easily removed from your car
with any bug and tar remover, citrus-based remover or degreaser
available where automobile supplies are sold.
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If you have questions, please call the City's Customer Care Center at 3-1-1
or send an e-mail to
DPW@ci.richmond.va.us.
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