How HA5 Helps Extend the Life of Pavement in Texas

In Texas, sun exposure and water are the two main problems for asphalt preservation. As UV rays penetrate the surface and water seeps into cracks, asphalt begins to oxidize and break down. 

At TTI, Scullion’s team conducts forensic studies to determine the root causes of pavement failure, how to best treat these problems, and whether the roads need to be completely reconstructed. 

While Tom and his team often work with state agencies like TXDOT, their research has significant implications for all asphalt owners in Texas, from cities to private communities. Their forensic studies help property owners understand why pavements fail and how to prevent these failures, whether it’s a state highway or a residential street.

How does this help asphalt owners?

To use one example, let’s say a residential developer paved a new subdivision in Houston. A common approach is to turn the roads over to the City or to the HOA without applying a surface treatment. In this scenario moisture and UV exposure would accelerate the deterioration process facing the asphalt. 

By utilizing a treatment like HA5, City’s and HOAs can either ask the developer to apply the treatment before they leave the project, or have it applied themselves to the streets retain the vital oils in the pavement longer, keeping them flexible and able to handle traffic loads for longer.

The Role of Pavement Preservation: “A Stitch in Time Saves Nine”

In general, Scullion adopts a proactive approach to asphalt maintenance rather than reactive. “It comes back to what my grandmother told me: A stitch in time saves nine,” he said. “If you can preserve pavement…you can really stretch its life out.” 

This proactive pavement maintenance philosophy also leads to significant cost savings. With early intervention, you can spend “$1 now to avoid spending $9 later,” Scullion said, paraphrasing his grandmother’s quote. By spending a chunk of money on sealing products that protect asphalt right away, you can avoid spending an exponentially larger amount later with sustained damage. 

Effective sealing treatments protect pavement from the elements. By keeping UV rays at bay and water infiltration to a minimum, you can prevent the oxidative damage that causes residential roadways to deteriorate.

HA5: A Proactive Solution For Texas

One of the key preservation products Scullion has reviewed and observed is High Density Mineral Bond (HA5). As an innovative pavement preservation method, HA5 protects the underlying pavement from UV and moisture intrusion, dramatically slowing the effects of oxidation. The specialized, non-ionic emulsion product combined with ultra-dense aggregates helps keep vital oils in and the elements out.

“I’ve had the pleasure of visiting some of the early [HA5] projects,” said Scullion. “After five to ten years, the High Density Mineral Bond was doing fine. It does leave a good-looking finish to the road. I’m a big believer in proactive pavement maintenance. If we can water-proof these pavements, we can extend their lives.”

He also noted the comparison between HA5 and other preservation techniques he’s worked with. “Before we got into HA5, we’d done a lot of work here with chip seals, which are very popular in Texas.”

While chip seals are somewhat effective, they still need to be redone every few years and don’t have the same integrity as a High Density Mineral Bond. They can become expensive over time and don’t leave behind an appealing appearance. 

Other treatments like seal coats and high-performance thin overlays simply don’t perform and can be very expensive — especially when they need to be reapplied every year or so. With HA5, communities can save money by extending the life of their asphalt. 

With such a deep knowledge of pavement preservation, Scullion also understands that HA5 has limitations. Roads with deep base problems or severe alligator cracking, for example, don’t need a High Density Mineral Bond application but will need patching and even resurfacing. 

“I’ve been totally impressed with the people I’ve dealt with,” said Scullion. “If they don’t feel like [HA5] is right for a road, they’ll tell you.”

Conclusion

Learning from a pavement expert like Tom Scullion has been invaluable to our processes. As he reiterated, the importance of proactive pavement maintenance can’t be understated. Using products like HA5 as an early intervention creates huge cost savings, extends the life of asphalt, and, thanks to the attractive finish, brings widespread community acceptance.

If you work for a city or municipality that is interested in learning more about HA5, contact us today for a free consultation. We also offer pavement assessments and can provide evaluations. 

And be sure to read more about how HA5 has been shaping communities throughout the U.S. in our case studies below.