Slurry seal, although not the only way, is a cost-effective way to extend the life of your asphalt. There are different types of the slurry seal but that is only dependent on how much aggregate is in the mixture design. This is dependent on how strong the seal needs to be and how much it is exposed to. Type 1 slurry contains the smallest amount of aggregate and is mainly used for areas such as parking lots. Type 2 contains more aggregate than type 1 and is usually used for areas that have more traffic such as residential areas. Type 3 has the most amount of aggregate and is mainly used for highly trafficked areas such as roads and highways. The slurry is also a great crack and void sealant.

The longevity of the slurry seal is all affected by the weather and the amount of traffic it is exposed to. It is recommended that slurry seals are reapplied every 5 to 7 years for the best results. Once placed the seal requires about 4-6 hours to set and harden before the surface can be used safely.  

Costs

Performing maintenance is cost effective. The costs of having to repair an entire road due to poor maintenance, or lack of maintenance, is much more expensive than performing maintenance that acts as a preventative measure against major repairs. Road maintenance is also the most economical choice for a community as the lack of damage on the roads will allow safe passage to and from work, and delivery services will be able to access and leave the area.

Closures

Road maintenance will reduce the amount of road closures that occur due to road damage. A lack of road maintenance may result in an excessive number of potholes, or, in the worst case, sinkholes. Bridges may collapse and roads could become undriveable. When this occurs, roads may be closed for months on end to resolve the issue. This will cause major traffic jams and could be detrimental to businesses.

Safety

Safety is the main concern of road maintenance. If preventative measures are not taken to ensure that the roads do not reach a level where they are dilapidating, this can become a major safety hazard. Potholes, sinkholes and decaying bridges are all examples of a lack of road maintenance that could cause serious injury or even death.

Civil work can be categorised in the civil engineering industry through the planning design and building of various structures. The structures can include bridges, harbours and public buildings. The infrastructure is largely dependent on the techniques and materials used in the production processes.

The basic concepts and procedures for civil engineering include the testing of building materials and the likelihood of durability in certain environments. The investigation of the foundation and soil is an integral part of identifying the feasibility of the project. There are also administrative capacities of civil engineering which includes the standard codes for either the construction or mining site.

The planning and design process can also be categorised according to the quality assurance and control throughout the project. Civil work also entails significant planning about adhering to budget constraints of the project and infrastructural costs. Civil work also pertains to the maintenance of the existing structures through the continual repair of the physical and naturally built environments.

Contact Mzansi Civils for more information regarding civil work solutions. 

Tar is a sticky, black liquid made of thick oil. Tar is a natural substance that oozes out of the ground in certain locations around earth, and can also be created through chemical procedures. Tar itself is utilized for various purposes, ranging from medical treatment to construction (in low concentration levels of benzene tar is used for medical reasons).

Tar is often used in construction for asphalting roads and driveways. It is a cheaper alternative than concrete and provides a sharpness to the visual image.

Choosing asphalt and tar brings many benefits that include but are not limited to:

u Cheaper cost than cement

u Holds up better in extreme weather

u Easy to repair

u Maintains appearance and elegance for a longer time due to its dark color

u Smooth and quite driving surface

Asphalt driveways typically last 12 to 20 years, depending on the quality of the installation, the climate, their usage, and how well they have been maintained.  Like everything else, the better care you take of your asphalt driveway, the longer it will remain in service. 

This process is usually performed in one of the following two ways:

l Excavating the applicable section of land by cutting into it

l Constructing a new workable area, like an embankment. Earth-based materials will be added to the proposed construction site to make this possible.

Throughout this process, every care is taken to ensure we reuse as much of the excavated earth as possible. This not only prevents the costly collection of waste materials, it also reduces the cost of purchasing and delivering additional materials when new construction areas need to be filled with extra dirt and rocks.

Luckily, there is computer software that can calculate how much earth will be removed/needed to fill a new site in advance, so we don’t need to store or order unnecessary stock.

What kind of projects require Bulk Earthworks?

Bulk earthworks are a necessary step in a number of civil construction projects, including:

l New roads

l Berms

l Mines

l Highways

l Railways

l Causeways

l Levees

l Dams

l Canals

l Trenches

l Residential and commercial projects

Slurry seal is an asphalt slurry mixture made from closely graded fine aggregate, emulsified asphalt and water, all carefully calibrated and mixed to form a mortar-like compound. This mixture is designed for easy and efficient spreading as a sealer on streets, playgrounds, parking lots and driveways. Slurry seal fills all voids, cracks and eroded areas. This heavy coat serves as a proven sealer and an extremely durable, non-skid surface.

The preparation process

The asphalt area will be thoroughly cleaned using a power sweeper or power blower to remove all dirt and loose particles. All weeds and vegetation are eliminated. Grinding, torching, scarifying or scraping with a shovel will remove the accumulation of oil and grease in car stalls. These may adversely affect the slurry seal bonding. An application of poly-oil seal will be applied to extreme areas and then blotted with sand to ensure the best the best chance of bonding between slurry seal and heavily greased-soaked oil spots.

Slurry seal will then be applied with trucks mounted with continuous mixing machines. These trucks are large and not easily maneuvered in tight areas. Ensure all vehicles are parked well off the work areas. When applying slurry seal to small areas we use hand squeegees and other tools. The drying time for slurry seal is approximately 3-6 hours or longer depending on weather conditions. Ensure everyone stays off the material until the barricades have been removed. 

so the driver does not have to leave his/her can on the dangerous construction site.

Tipper trucks are typically 3 or 4 axles. A 4 axle tipper has a total transport weight of 32 tons, and can generally carry about 20 tons of soil or stone. The front 2 axles are steering, and use a different tyre pattern than the rear 2 axles, which are driving. When purchasing tyres ensure that you get the right tyre tread pattern to get the best performance from your tyres.

Both rear axles are driven to provide better grip on construction sites and off-road areas. This is needed as tipper trucks are often driven up to where excavators or wheel loaders are working, to be loaded, before transporting their load. For purely off-road use, articulated dumpers give much more performance, as they can carry up to 40 tons and all axles are powered to increase traction. 

As part of our consistent delivery in the civil services industry, we have categorised our definitive services according to the niche markets in which we serve. This includes Mzansi Plant Hire; Mzansi Tar Roads and Mzansi Civils.

Included in our Mzansi Civils service offering:

Bulk Earthworks:

The removal or addition of large quantities of rocks and soil to a particular establishment in order to improve the height and level for various construction phases of the project.

Road Works

The structural improvement of roads across South Africa which ensures structural integrity and safety of users. We are a proud contributor to the increased road conditions safety for a multitude of projects.

Restricted Earthworks

The Restricted Earthworks service offering includes infrastructure that requires excavation related activities on site.

Storm Water Reticulation

This includes the techniques of advanced water management systems and purification techniques.

Sewer Reticulation

Sewer Reticulation ensures that the systems for waste water disposal are available to adjacent areas of the site and subsequently connects to an efficient sewer network.

Civil Structures – Reservoirs

To further enhance our reliability and assurance in the industry, Mzansi Civils is registered with South Africa’s highest quality providers such as the Centurion Industry Development Board, the JRA, The City of Tshwane as well as SARF.

Get in touch with Mzansi Civils for more information regarding our comprehensive services.

Asphalt Surfacing is a core concrete solution that is predominantly used to surface roads, parking lots, airports as well as structural water embankments. Since Asphalt Surfacing is continually exposed to significant wear and tear, the core components of mixtures and techniques are vital to structural integrity.

There is a distinctive difference between Asphalt and Bitumen. Asphalt is produced that heats, dries and mixes the aggregate of bitumen and sand into a composite mixture. The Bitumen component can be described as the liquid binder that holds the asphalt together.

As a common misconception with regards to using Asphalt instead of concrete, Mzansi Civil Services incorporates the highest level of material grades. The removal of damaged asphalt is relatively simple as it is a 100% recyclable product. Asphalt construction projects are finished in a quicker time frame and cab be a lot more cost-effective than concrete.

Get in touch with Mzansi Civils for more Asphalt Surfacing solutions.