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Micro surfacing
A thin, cold-applied seal that restores texture and waterproofs asphalt that is still sound underneath — at a fraction of the cost and disruption of resurfacing.
What it is
Micro surfacing is a cold-applied mix of polymer-modified bitumen emulsion, crushed aggregate, mineral filler and water, blended on site in a purpose-built machine and spread in a single pass, typically around 10 mm thick.
It is a preservation treatment, not a repair. On pavement that has oxidised, lost its texture or begun to ravel — but is still structurally sound — it seals the surface against water, restores skid resistance and buys years before a full overlay is needed.
Because it cures chemically rather than by cooling, most areas can carry traffic again within about an hour. On a car park or an access road that cannot close for long, that is usually the deciding factor.
When it is the right call
The surface has greyed and lost its texture, but the structure beneath it is intact. This is exactly what the treatment is for.
Traffic returns in about an hour, so a car park loses a morning rather than a week.
If the base has failed, or there is deep cracking and potholing, micro surfacing will not hold. That needs patching or an overlay first — we will say so.
Not sure if it is a candidate?
Send a photo and the approximate area. We will tell you honestly whether micro surfacing will hold, or whether it needs something else first.