Slurry Products
Polymer-Modified Micro-Surfacing
ISSA A143-spec polymer-modified surfacing built to fill wheel ruts, restore surface profile, and extend pavement life on the highest-traffic roads, the premium step up from standard slurry seal.
A HEAVIER-DUTY SLURRY SYSTEM
Micro-surfacing is a distinct polymer-modified system, governed by its own ISSA guideline (A143) rather than the A105 slurry seal spec. A crushed, high-quality aggregate is combined with polymer-modified asphalt emulsion, mineral filler, water, and additives to create a mix that can be placed in variable thicknesses in a single pass, thin as a surface seal, or thick enough to fill wheel ruts and depressions that standard slurry can't correct.
- Meets ISSA A143 guideline for micro-surfacing
- Polymer-modified emulsion (CQS-1p) for superior durability
- Can be placed in variable thickness, scratch coat to full rut fill
- Extends pavement life 7 – 12 years, longer than standard slurry seal
Aggregate
100% crushed, Type II/III
Sand Equivalent
65% minimum
Cure Time
~1 hour to traffic
Expected Life
7 – 12 years
PREMIUM FOR HIGH-TRAFFIC ROADS
Some pavement needs more than a surface seal, wheel ruts, uneven profile, or years of heavy traffic call for a system engineered to correct structural surface issues, not just protect against them. Micro-surfacing is built for exactly that, delivering a longer service life and a more resilient wearing course than any standard slurry seal type.
Fills wheel ruts
Corrects rutting up to roughly 1.5 inches deep in a single engineered application.
Variable thickness placement
Applied thin for a surface seal or thick for rut-filling and leveling, all in one mix design.
Longer service life
Extends pavement life 7 – 12 years, well beyond a standard slurry seal.
High-speed traffic ready
Engineered specifically for heavily traveled, high-speed roadways.
Fast traffic return
Opens to traffic in about an hour thanks to the polymer-modified emulsion's rapid set.
Premium durability
Higher-quality, 100% crushed aggregate and stricter quality controls than standard slurry.
BUILT FOR HEAVY-USE PAVEMENT
Micro-surfacing is specified where standard slurry seal isn't enough, heavily trafficked roads, rutted surfaces, and projects where a longer service life justifies the premium system.
Highways & Primary Arterials
The standard premium treatment for high-volume, high-speed corridors.
Wheel Rut & Depression Repair
Purpose-built to correct rutting that standard slurry can't fill.
Airport Runways & Taxiways
Meets the durability and skid-resistance demands of aviation surfaces.
Municipal & DOT Preservation
A common spec for public agencies maximizing pavement life-cycle value.
Heavy Commercial & Industrial Lots
Handles sustained heavy-vehicle loading better than standard slurry.
Leveling & Scratch Courses
Used as a corrective base layer ahead of a full-width surface course.
Micro-Surfacing, Step By Step
Micro-surfacing is placed with a continuous-run paver capable of variable-thickness application. On projects with significant rutting, a scratch coat is placed first and cured before the full-width surface course follows.
A short field video showing micro-surfacing applied to a high-traffic roadway, the continuous-run paver adjusts thickness on the fly to fill ruts and restore surface profile.
- 01Step
Surface prep & mix design
Pavement is cleaned and prepped; an ISSA A143 mix design confirms aggregate, emulsion, and additive proportions for the specific rut depth and traffic demand.
- 02Step
Scratch course (if needed)
For significant rutting, a leveling scratch course is placed first and allowed to cure under traffic for at least 24 hours.
- 03Step
Full-width surface course
The continuous-run paver applies the final surface course at the engineered thickness across the full pavement width.
- 04Step
Cure and open to traffic
The polymer-modified emulsion sets quickly, typically allowing traffic to return within about an hour.
ISSA A143 Micro-Surfacing
- Aggregate100% crushed, Type II (smoother) or Type III (max skid/rut fill)
- Sand equivalent65% minimum
- Emulsion typePolymer-modified CQS-1p
- Polymer content~3% solids by asphalt weight (typical)
- Rut-fill capabilityUp to ~1.5" in variable-thickness applications
- Scratch course cureMinimum 24 hours under traffic before final course
- Cure to trafficApproximately 1 hour
- Expected life7 – 12 years
Ideal Candidate Pavement
Micro-surfacing is best suited to high-traffic or rut-affected pavement that needs more correction and longer service life than a standard slurry seal can deliver.
Good fit
- Wheel ruts or surface depressions up to roughly 1.5 inches
- High-speed or high-volume roads (highways, arterials, airports)
- Projects where a longer 7–12 year service life justifies the premium system
- Uneven surface profile needing a leveling/scratch course
Not a fit, repair first
- Potholes, alligator cracking, or base failure
- Deep structural rutting beyond variable-thickness tolerance
- Standing water from drainage/grading issues, not surface rutting
- Low-traffic residential streets or lots (standard slurry is more cost-effective)
MICRO-SURFACING QUESTIONS
Straight answers from the estimators and crews who do the work across Arizona. Don't see your question? Call our office and talk to a real person.
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