Explanatory note: surface dressing

Surface dressing is a bituminous surface treatment in which a thin film of binder (bitumen or emulsion, 1.0-1.5 kg/m2) is sprayed on a prepared base and covered with single-sized chippings (13.2 mm, 11.2 mm), then rolled so that the chips are firmly embedded (IRC:17). It may be single or double. It gives a waterproof, skid-resistant and wear-resistant surface and seals the pavement, but does not add structural strength. It is cheap and quick, so it is widely used for low-volume roads and for renewal of old surfaces in Nepal.