---
title: "Explanatory note: surface dressing"
subject: "Transportation Engineering II"
chapter: 3
key: "semester_7/transportation_engineering_ii:surface-dressing-note"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/transportation_engineering_ii/surface-dressing-note
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Explanatory note: surface dressing

Transportation Engineering II · Chapter 3: Road Construction Technology

- Asked in: 2066 Bhadra, 2 marks
- Video: [COMPLETE DETAILS ABOUT TACK COAT & SURFACE DRESSING ||TACK COAT ||SURFACE DRESSING ||By Civil Guruji](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrYLdU9URLY) — Bridge Construction Training Institute
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/transportation_engineering_ii/surface-dressing-note
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/transportation_engineering_ii/chapter-3

## Question

Write down an explanatory note on bituminous construction type: surface dressing.

## Short answer

Surface dressing is a thin sprayed binder (1.0-1.5 kg/m²) covered with single-sized chips and rolled, providing a waterproof, skid-resistant wearing course at low cost. It does not add structural strength and is used for low-volume roads and surface renewal.

## Answer

**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.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Surface dressing consists of:
   A. A thick layer of dense bituminous concrete
   B. A thin film of binder covered with single-sized chippings and rolled
   C. Mixed aggregate and cement laid in slabs
   D. A premixed carpet of graded aggregate
   Answer: B. A thin binder film is sprayed and covered with single-sized chips, then rolled to embed them. (Key point: What it is)

2. What does surface dressing NOT provide?
   A. Waterproofing
   B. Skid resistance
   C. Added structural strength
   D. Sealing of the pavement
   Answer: C. It gives a waterproof, skid- and wear-resistant surface but does not add structural strength. (Key point: Structural contribution)

3. Why is surface dressing widely used in Nepal?
   A. It adds large structural capacity for heavy traffic
   B. It is cheap and quick, suiting low-volume roads and renewal of old surfaces
   C. It needs no binder
   D. It is the only method permitted by IRC
   Answer: B. Being cheap and quick, it suits low-volume roads and surface renewal. (Key point: Use in Nepal)

## Related in Transportation Engineering II

- [Surface dressing and DBSD construction](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftransportation_engineering_ii%3Asurface-dressing-dbsd-procedure) — Transportation Engineering II, chapter 3
- [Prime vs tack coat; surface dressing method](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftransportation_engineering_ii%3Aprime-vs-tack-coat-surface-dressing) — Transportation Engineering II, chapter 3
- [Explanatory note: interface treatment](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftransportation_engineering_ii%3Ainterface-treatment-note) — Transportation Engineering II, chapter 3
- [Bituminous premix carpet construction](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftransportation_engineering_ii%3Apremix-carpet-construction) — Transportation Engineering II, chapter 3, asked 3×
- [Road construction activities; plants for bituminous and CC](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftransportation_engineering_ii%3Aroad-construction-activities-plants-bituminous-cc) — Transportation Engineering II, chapter 3
- [Bituminous pavement types; asphalt concrete construction](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftransportation_engineering_ii%3Atypes-bituminous-pavement-ac-construction) — Transportation Engineering II, chapter 3

## Related in other subjects

- [Dressing of stone and its purpose](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fcivil_engineering_materials%3Adressing-of-stone-purpose) — Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 2, asked 5×
- [Tests on bituminous binders](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Ftransportation_engineering_i%3Abitumen-tests-list) — Transportation Engineering I, chapter 6, asked 8×
- [Types of bitumen and bituminous materials](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Ftransportation_engineering_i%3Abitumen-types) — Transportation Engineering I, chapter 6, asked 6×