Service
Overbanding
Shepherd and Sons Contracting ltd
WHAT IS OVERBANDING
Overbanding is a surface treatment technique used on UK roadways to seal the surface of cracks or joints after they’ve been repaired, especially after crack sealing or patching work. It helps prevent water ingress, which can cause further deterioration such as potholes, fretting, or freeze-thaw damage.
Overbanding involves applying a narrow strip of bituminous material (typically a hot-applied sealant) over a crack or joint and the adjacent road surface. It provides a waterproof seal and creates a band-aid repair until a more effective repair can be made.
standards for overbanding
The UK has specific standards for overbanding to ensure safety and effectiveness – Specification for the Reinstatement of Openings in Highways (SROH), fourth edition, clause S6.8.8:
- Overbanding must be at least 3 mm wide and no wider than 40 mm, and no more than 3 mm thick at the surface.
- Initial skid resistance must be at least 55 SRV, measured with a pendulum tester to BS EN 13036-4. The Specification for Highway Works sets a higher figure again on trunk roads.
- The overbanding system must hold a current certificate from a Product Acceptance Scheme. Treatments must be black unless the authority directs otherwise, and overbanding must not be used as a substitute for edge sealing.
Benefits:
- Prevents water ingress
- Extends pavement life
- Reduces risk of crack propagation
- Cost-effective maintenance solution
Concerns & Limitations:
- Skid resistance: Overbanding can become slippery, especially when wet.
- Traffic safety hazard: Cyclists and motorcyclists are particularly at risk.
- Compliance with the specification above is what keeps these risks in check.
Overbanding contractors in Kent and across the UK
We are based at Little Westerhill Farm near Maidstone in Kent and overband cracks and joints on roads, car parks and airfield pavements nationwide, working days, nights and weekend possessions. Applied hot from a boiler, overbanding is usually the closing operation on a crack sealing programme rather than a job on its own. Kent, London, Sussex, Essex and the wider South East are covered from our own yard, and longer programmes are mobilised UK wide.
For a plain explanation of the technique, including where it is the wrong answer, see what overbanding is.
