Sma tarmac, ( rolling)

[loudog]

Hi to all, I have about 20 years experiance in laying tarmac mainly raking it, I was a roller driver for another company about 10 years ago, Cut a long story, I had a phone call from another firm requesting a rolleer driver to roll about 8 ton of base and about 3 or 4 ton sma, using a 80 roller, is it best to dead roll it or vibrate it. when i use to roll the roads i would dead roll it then vibrate it then polish it up, would the same principle apply,
cheers for any advise.

[msh paving]

Davel will be along soon he's the blacktop man MSH

[Tony McC]

Dead roll, no vibes for SMA - you don't want to polish it

[Big Phil]

deffo no vib on the sma, as there is a risk that the bitumen may flush up creating a fatty patch on the surface.

[Dave_L]

Dead roll on first pass but use vibrate as and where required to achieve shape/finish etc as desired. Kinds depnds how good your rakehands are I guess!

.....and make sure the roller has a decent water spray onto the drums, as it will pick up the SMA and make a right mess of it otherwise.



Edited By Dave_L on 1249456432

[DNgroundworks]

Where are you based Dave L?

[Dave_L]

Where are you based Dave L?

Somerset, cider county!

[loudog]

Thanks for all your advice, yeah i am from the Frome area which is the home of tarmacers. your probably thinking why am i asking with 20 odd years under my belt, i use to roll but never sma and i work for a small family firm which mainly does private work so all we ever do is 20mm base and 6mm top, done the odd sma job but i have always raked it, anyway cheers lads.

[Dave_L]

Not that far from me then! (Taunton area)

I'm coming up to Torr Quarry (near you?) at the end of this month for an evening visit with BoS Motor Club.