Endurablend™ Systems Deliver a Durable, Affordable Alternative to
Expensive Overlays
Industry professionals know Tensar International (TI) primarily as a provider of soil reinforcement, geotechnical engineering and earthwork solutions. But with the acquisition of Endurablend™ Systems, the company is adding an important new capability to its extensive portfolio of infrastructure products and services.
"Endurablend Systems give us an affordable way to extend the life of durable surfaces like roads, runways, parking lots and parking decks," says Jay Wilson, Endurablend Systems director of operations. "It works on asphalt and concrete and is often a more affordable, longer lasting option for addressing wear issues."
While thin surfacing products are not new, Endurablend Systems consist of a unique polymer cement slurry surfacing material. It eliminates pavement raveling and spalling by creating a new, skid-resistant surface that resists traffic, oxidation, freeze-thaw cycling, UV breakdown and fuel spills for decades.
A LITTLE GOES A LONG, LONG WAY
One of the more remarkable qualities of the product is its ability to deliver a durable surface with as little as 1/8 in. to 1/4 in. of material.
"We recently completed a parking lot at Runaway Bay Apartments in Lantana, Florida," Wilson says. "The owners were originally going to grind the surface and apply 1.5 in. of asphalt overlay."
By using Endurablend Systems to renew the complex's 391,500 square feet of damaged asphalt, the owners saved over $100,000 in labor and material costs on the six-week project. More important, they were able to extend the service life of the pavement for at least 10 years, which is up to five times longer than an asphalt overlay typically lasts.
INSTALLATION IS QUICK – AND GREEN
The installation process is fast and simple, but good preparation is critical for optimal bonding.
"The process will be familiar to anyone who constructs flexible or rigid pavements," says Nicholas Reck, MSc.Eng., Pr.Eng., TI application technology manager. "Endurablend Systems is an advanced Polymer Cement Slurry Surfacing (PCSS) material. It can be continuously mixed and large areas covered with an engineered extrusion blade."
Endurablend Systems are self-leveling and not sensitive to minor vibration and movement, so can be applied to parking decks, overpasses and other structures while normal traffic movement continues.
The system is also considered a "green" product, as it is water-based, with a stable cured structure and higher solar reflectivity than asphalt. Customers pursuing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification can even receive a 7.1 credit for a reduced heat island effect.
When fully cured, the material is a light-gray color, which reduces the temperature of the supporting asphalt and does not retain heat. If the standard color is not desired, the contractor can add black pigment to the slurry to achieve an asphalt-like appearance or choose from among several color options.
"We are very excited to add Endurablend Systems to our suite of application solutions," says Bob Vevoda, Tensar International president and managing director. "We now can offer the marketplace a complete roadway solution, starting from surface treatment to asphalt reinforcement, base reinforcement and down to subgrade improvement, for paved and unpaved applications. We believe that with our history of research and development, application development, extensive testing capabilities and ability to promote a technical solution, this emerging technology will be accepted and grow very rapidly."
