The road surfacing industry is often seen as being quite old-fashioned, using outdated techniques to churn out roads that aren’t built to last. But this couldn’t be further from the truth – at Minster Group, we’re always looking for new ways to embrace innovation and produce the very best results for our clients.

That’s why we use Tensar’s Glasstex solution to reinforce the roads we lay and ensure they’re fit for the wheels of Lincolnshire for many years. 

What is Tensar Glasstex?

Glasstex is a stress-absorbing membrane that can be laid under the asphalt binder course layer of a road to strengthen it and make it more durable. 

By using this material, civil engineers can reinforce the roads they lay, as well as provide stress relief and waterproofing. 

What is it made of?

The product is essentially made up of a grid of glass filament bundles, which are designed to provide high absorption of stress at low strains. These glass filament bundles are then bonded to a polypropylene paving fabric with stitching, and the fabric performs a sealing function after being saturated with bitumen. 

The product’s high-stiffness grid is bonded to the asphalt, providing reinforcement and meaning that the roads it’s laid under have a prolonged service life.

What’s more, it also controls reflective cracking – when existing overlaid cracks reappear – and reduces longitudinal cracking, which can be caused by differential settlement between new and existing lanes on widened roads. 

What does it do?

By adopting this innovative product, we can improve the roads we lay in three key ways: 

• Reinforcement: Glasstex bonds with the asphalt overlay, providing a reinforcing effect 
• Stress relief: The product has a stress absorbing membrane interlayer (SAMI) which, together with the bitumen absorbed from the bond coat, provides a stress relief effect
• Waterproofing: The interlayer barrier stops moisture and oxygen from entering, creating a water-resistant surface and protecting roads from potholes and cracks

How do you use it?

When laying a new road surface, Tensar Glasstex can be applied after the bitumen bond coat has been applied to the substrate layer. The Glasstex interlayer is simply rolled out onto the bond coat, which has a specified application rate to ensure absorption into the Glasstex fabric. 

There are two options when laying the interlayer – it can either be manually unrolled or a specialist interlayer installation machine can be used for a faster, higher quality installation. 

Once the bind coat is cured, it secures the interlayer in place and the overlay can then be laid with a traditional paving machine. 

Improving sustainability 

We’re at the cutting edge of innovation and are always looking for new ways to improve the quality of our civil engineering projects, so Tensar Glasstex is something that we regularly use in our work.

What’s more, as well as improving the quality of our work, Glasstex also helps us on our sustainability journey. We’re dedicated to recycling and environmental responsibility, and Glasstex mats can easily be broken up by conventional milling equipment to be reused in other projects as recycled asphalt pavement. They’re also made from silica, which is a natural substance that is environmentally friendly. 

To find out more about our smart, clean and green road surfacing, or to enquire about our services, why not get in touch?