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About Cape Seal
A cape seal is a two-layer surface treatment: a chip and spray base layer, sprayed with bitumen emulsion and rolled with stone chip, sealed over with a slurry seal once the chip layer has cured. It gives you the strength and waterproofing of the stone layer under a smooth, quiet slurry finish, at a lower cost than a full asphalt overlay. Developed in the Cape, it's now used on roads, complex access ways, farm and industrial roads and parking areas wherever a surface needs more durability than a slurry alone but doesn't justify a full resurfacing job. We lay cape seals for private roads, estates, complexes and industrial sites across Germiston, the East Rand and Johannesburg, using our own spray equipment, chip spreader and rollers rather than hired-in plant. If your tar has started to grey, crack or ravel but the base underneath is still sound, a cape seal is usually the more cost-effective answer than tearing it up and starting again.
What's Included
- Full base and surface assessed before binder applied
- Potholes and cracking repaired before sealing starts
- Surface swept and cleaned so the binder bonds properly
- Bitumen emulsion sprayed evenly with own distributor
- 13.2mm or 19mm stone chip applied and rolled in
- Chip layer cured and traffic-compacted before slurry
- Slurry coat of aggregate and bitumen applied over chip
- Finished flush at kerbs, drains, manholes and edges
Our Process
- 1
Assess and Prepare
We check the base and existing surface for structural problems, not just surface wear. Potholes, deep cracking and any sign of base failure are repaired first, because a cape seal only performs on a base that can carry the load. The surface is swept and cleaned so the binder bonds properly, and falls are set so water still runs to the outlets.
- 2
Lay the Chip Seal
We spray a bitumen emulsion binder evenly across the prepared surface with our own distributor, then apply 13.2mm or 19mm stone chip with a self-propelled chip spreader, rolling it straight away to lock it into the binder. This layer does the structural work. It then needs time to cure and traffic-compact, typically a few weeks, before the slurry goes on.
- 3
Apply the Slurry Coat
Once the chip layer has cured, we apply a slurry seal of fine aggregate, bitumen emulsion and additives, spread evenly to fill the voids between the stone chip and finish with a smooth, uniform black surface. This is what gives a cape seal its quiet ride and neat appearance.
- 4
Finish and Tie In
We tie the finished surface in properly at kerbs, drains, manholes and any existing joins so the new layer sits flush rather than standing proud. Bay marking or line marking can be added once the surface has cured, either as part of the same job or as a separate visit.
Project Gallery
Cape Seal FAQ
What is a cape seal?
A cape seal is a two-layer road surface treatment: a chip and spray (chip seal) base layer sprayed with bitumen binder and rolled with stone chip, sealed over with a slurry seal once the chip has cured. It combines the strength and waterproofing of a chip seal with the smooth, even finish of a slurry, and was developed in South Africa specifically for this purpose. It's used on rural and urban roads, complex and estate access ways, and parking and industrial areas as both a new surface treatment and a maintenance reseal.
How is a cape seal different from chip and spray?
Chip and spray on its own leaves a rougher, noisier surface with loose stone that can be picked up by traffic, especially in the first few months. A cape seal takes that same chip and spray layer and finishes it with a slurry seal, which fills the gaps between the stones, locks the chip in permanently, and gives you a smoother, quieter ride. You get the structural benefit of the chip layer without living with a loose-stone surface long-term.
How long does a cape seal last?
Well-built cape seals typically extend a pavement's life by roughly 8 to 10 years, with some sources citing up to 15 years for polymer-modified versions in good conditions. How long yours lasts depends on the condition of the base before we start, the traffic the surface carries, and how well the chip and slurry layers were applied and cured. A cape seal laid over a failing base won't last as long as one laid over a sound structure, which is why we assess the base first rather than sealing over a problem.
Is a cape seal cheaper than asphalt resurfacing?
Generally, yes, where the base is still structurally sound. A cape seal renews the wearing surface without the cost of milling out the old layer and laying new hot-mix asphalt, which is why it's a common choice for roads and parking areas that need a durable surface but don't need a full rebuild. If the base has failed, a cape seal won't fix that, and resurfacing or reconstruction becomes the more sensible option. We'll tell you which situation you're in before you commit to either.
What stone size is used in a cape seal?
Cape seals are typically laid with either 13.2mm or 19mm stone chip, depending on the traffic the surface will carry and the specification for the job. Larger stone is generally used on higher-traffic roads, with correspondingly more slurry applied over the top to fill the larger voids between the stones.
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