Working with Cold Asphalt

**BillyZ** · 17-07-2011, 10:09 PM

In our area we have a problem with water flooding into our soi during heavy downpours. So I got some cold asphalt at Home Pro for 93 baht a bag. Each weights about 20 kilos. I didn't take a whole lot of photos, but here's a brief story about working with asphalt.

You'll need your asphalt, a broom, a heavy hoe (we have one that is all metal, so heavier and better for this project than a wooden handle), some cheap leather gloves (you'll probably want to throw them away after wards) and a knife to cut the bags. Oh, and your car

You want to sweep the lay down area as good as you can. Where I started the 'speed bump' is on sand, so we'll see how that works after the first rain. But the rest is on older asphalt. I didn't score the old asphalt before hand. Maybe I should have, but I don't think you need to, from what I've read on the Internet.

I found that it works best if you cut the outer and inner bags of asphalt on 3 sides and then kind of pour our the asphalt where you want it to land. Sometimes the asphalt comes out firm and you've gotta push it around. Other times it comes out almost loose.

Don't worry about molding it by hand. Just get the basic shape and then use the back of the hoe to pack it down a bit more. Get the edges, where the old meets the new, packed down as good as you can. You'll still be able to slide the asphalt around if it starts to go off of the line that you intended, like mine did.

You can make the bump big or small. But for what I wanted, I found that the length of a bag (about 18") was how long that section of the bump would be. So if you want a 180" (15 feet) at what will end up to be about 4" high, get 10 bags.

Once you have everything laid down, lined up and packed down the way you want it to set, get in the car and pack it down some more. Surprisingly, it doesn't deform a whole lot. I went over the top diagonally two times and then lined up on it straight on and mashed it right on top, then once on each side and then once more along the top.

But the 6"-7" high pyramid shape I'd hoped for (for maximum height) ended up more like a 4" traditional crescent shaped bump. But that's OK, it's looking good.

It's actually turned out pretty well, actually. I need 5-6 more bags, but I'm feeling good that it will help keep at least most of the water out.

**Chairman Mao** · 17-07-2011, 10:16 PM

Wouldn't wanna hit that on my bike at night. You'll be putting paint on it and signs up to warn people?

That amount of times I've gone down a dark soi at night and hit one of these things that some fukwit local has put up without warning to anyone, paint, signs or any other thought towards the safety of others is pretty amazing.

**splitlid** · 17-07-2011, 10:32 PM

why is it on that funny angle?

**Chairman Mao** · 17-07-2011, 10:43 PM

Does its set, or is hard to remove?

It's pretty cheap. Might be worth building a bump outside someone I don't like's house one night.

**Thetyim** · 17-07-2011, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by splitlid

why is it on that funny angle?

To guide the flood water away.

It's not a speed bump

**splitlid** · 17-07-2011, 10:50 PM

arrrr ok. that explains it.cheers

**Chairman Mao** · 17-07-2011, 10:53 PM

Originally Posted by Thetyim

It's not a speed bump

Obviously.

Also obvious is that it does the same thing... you hitting it suddenly unless warned about its existence and cursing the fukwit who made it and didn't put any paint on it, if you aren't in the ditch.

**Bettyboo** · 17-07-2011, 11:37 PM

Originally Posted by Thetyim

To guide the flood water away.

I'm not convinced (but then I'm a sceptic). I'd like to see a picture after the first flood; it may just as easily keep the floodwater in, divert it in the wrong direction or do very little.

I don't know the lay of the land though, so I suppoe we'll have to trust the smarts of the OP...

**Satonic** · 18-07-2011, 12:23 AM

Is the land you laid that on privately owned? Interested to know as I'd like to do something similar outside one of my places, but its a very quiet yet public road.

**nigelandjan** · 18-07-2011, 01:12 AM

Mate you must have plenty of dough to waste , I did 10 years working witth all kinds of asphalt usually at 180 degrees to lay ,, what you have there is nothing more than temporary repair asphalt .

With the Thai heat to expand it then the water to seep into it I doubt it will be around too long.

Apart from that I would be making sure you have a bloody good indemnity insurance ,, I would hate to hazzard a guess at what claim might arise from someone suffering an injury ( or worse ) due to that being in the road

**nedwalk** · 18-07-2011, 05:51 AM

Reminds me of another thread..LARS and the dandbag wars.. good luck mate..err you don,t live near LARS do ya??? he,s not real keen on blokes diverting water

**hillbilly** · 18-07-2011, 06:32 AM

I was wondering the same thing. His neighbors might not appreciate his efforts.

**FailSafe** · 18-07-2011, 09:33 AM

It's very possible you might hear from the Tessaban- my neighbor tried something similar and he ended up having to remove it (actually, it was removed for him).

**nigelandjan** · 18-07-2011, 11:56 AM

Anyway if the village chief dont get him the elf+ saftey brigade are on their way out ffrom terminal 3 now ,,, you will need one of these

A pair of these

The correct footwear

And to top it all off

**BillyZ** · 18-07-2011, 12:21 PM

Actually, we're the only one that lives on that soi (to the right). And we only have one neighbor living in the area right now. There's a wall on the left side. So actually I've done a community service

As far as liability, we're in Thailand.... 'nuff said... And no one's going to get hurt riding over that bump. At night there's a big street light right over it.

That might not last for long. It's sort of an experiment. If it doesn't last, the 930 baht I've spent on it was still a good investment to satisfy my curiosity.

**hillbilly** · 18-07-2011, 02:49 PM

Worth a shot I guess. Let us know how everything turns out.

**superman** · 18-07-2011, 03:22 PM

When I worked with tarmac we cut out what's known as a grip in the road surface first. That means, to cut a depth of 25mm on the edges about 50mm wide. This allows for the downward force on the tarmac to be resisted at the edges. Whether using cold or hot tarmac we always used a bituman adhesive prior to lay. Without it it's difficult for it to stay put. Finally compaction is the main factor, in that the more/harder you compact it the longer it will last. The grips will prevent spread on compaction. Compact the edges first.

**BillyZ** · 18-07-2011, 11:40 PM

Supa-man, thanks for that advice. I think that's the most constructive (pun intended) reply yet. That's what this site is all about, feedback like that. If it doesn't work the firs time, and it's very likely that it will break up into chunks of rubble later, I'll might try it again with the grips. I was thinking about something like that. But what I'd read on the Internet made it seem like you might not need it with the cold asphalt. We'll see. I'll keep this thread updated.

**jandajoy** · 18-07-2011, 11:45 PM

What about a gutter type arrangement? As in a trench with a grill. If you have the gradient.

**nigelandjan** · 19-07-2011, 12:35 AM

Originally Posted by BillyZ

As far as liability, we're in Thailand..

Fair enuf ,lets hope an American dont stray down there on his rental chopper them

**terry57** · 19-07-2011, 07:31 AM

That looks absolutely shit house and if someone put that outside my gaff I'd give them a swift kick in the bolliks.

But when in Thailand carry on regardless and its fair crack.

**superman** · 19-07-2011, 07:34 AM

Originally Posted by BillyZ

Supa-man, thanks for that advice. I think that's the most constructive (pun intended) reply yet. That's what this site is all about, feedback like that. If it doesn't work the firs time, and it's very likely that it will break up into chunks of rubble later, I'll might try it again with the grips. I was thinking about something like that. But what I'd read on the Internet made it seem like you might not need it with the cold asphalt. We'll see. I'll keep this thread updated.

Thanks BillyZ. By the the way, you ain't laying 'Asphalt'. Asphalt can only be laid hot, and the consitancey is totally different.

**robinyates** · 19-07-2011, 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by nigelandjan

Mate you must have plenty of dough to waste , I did 10 years working witth all kinds of asphalt usually at 180 degrees to lay ,, what you have there is nothing more than temporary repair asphalt .

With the Thai heat to expand it then the water to seep into it I doubt it will be around too long.

Apart from that I would be making sure you have a bloody good indemnity insurance ,, I would hate to hazzard a guess at what claim might arise from someone suffering an injury ( or worse ) due to that being in the road

cold applied asphalt is no good for a permanent repair, maybe if you vibrate rolled it may last but probably not. Gypsies in the UK use cold applied asphalt, looks good till you drive on it !

**dirk diggler** · 19-07-2011, 05:12 PM

Jesus H. Christ! That thing looks absolutely ridiculous. You could have at least tried to pass it off as a speed bump. I'm with Terry on this one, what were you thinking?

**OhOh** · 19-07-2011, 09:25 PM

I look forward to a photograph after a flood, and some vehicles going over it.

Thread: Working with Cold Asphalt

Thread Tools

Display

Working with Cold Asphalt

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

Posting Permissions