When Is The Best Time of Year To Apply Road Dust Control Products?

​Road dust creates numerous problems on unpaved roads, such as safety hazards, loss of road materials, and road functionality issues. Road dust control products can help prevent these costly problems, but roads are best treated with these products during certain seasons. Learn more about the best time of year to apply road dust control products. 

Types of Dust Abatement Products
Dust abatement refers to the process of preventing excess soil dust from building up. Dust abatement methods fall into 7 general categories:

1. Water
2. Petroleum-based products
3. Lignosuflates
4. Electrochemicals
5. Clay Additives
6. Chlorides 
7. Synthetic polymers 

Although each road dust control product has its own application process and procedure, generally, all products must adhere to the same weather conditions for treating roads.

Springtime Is the Right Time to Apply
The best time for applying road dust control products is the springtime when the weather is dry and not freezing. Because many regions endure late snowstorms and wet weather, plan for late spring to administer a dust control program. The best time for application is dry weather after this storm season has passed. 

Get Your Roads In Shape For Spring
Take these steps to prep your unpaved roadways for spring dust control. Blade the road when humidity and moisture are high unless it has rained recently. Water the road surface before blading. Remove ruts, potholes, and washboard, and smooth the loose soil. Shape and crown the road.

Avoid Rainy Season
Most dust control products cannot be applied during heavy rainfall. For example, synthetic polymer products, Envirotac and EarthGlue require up to 2-4 days of dry conditions to cure. Rain can dilute other products, such as calcium chloride, and cause it to run off the roadway and into waterways.  

Do I Need to Re-Apply My Road Dust Control Products?
Several types of road dust control products require constant reapplication. Water absorbing products like chlorides can help particles stick together, but rainfall eventually removes salts from the roadway making the practical duration of their application less than a year. On the other hand, synthetic polymers, such as Envirotac, can last up to 2 years after 1 application. 

Cost-Saving and Long-Lasting Dust Control
If you are looking for long-lasting dust control products for road dust control, acrylic polymer alternatives are the best option. Our line of polymers offers a durable and cost-saving solution for all construction projects. 

Contact us to find out how our acrylic polymer products can help you reduce the costly problems caused by dust.