Utah is one of the worst places in the nation for potholes. Why? The dramatic winter temperatures keep up a constant pattern of melting and freezing. As water from melted snow and ice drips into cracks, it settles under concrete. When that water freezes overnight, it expands, cracking the pavement above. This cycle keeps UDOT maintenance workers busy around the clock in the winter months, ensuring that the roads are safe to drive. However, UDOT doesn’t do repairs on your driveway. So, when you have private property that needs repair, Asphalt Materials has you covered. Some state departments estimate that they have to redo pothole repairs every week or so. There’s a wide disparity between budget options and high-performance patching materials. UPM’s cold-press pavement material is uniquely formulated to last long-term, even outlasting the surrounding pavement.
What’s the Difference between UPM and QPR?
There are several cold-press pavement materials available on the market. Although it’s tempting to utilize cheaper options, we choose to stock premium materials because we want to be able to stand by our products. Both QPR (Quality Pavement Repair) and UPM (Unique Paving Materials) offer premium, high-quality cold-press pavement options. Many state transportation departments choose either QPR or UPM as their go-to high-performance pavement repair material. However, the majority of state departments choose UPM, and so do we. It’s the number-one brand for long-lasting repairs.
Advantages of UPM over Other Brands
Its slow-dry formula allows the patching material to bond and fuse with the existing pavement, instead of being brittle and ill-fitting.
Tackiness is minimized because the formula allows the exposed surface to dry faster. The top of the patch material quickly dries while underneath, the fill material is flexible enough to move with the existing pavement and fuse on all sides.
Season-specific formulas allow for the different challenges presented by each season, whether that’s wetter days, or especially cold nights.
Every batch that comes from the factory is rigorously tested and evaluated to ensure that premiere results are being delivered and there’s consistency across the brand.
FAQ about UPM
Why is UPM better? UPM is state approved and used by state DOTs all across the U.S. All raw materials are tested by our state-of-the-art laboratory to ensure quality and guaranteed performance.
Are there seasonal grades of UPM? Yes, UPM is available in winter, spring/fall and summer formulas. These are designed for the optimum performance during the various temperatures of application.
How does UPM “set-up”? Upon compaction, the aggregate and asphalt interlock making the patch stable and ready for immediate traffic. Road dust and dirt will crust the top of the patch. The patch will slowly cure below the crust, remaining flexible during expansion and contraction.
What is the coverage rate? Approximately 10 lbs. of UPM per square foot at 1” depth (compacted) or approximately 1.4 ton UPM = 1 cubic yard.
Is a primer or tack coat needed before applying UPM? No! UPM is self-priming. The proprietary liquid asphalt gives tenacious binding properties to the hole.
Can UPM be used in wet holes? Wet or dry, UPM is designed to perform in any weather, any temperature.
Can UPM be used for concrete repairs? Yes, UPM is ideal for concrete pavements including roadways, driveways, bridge decks and parking lots.
How long will bulk UPM last in a stockpile? Sufficient quantities (100+ tons) have a 1-year shelf life, smaller quantities last several weeks to several months depending on storage conditions. The UPM stockpile will form a protective barrier on the ouside of the pile, which keeps the interior of the stockpile fresh. Do not disturb protective barrier until ready to use. Load from one end of the stockpile only. Stockpile on a clean, paved pad away from dusty conditions.
What methods of compaction are suitable? Hand tamper, vibratory plate compactors, rollers or compaction by wheel rolling with a vehicle are acceptable. Sufficient compaction of UPM after installation will increase initial surface stability of the repair and prevent rutting, pushing and reveling.
Can UPM patches be overlaid with hot mix asphalt? Yes! Contractors, municipalities, and Departments of Transportation have successfully overlaid UPM patches without “bleed-through”, pushing or rutting.
3 Easy Steps to Patching Success
Prepare
Using a broom or leave blower, clean out large chunks and loose debris from the hole. UPM works best if the material is applied to a solid surrounding pavement and good base.
Apply
Apply keeping material contained in the hole. If the hole is deeper than 3” install and compact in lifts. Material should be 25% higher than surface before compaction.
Compact
Compact with hand tamper, truck or car tires, plate compactors or rollers. After compaction, dust surface with sand or cement powder to “set” UPM quicker. This reduces tackiness for immediate pedestrian traffic.