HOW TO KNOW WHEN TO REPAIR, RESURFACE OR REPLACE ANY RUNNING TRACK

  AUSTIN, TX - 07/27/2017 (PRESS RELEASE JET)

Running tracks are an important part of the athletic facilities at most

schools and depending on the amount of traffic your track sees, the quality of materials used to

build your track, and the quality of construction will determine how long your track lasts. There

may be repairs, resurfacing, or replacement that will be required to keep your track running

smoothly and keep athletes safe and performing at their best. Knowing when something can be

repaired versus replacing or resurfacing can sometimes be difficult.

 

When building a track, the asphalt/concrete base and the aggregate/stone subbase need to be

installed properly with proper drainage. In order to make sure it is done correctly, a geotechnical

survey should be performed at the beginning of the project. This below-ground investigation will

determine the compressibility, strength, and other characteristics to ensure the ground under the

track will remain stable. If not installed properly the aggregate/stone subbase may shift, which will

lead to cracks in the asphalt/concrete base and surface. Movement in the aggregate/stone

subbase is not normally covered under the warranty. A professional should analyze your track if

you are finding cracks, especially near the edge or if the curbs are shifting.

 

Vice President at Hellas Construction, Bob Allison said, “Cracks can be very serious. Minor

cracks may develop with the normal settling of the ground, but as long as the moisture transfer is

limited by proper drainage there shouldn’t be a problem. However, if cracks are showing up right

after a track is installed, there may be a problem.”

 

Cracks that go into the asphalt/concrete base can normally be fixed with a patch. They would cut

out a section of the track, repair the asphalt/concrete base, and then replace the top surface in

that small area. However, reflective cracks are cracks that go into the asphalt/concrete base and

deep down below, coming from underneath that asphalt/concrete base, and they usually mean

that there is a problem below the aggregate/stone subbase, in the foundation.

 

“Nothing is maintenance free,” said Allison. “Tracks need to be washed once a year and swept

with a light bristle broom.” He said repairing gouges as they appear helps extend the life of the

surface. Nicks or gouges in the surface can be repaired, by filling them in with the same material

that was used to build the track. Most track systems come with a five-year warranty. Some tracks

may last five to seven years if they are maintained properly. “Each track wears different,

depending on the amount of traffic and if preventative measures are used. Using a bridge to

move maintenance equipment over a track will make the track last longer,” Allison said.

 

If an asphalt/concrete base is separating from the top surface, it’s called delamination. The top

layer may need to be scraped off and a new top layer installed. Delamination is also when the top

surface layer of the track is showing wear. If you see wear or have pieces of the track coming up, you

need to determine how much of the surface is still attached to the asphalt/concrete base of the

track. Depending on how much is loose, will determine if the surface can be repaired or if it needs

to be replaced. Sections that are loose can be cut out and replaced. The inner lanes of the track

tend to show wear faster because more people use the inside lanes since it’s a shorter distance,”

Allison said. The poured in place, sealed track systems that have dings, cuts, or cracks, need to

be fixed fast, so water doesn’t get below the surface, which will heat up during the summer and

start the delamination process faster.

 

If there is enough wear and the black asphalt/concrete base is showing through the top layer or a

lot of repairs or patches have been done, a resurface may be done as long as the surface is still

adhered to the asphalt/concrete base. Resurfacing is scraping off the top layer of track surface

and reapplying that top layer. This will make the track look like new and hide the repairs.

 

As time goes on, the percentage of tracks that need serious work increases. Removing and

replacing the asphalt/concrete base or aggregate/stone subbase may be needed if bumps, dips,

and reflective cracks are forming on the track surface. If there are a lot of cracks or the planarity

is off, they will have to go deeper under the asphalt/concrete base and do a geotechnical survey

before total reconstruction. Total reconstruction is tearing out everything, the track surface, the

asphalt/concrete base, the aggregate/stone subbase and all the layers below to stabilize the

foundation.

 

The type of track system that is selected will also determine the number of years your track

surface will last. “If your old track was worn out, you may want to go up a level when replacing,”

Allison said. “Remember, track surfacing is not indestructible,” Allison said. “Any preventative

measures and regular maintenance will go a long way into making your track surfaces last for

many years to come.”

About Hellas Construction, Inc. headquartered in Austin, TX, is one of the largest sports construction contractors in the United States. While specializing in the general construction of sports facilities and synthetic surfaces, Hellas also champions innovative artificial turf manufacturing, base construction, field, track and tennis planning, installation, and maintenance. Hellas Construction is the trusted turf provider of the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium and Ford Center, The Star at Frisco TX. To learn more about Hellas Construction visit hellasconstruction.com or call 1-800-233-5714.

Additional Links:
www.epiQtracks.com
www.epiqtracks.com/maintenance/