Ultracrete SCJ – Cold Joint Bitumen Seal & Tack Coat Spray

Ultracrete SCJ is one of the best cold joint sealers and tack coat sprays on the market — an excellent example of a HAPAS-approved bitumen tack coat spray that simply does its job, every time. It's a product road maintenance and reinstatement teams consistently come back to tell us they're delighted with: quick to apply as an asphalt bonding spray, effective in all weathers, and a genuine difference-maker to the longevity of any pothole or highway repair.

A ready-to-use bitumen aerosol spray, HAPAS approved since 2005, covering 10 linear metres per 750ml can at 60mm width and 2mm thickness — Ultracrete SCJ is a professional-strength cold joint sealer and asphalt edge sealer equally at home on urban pothole repairs as it is on major highway reinstatements and utility openings.

We're a small, family-run business — I'm Cleo, the owner, with over 25 years in the construction industry working with businesses including Tarmac and Instarmac. I work alongside a team of incredibly knowledgeable and caring individuals, and between us we've seen a lot of cold joint products come and go. SCJ has been HAPAS approved since 2005 and remains the go-to highway joint sealer for good reason: it's reliable, specification-ready and easy to use with no waste.

We confidently recommend SCJ as the bitumen tack coat for sealing the vertical edges and surface base of any pothole, reinstatement or utility opening before applying asphalt or cold-lay tarmac — whether that's a highway authority reinstatement, a utilities subcontractor laying fibre, a facilities team repairing a car park at a retail park, or a homeowner fixing a pothole on a private driveway or side road. Used as an asphalt substrate sealer and bonding agent before laying, it significantly improves bond and prevents water ingress. It is ideal for use with Instant Road Repair IRR, Permanent Pothole Repair PPR and Instaband ECO. This listing is for a box of 12 x 750ml cans — single cans are also available.

Features & Benefits

• HAPAS approved since 2005
• NBS Source registered for ease of specification
• UltraCrete Accredited Reinstatement Specification (UCARS) product
• Approved for use on the London Underground and Overground
• Prevents water ingress — protects against freeze/thaw damage
• Improves bond between asphalt and substrate — acts as an asphalt bonding agent
• Seals asphalt edges and vertical faces — effective asphalt edge sealing
• Prolongs the life of the repair
• Can be used in all weathers
• Simple and economical to apply — no waste
• Ready to use straight from the aerosol can
• Size: 750ml aerosol can | 12 cans per box
• Coverage: 10 linear metres per can (based on 60mm width, 2mm thickness)

Coverage

Who Uses SCJ?

SCJ is used across a wide range of sectors wherever asphalt needs to be bonded, sealed or reinstated properly:

• Highways contractors & local authorities — specified as the tack coat within HAPAS-approved highway reinstatement systems, including pothole repairs, utility openings and ironwork reinstatements on public roads
• Utilities & telecoms subcontractors — fibre, telecoms, water, gas and electricity installation teams use SCJ as the approved asphalt edge sealer when reinstating excavations in roads, footways and verges
• Facilities & maintenance contractors — subcontractors carrying out asphalt repairs in retail park and commercial car parks (including sites managed for supermarkets, logistics centres and industrial estates) rely on SCJ to bond cold-lay tarmac and prevent water ingress at repair joints
• Specialist installation & groundworks contractors — electric gate installers, EV charging contractors, CCTV and security installers, barrier and bollard installers, drainage contractors and electrical and lighting contractors use SCJ wherever excavation in asphalt requires a proper reinstatement
• Homeowners & private road users — SCJ is equally suitable for smaller-scale repairs: fixing a pothole on a private driveway, repairing a shared access road, or reinstating a patch on a side road or estate road. A single can covers 10 linear metres — more than enough for most domestic repairs

SCJ for Fibre and Telecoms Infrastructure Reinstatement

UltraCrete SCJ Seal and Tack Coat Spray is suitable for fibre, telecoms and utility contractors carrying out road, footway and carriageway reinstatement following duct and infrastructure installation. When trenches and excavations are opened to install fibre ducts and network infrastructure, the surrounding asphalt edges need to be properly sealed before the repair material is applied. SCJ can be used to seal vertical edges and prepare the substrate, helping improve the bond between existing and new asphalt while reducing the risk of water ingress. This makes it a useful component of telecoms reinstatement, fibre civils, duct installation and utility repair works.

SCJ for Specialist Installation and Groundworks

UltraCrete SCJ Seal and Tack Coat Spray can also be used where specialist installation and groundworks create openings in existing asphalt or tarmac surfaces. This includes work carried out by electric gate and access-control installers, EV charging contractors, electrical and lighting contractors, CCTV and security installers, barrier and bollard installers, drainage contractors and utility companies. Where asphalt is reinstated following excavation, SCJ helps seal vertical edges and the substrate, improving the bond and reducing the risk of water ingress.

UltraCrete Approved Manhole Reinstatement System

UltraCrete’s PAS and HAPAS approved Ironwork Reinstatement System provides a complete range of high-performance materials for the installation and reinstatement of manholes, access covers and highway ironwork. The system brings together approved bedding mortars, rapid-setting backfill concretes, cold and hot-lay surfacing materials, seal and tack coat and thermoplastic overbanding, providing a complete solution designed for durable, high-performance highway reinstatement. The system has been independently tested and approved through UKAS-accredited laboratories, with products certified by the British Board of Agrément (BBA) and Pavement Testing Services (PTS).

Compatible Products

• Ultracrete Instant Road Repair 6mm — for footways and cycle tracks
• Ultracrete Instant Road Repair 10mm — for roads and highways
• Ultracrete Permanent Pothole Repair (PPR) — for drives and car parks
• Ultracrete Instaband ECO — thermoplastic overbanding tape for edge sealing

Download SCJ technical datasheet (PDF)

Ordering a large quantity? Get in touch with our team to save with a bulk deal.

Ultracrete SCJ FAQs

I'm Cleo, owner of The Paving Experts, with over 25 years in the construction industry working with businesses including Tarmac and Instarmac. I work alongside a small team of incredibly knowledgeable and caring individuals who share the same passion for getting it right. The FAQ answers below come from the questions we're asked every single day.

What is UltraCrete SCJ Seal and Tack Coat Spray?

UltraCrete SCJ is a cold joint sealer applied onto the vertical edges and surface base before the application of asphalt. It prevents water ingress, which improves bond and prolongs the life of the repair. HAPAS approved since 2005, it can be used in all weathers and on damp or dry surfaces.

Can I use SCJ to repair a pothole on my driveway?

Yes. SCJ is used by highways authorities and major contractors, but it's equally suitable for homeowners repairing potholes on private driveways, shared access roads or private estate roads. Apply SCJ to the edges and base of the pothole before filling with a cold-lay tarmac such as Ultracrete PPR — it's the same product used by the professionals and gives you a far longer-lasting repair than skipping the tack coat step. A single 750ml can covers 10 linear metres and is more than enough for most domestic repairs.

Is SCJ suitable for car park repairs?

Yes. SCJ is widely used by facilities and maintenance contractors carrying out asphalt repairs in commercial car parks, including retail parks, supermarket sites, logistics centres and industrial estates. Apply it to the vertical edges and base of any repair area before laying cold or hot-lay tarmac to ensure a proper bond and prevent water ingress at the joint. For larger volumes, the box of 12 cans offers the best value for maintenance teams working across multiple sites.

Can utilities contractors use SCJ for reinstatements after fibre or utility installations?

Yes. SCJ is approved for use within HAPAS-certified reinstatement systems and is widely used by utilities subcontractors — including fibre, telecoms, water, gas and electricity teams — when reinstating asphalt after excavation in roads, footways and verges. It conforms to SROH S6.8 and is an NBS Source registered product, making specification and sign-off straightforward.

What is tack coat spray used for on asphalt repairs?

A tack coat spray acts as an asphalt bonding agent — it is applied to the vertical edges and substrate of a repair area before cold or hot-lay asphalt is laid. On road repairs and pothole reinstatements, the bitumen tack coat bonds the new asphalt to the existing surface and to the vertical cut faces, preventing water ingress and significantly reducing the risk of the repair failing at the joint. SCJ is specifically designed as a tack coat for asphalt repairs and is approved for use within HAPAS-certified reinstatement systems.

Why should I use tack coat on asphalt repairs?

Without a tack coat, cold and hot-lay asphalt can fail at the joint between new and existing material — allowing water to penetrate, freeze and expand, which causes the repair to break down prematurely. Applying a bitumen tack coat spray like SCJ before laying asphalt creates a waterproof bond between the substrate and the new material, prevents asphalt edge sealing failure, and significantly extends the life of the repair. It is a requirement under SROH S6.8 for highway reinstatements.

How do you seal the edges of an asphalt repair?

Asphalt edge sealing is carried out using a bitumen cold joint sealer such as UltraCrete SCJ. After cutting a neat picture frame around the repair area and removing loose debris, spray SCJ onto all vertical cut faces and the substrate base from a distance of 175–250mm, working from the top downwards. Ensure the entire surface is covered before laying asphalt. For additional road repair joint sealing at the surface, apply Instaband ECO thermoplastic overbanding around the edge of the completed reinstatement.

How do you improve the bond between asphalt and concrete or an existing substrate?

Apply UltraCrete SCJ as an asphalt bonding spray to the substrate before laying. SCJ acts as an asphalt substrate sealer — coating the base and vertical edges with a bitumen tack coat that locks the new material into the existing surface. This is particularly important on concrete substrates, utility reinstatements and manhole surrounds where the bond between new asphalt and the existing surface is critical to repair longevity.

How do you seal a manhole reinstatement?

Sealing a manhole reinstatement correctly requires an asphalt tack coat applied to all vertical edges and the substrate before cold-lay asphalt is laid. UltraCrete SCJ is the approved road repair tack coat within the UltraCrete Ironwork Reinstatement System. Once the asphalt is compacted, apply Instaband ECO thermoplastic overbanding around the perimeter of the reinstatement to provide a waterproof road surface repair sealer at the joint between new and existing material.

How do I prepare the surface before applying SCJ?

Remove as much standing water and loose particles as possible prior to product application. SCJ can be applied to damp or dry surfaces, making it suitable for use in most site conditions.

How do I apply UltraCrete SCJ Seal and Tack Coat Spray?

Hold the can tightly and shake vigorously before use. Invert the can and press the spray button. Cover the area to be sealed with long strokes from a distance of 175mm to 250mm, working from the top downwards. Ensure that the entire surface is covered.

How much SCJ do I need? What is the coverage?

One 750ml can of UltraCrete SCJ covers 10 linear metres, based on a width of 60mm and 2mm thickness. A box of 12 cans therefore covers up to 120 linear metres under the same conditions.

How do I clean the SCJ nozzle after use?

Point the nozzle upward immediately after use and spray for a few seconds to clear it, taking care not to spray into the wind. Failure to clean the nozzle after use could result in the aerosol becoming blocked and the product being rendered unusable.

How do I store SCJ Cold Joint Spray?

Aerosol cans must not be exposed to direct sunlight or temperatures above 50°C. Store in a cool, well-ventilated place. Shelf life in correct conditions for sealed goods is 24 months.

Can SCJ Cold Joint Spray be used in all weathers?

Yes. Ultracrete SCJ can be used in all weathers and applied to both damp and dry surfaces, making it suitable for year-round highway maintenance and reinstatement work.

Can I buy SCJ as individual cans rather than a box?

Yes. SCJ is available as a single 750ml can or as this box of 12. The box deal offers the best value for teams carrying out regular reinstatement work.

What products can I use alongside SCJ Cold Joint Spray?

SCJ works alongside the full Ultracrete reinstatement system. Use IRR 6mm for paths and car parks, PPR for drives, and IRR 10mm for roads and highways. Finish with Instaband ECO around the edges of the reinstatement for additional protection against water ingress.

For further information or to speak to a member of our team, call: ☎️ 0330 122 1025

• Brand: Instarmac
• SKU: TPE-SCJ750X12
• Weight: 20.0 kg / 44.09 lb