Restoration Practices
The system improvement and
replacement projects that CenterPoint Energy performs help us continue to
provide the safe, reliable service that keeps you comfortable in your home. As
a result of these projects, roads, sidewalks, boulevards, and lawns may be
disturbed. We strive to restore all affected areas to as close as possible to
their original states, and are committed to completing restoration work
quickly, and to a high standard in compliance with all laws.
Spring, Summer and Fall Restoration
During the warmer months, restoration crews from authorized contractor, Q3, follow the completion of gas main and service line construction by approximately two weeks. A number of factors may impact the timeliness of restoration. These include the type and extent of the construction as well as the location and weather. When projects end in late fall, permanent restoration is completed the following spring. Restoration is not done by CenterPoint Energy on new construction job sites or when utility work is done in conjunction with city-initiated street replacement projects.
Hard and soft surface restoration
CenterPoint Energy uses high quality materials and performs restoration that is intended to last.
When repairing a street or sidewalk, the utility crew fills the bell hole with gravel until Q3 arrives on site to repave the road or pour new sidewalk panels. On boulevards and lawns, holes will be filled with black dirt and grass seed and covered with biodegradable netting to protect the area.
We choose to restore lawns and boulevards with seed, rather than sod, for a number of reasons. Repairs made with black dirt and seed provide for a non-transplanted repair that requires minimal maintenance and less watering. The grass seeds germinate in seven to fourteen days, after which the roots grow down as the blades of grass grow up through the netting, providing for a sturdier, more sustainable, and more enduring repair.
The restoration crews typically leave a door tag with instructions for maintaining a newly restored lawn. View these instructions here.
Below is an example of both hard and soft surface restoration on a single block. There is a new concrete panel on the sidewalk with sections of newly restored lawn on either side.
Below is an example of a concrete panel restored on a residential road.
Winter Restoration
In the cold weather, a completed construction project receives temporary restoration with permanent solutions to come the following spring.
Sidewalks receive temporary asphalt in the fall, allowing for safe snow removal and transportation throughout the cold months. In the spring, temperatures will be ideal for concrete to dry to its most durable state.
To control winter erosion on boulevards and lawns, holes are backfilled with dirt and protected with straw matting. Come warm weather, black dirt, grass seed, and biodegradable netting will replace the temporary work. This practice promotes effective grass growth come spring.
Below is an example of temporary sidewalk restoration.
Below is an example of a grassy area that has been prepared for winter and will recieve new seed in the spring.
Thank you for your patience! We value the privelege of having you as a cusotmer.
Please visit our Construction Zone page for updates on projects that have a high impact in their area.
