Gravel compaction

[TurnipTruck]

The highly-recommended local excavator guy finally made some time for me. He and his sons scraped off all the loose fill and stacked to one side, then compacted in one foot lifts with an 18k lb vibratory sheepsfoot roller. He also squared the site ( it was WAY out) and knocked down and bucked up some threatening trees. They dumped two dozen 600-gallon isotainers of lake water while compacting. It was finish compacted with a diesel vibratory plate to within a half inch of level over the 80' square.
Before compacting, I had to use 4lo to cross the pad with my pickup, and that would leave differential trenches. Now I can park the GTO on the pad and just leave tire tracks, so I consider the pad as concrete-ready.

We've been far too busy with the house rebuild to start on the shop, but the slab and apron pour should be spring 2017.

 

[lakeroadster]

Re: Proctor Compaction Test

T... so I consider the pad as concrete-ready.

Why guess?

There are specific tests that can be done that will take all the guess work out of compaction. This is what reputable contractors will do.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proctor_compaction_test

Contact a local engineering firm and have them perform a Proctor compaction test to determine if the existing material is compacted enough.

This may require that you provide a 5 gallon bucket of the fill material to the testing lab so they can 1st determine what the proper compaction is. They will then bring the testing equipment out and perform tests on the site.

This testing will cost a couple hundred dollars and is money well spent.

 

[brownbagg]

Contact a local engineering firm and have them perform a Proctor compaction test to determine if the existing material is compacted enough.

$450