Why You Need Subgrade Stabilization For Pavements, Roads and Driveways

The overall performance & strength of a pavement, road or driveway depends not just on its design (structural & mix design) but also on the subgrade soil’s load-bearing capacity. While constructing a road or driveway, anything that can be done to improve the structural support/load-bearing capacity of the subgrade soil will significantly up its load-bearing capacity. In turn, this will improve its performance and strength as well. We at First Water Contracting provide custom subgrade stabilization OKC solutions and have handled hundreds of these projects over the years.

Why You Need Subgrade Stabilization For Pavements, Roads and Driveways

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The overall performance & strength of a pavement, road or driveway depends not just on its design (structural & mix design) but also on the subgrade soil’s load-bearing capacity. While constructing a road or driveway, anything that can be done to improve the structural support/load-bearing capacity of the subgrade soil will significantly up its load-bearing capacity. In turn, this will improve its performance and strength as well.

We at First Water Contracting provide custom subgrade stabilization OKC solutions and have handled hundreds of these projects over the years.

High-Quality OKC Subgrade Stabilization

We always recommend to clients that they should get subgrade stabilization done before installing any roads or driveways. The increased structural capacity this provides can result in slightly thinner (not excessively thin) and far more cost-effective paving features.

We handle this job expertly, ensuring that that the finished subgrade meets the slopes, grades and elevations that have been specified in your contract plans. Many clients wonder whether driveway subgrade stabilization OKC is really essential, especially if the ground is hard and seems stable. The fact is that what lies below your asphalt or concrete driveway or road is crucial to a successful paving job.

This process can be likened to a building’s foundation. By definition, a slab on grade/ on ground isn’t intended to be a self-supporting structure. The subgrade stabilization process is what provides support and stability to the surface material like concrete or asphalt.

What Exactly Is Subgrade?

In order to understand why the quality of the subgrade matters, let’s take a closer look at exactly what it is and what could go into the foundation installation process in a road or driveway construction project:

  • Subgrade- Is compacted, improved/native soil
  • Subbase- This layer is installed over the subgrade
  • Base Course/Base- Layer of material installed over the subbase and right under the asphalt or concrete

Of these three, the subgrade layer is the only imperative one. There needs to be a solid base to install the surface material you want. If the natural soil on the site is relatively compactable and clean, a slab can be installed above it without the need for any extra layers.

However, the problem with following with this process is that the soil may have poor drainage. If it gets wet during construction, the soil can get extremely muddy. This also means it won’t compact well which can make it difficult to flatten and achieve the proper grade.

Why Subgrade Stabilization OKC Is Crucial

The right kind of subgrade stabilization helps ensure that your road or driveway has a solid and stable base with the right levels of drainage. We use flyash, lime, cement kiln dust or Portland cement in our pavement stabilization work.

This also helps keep the concrete slab thickness in uniform, saving you some money on the surface material, which is typically the priciest aspect of the system. In fact, this will also help reduce restraints in the slab which reduces the risk of cracks in your concrete surface as it contracts after installation.

If you’re looking for pavement subgrade stabilization OKC, we at First Water Contracting can help. Just contact us or give us a call at 405 664 6200 and we’ll help.

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