Preparation of the base before asphalting: why is this important for the durability of the site

Krympress reports:

The asphalt at first glance seems a strong and monolithic material that is not afraid of anything. However, its reliability largely depends on the coating itself, but on what is under it. The base is the part that rarely sees, but it determines how long the asphalt site will last. Proper preparation of this “invisible” part is not a formality, but the basis of durability. In this article we’ll talk about why it is so important not to save time and effort to prepare the basis, what errors are most often made and what technologies are now used to avoid problems in the future.

The value of the base in the structure of asphalt coating

Asphalt is just the upper layer that perceives loads from transport, people or equipment. However, all efforts are transmitted down — to the underlying layer and base. If there is no reliable support there, the asphalt begins to crack over time, ruts, subsidence, and pits are formed. And the point here is not as an asphalt itself, but in the fact that the base does not withstand stress.

A good base works as a foundation at the building. It should evenly distribute the load, do not deform when fluctuations in temperature or moisture, maintain the shape under the weight of the technique. If it cannot be prepared properly, you can at least every year shift the upper layer — cracks and subsidence will still appear. This is especially critical on sites with intensive loads — parking lots, driveways, unloading places.

Types of soils and their influence on the quality of the base

Before you start laying asphalt, you need to understand with which type of soil it will work. After all, each soil behaves differently. For example, clay is prone to swelling and compression depending on humidity. Sand, on the contrary, passes water well, but can be unstable with vibration. Loam, peat, dusty soils — all this requires a special approach.

If you just pour crushed stone on an unprepared area and roll asphalt on top, the problems will not be long in coming. With high humidity or freezing, the weak soil loses its bearing capacity. As a result, asphalt sags, cracks appear, which then develop into full destruction.

Therefore, it is important to conduct a geological examination: to find out the composition of the soil, the depth of freezing, the level of groundwater. This will allow you to correctly plan the thickness of the base layers and, if necessary, replace or strengthen the weak soil. Ignoring these stages is a direct road to expensive repairs in a couple of years.

Stages of preparing the base before laying asphalt

The process of preparing the base includes several important steps, on which the stability of the entire structure depends. Everything begins with the seizure of a plant layer and alignment of the surface. The earth with the remnants of the roots and organics is not suitable for the base — it will rot, fail, become a focus of subsidence.

Then follows the stage of the tamping. At this stage, the site is compacted so that it does not “breathe” after laying the coating. The seal is made in several passes, a layer by a layer. Depending on the type of soil, a vibration plate, an ice rink or a trumpeting technique can be used.

If weak areas are detected, soil replacement or stabilization is used. For example, add sand-gravel mixture, cement, geotextiles. After that, a layer of crushed stone is laid — the basis on which the asphalt will lie. It is also aligned and compacted. If necessary, a slope is created to drain water.

At this stage of the asphalting of the sites https://asfalt.trade/nashi-uslugi/asfaltirovanie/asfaltirovanie-ploshhadok/ It is important to observe the design thickness and not deviate from a given technology. If you put a layer of crushed stone unevenly or poorly tamp, the asphalt will lie in “waves”, and soon deformations will appear. In the same way, control over the humidity of the base is critical: waterlogged soil is a potential point of drawdown.

Common errors in preparing the base and their consequences

At first glance, the preparation of the base may seem like a routine task on which it is easy to save. Alas, it is because of such “optimizations” that problems most often arise. One of the typical errors is not a completely removed plant layer. Even a couple of centimeters of the left land with roots can lead to failures.

Another frequent error is a bad seal. Visually, the site may seem even, but without sufficient seal, the base will “sit down” already under the first transport. Especially often this happens in areas where the equipment could not pass or where the styling was carried out manually.

Sometimes contractors violate the technology of layers, reducing their thickness. It would seem that the difference of a couple of centimeters is not critical. But in reality, this reduces the bearing capacity and reduces the life of the coating. The same applies to the absence of a slope for water flow — if the rain will accumulate, the asphalt will quickly begin to collapse from moisture and freezing.

The consequences of these errors are expensive and laborious repairs. Moreover, the restoration of the already operated site requires more resources than normal preparation from the very beginning. Therefore, quality control at each stage is critical.

Modern methods of strengthening and stabilizing the basis

To avoid problems in the future, technologies are increasingly used that make the base stronger and more stable. One way is to use geotextiles. This is a special synthetic material that is laid between soil and gravel. It distributes the load, prevents mixing layers and increases the overall stability of the base.

Another option is the addition of stabilizing components such as cement, lime or special polymer additives. They are introduced into the ground using milling and subsequent seal. Such measures increase the bearing capacity, especially in weak or waterlogged areas.

Also, reinforcing grilles are increasingly used, especially on industrial sites and parking lots of heavy equipment. They allow you to maintain crushed stone from displacement and evenly distribute the loads.

Control over the humidity of the base is another important element. Moisture meters and dense -dimensions are used now, which help to determine exactly whether the site is ready for the next stage. This excludes errors “by eye” and reduces the risk of subsequent defects.

These technologies can increase the cost of initial work, but in the end they reduce the costs of maintenance and repair. It is better to make a strong base once than to patch up the pits annually and correct the sagging areas.

Conclusion

Under the asphalt, not only the soil is hidden, but also a huge amount of work, which determines how reliable the coating will be. A poorly prepared base is like a weak foundation at the house: everything can look beautiful outside, but the problems will begin unexpectedly and quickly. In order for the site to serve for a long time and does not require constant repair, it is important to pay attention not only to the upper layer, but also to the fact that it lies under it. This is the main secret of durable asphalt.

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