Ground conditions are critical for any build project. The more stable and reliable your soil, the more confidently you can build roads or lay a foundation for your new structure. But what happens if your ideal building lot has less-than-ideal soil conditions? That’s where engineering techniques like cement stabilization can give your ground the strength and predictability it needs.
With many variations in soil types, building conditions vary widely. Cement stabilization is more than a simple mix of soil and cement. It is a carefully calculated chemical reaction, depending on the moisture, consistency and Plasticity Index (PI) of the soil.
Here, we’ll take a closer look at cement stabilization, when it’s a good option for a construction project and how we’ve used it as a building technique at JB Donaldson.
What is Cement Stabilization?
First, what is soil cement stabilization and how does it work in a construction project? This process combines soil with cement, creating a chemical reaction that alters the physical and chemical make-up of the soil. The result is a much stronger substance than soil alone.
Cement stabilization is especially useful in cases where construction sites have coarse-grained or low PI soil, closer to the consistency of silt. By adding a cement binder to the soil or aggregate, cement stabilization improves the quality and strength of the soil material, making it consistent and reliable for construction purposes.
For your build project, this process offers an opportunity to upgrade the strength of your subgrade soil. The addition of cement allows you to strengthen soil for a few facets of your construction job, from improving the strength of roads—supporting supply trucks and vehicles—to improving the stability and longevity of your building project.
Best Practices for Cement Stabilization
The better you prepare your soil for building, the stronger and longer-lasting your project will be. Given the complexity of cement stabilization, it is important to follow best practices. Here are a few steps to help this element of your construction project run efficiently:
First, run soil testing ahead of time. Before construction begins, lab testing can determine if cement stabilization is appropriate for a given job. Soil samples from the site will be mixed with cement at a variety of moisture points. The resulting samples will be compacted and tested for strength over a period of time. This data will provide useful information for field use, allowing you to proceed with confidence.
Next, plan for temperature and moisture variances. Given that the curing process of cement stabilization slows as the temperature drops, it is important to complete a risk evaluation, if the forecast calls for temperatures below freezing. Similarly, as soil moisture levels change from one day to the next, it’s important to take an on-site reading the day of cement stabilization, to help determine the application rate, moisture adjustments and other variables.
Ensure an even spread. Cement stabilization requires careful moisture control and speed regulation during application. It’s important to monitor the speed of the reclaimer to avoid clumps of soil in the cement, which can compromise its strength. Aiming for a uniform blend of soil and cement in the subgrade is critical to the integrity of your stabilized building area.
Finally, run quality control testing. Once cement stabilization has been completed, testing should begin, to make sure the project meets design and strength specifications. Commonly, tests include compaction, strength and proof-roll, which tests the area for isolated weakness.
Adjust to Soil Conditions
Of course, every building lot has different soil conditions and properties. One of the primary benefits for using cement stabilization is the flexibility it provides, allowing you to adapt an existing and variable landscape to your needs.
For example, soil with higher plasticity is more compressible and generally easier to mold. Areas with more clay, on the other hand, will need more cement to help them hold their shape. Regions with less clay—and lower plasticity—require less cement, as they are already relatively rigid.
Understanding the PI of your soil and the most effective techniques for stabilization, will allow you to adjust to a wide range of soil conditions. Because cement stabilization has so many variables and can play such a vital role in the integrity of your construction project, it is critical to work with an experienced team.
At JB Donaldson, we have more than 20 years of experience working on a wide variety of projects where soil stabilization has been crucial to the job’s success.
We look forward to using cement stabilization to help you strengthen the build area for your next job.
Maintaining Access Roads
Access roads are a good example of cement stabilization in action. Of course, plenty of build projects are planned for newly cleared or more remote spaces. In many cases, access roads need to be assessed by engineers to make sure they can properly support the load of vehicles, materials and supplies required for the job.
Cement stabilization takes local soil conditions into account, compensating for weak soil by mixing it with the right amount and type of cement. The result is a stabilized subgrade that meets both the strength and design requirements of your access roads.
When we prepared to stabilize one of our projects earlier this year, we first began by installing an access road for all trades to enter the site & stage their equipment. As the soil was being stabilized, these access roads served as important tributaries across the project, giving our engineers & testers access to yet un-stabilized areas of the site.
When Weather Plays a Role
When you live in a four-season climate, like we have in Michigan, timing is everything for your build project. Ground conditions are heavily influenced by temperature and moisture, forcing you to work around weather patterns or time of year. Thankfully, a process like cement stabilization allows you to use your soil with greater flexibility.
Although cement stabilization can’t easily be done when temperatures are consistently below freezing, the process can be altered to allow you to proceed when temperatures occasionally dip. This flexibility helps to keep critical components of your construction project moving, even through the winter months.
When we were faced with having to stabilize one of our projects in the colder months, the process from what we’ve done in the past had to change. In the case of colder temperatures, especially below freezing, additional time is required for the stabilization process to work correctly. This is due to an increased amount of time that the cement needs to cure. One major factor that helped us along was the addition of lime to the subgrade. Before adding cement to the mix, lime kiln dust was added to the soil to help reduce moisture content, increase stability, and provide a solid base for the cement stabilization to be mixed with.
Although this is one extra step to the process, it serves as a testament to the versatility of the soil stabilization process and the benefits it can have on a job; even in tough, sub-optimal conditions.
Ask if Cement Stabilization is Right for Your Project
If your next build project requires you to strengthen the soil before you lay a foundation, cement stabilization might be the ideal task for the job. When you target a specific area with this process, you’ll increase both the integrity and strength of the ground, while streamlining the lifecycle of your project.
As we’ve seen, cement stabilization requires ongoing testing and expertise, to preserve the integrity of a job. If you’re considering the process for your next project, be sure to ask your builder about their specific experience with the technique. Only with experience over time, will they have learned the nuances of this process. Working with an experienced builder from the get-go will help you make informed decisions about site selection, building layout and the quality of the building area.
At J.B. Donaldson, we are a premium design-build contractor with over 25 years of experience in a wide range of industries. With extensive in-house expertise, we collaborate with our clients, helping you navigate every aspect of your project, from pre-construction to final design.
We value quality, consistency and predictability – allowing you to count on schedules, costs and project integrity. Our commitment to excellence allows us to provide creative designs, practical solutions and innovative ideas while keeping your goals and objectives as top priorities. Contact us to explore how our tailored design-build solutions can elevate your next project.
