Soil Stabilisation Using Lime: The Advantages
Soil quality is a critical factor to consider before any construction project. Poor quality soils can affect the structural integrity of your building or structure. Therefore, it's always best to work with high-quality soils that provide a strong base for your structure. Fortunately, weak soils can be strengthened using soil stabilisation techniques. The techniques used can be mechanical, biological or chemical, and they seek to improve the soil's engineering properties. For instance, soil stabilisation can improve the soil's load-bearing capacity, fatigue strength, permeability, swell potential and overall durability, among other properties.
However, several soil stabilisation techniques exist. Take lime stabilisation, for example. It's a form of chemical stabilisation that uses different types of lime-like dolomite, hydrate high-calcium and monohydrated dolomite to improve the soil properties. Soil stabilisation using lime comes with many benefits. Here are some of them.
Lime Stabilisation Is Permanent And Long Lasting
Soil stabilisation can be expensive. And the best way to get the highest value for your money is to choose a long-lasting solution. Lime stabilisation is a permanent and durable option worth considering. It will significantly increase the soil's durability by making it highly resistant to the adverse effects of freeze-thaw and wet-dry cycles typical of changing weather conditions throughout the year. Appropriately lime-treated soils will also have increased fatigue strength, which means the soil will be able to withstand constant stress with ease.
Lime Stabilisation Is Compatible With Most Soil Types
Soil types vary from one site to another. In addition, it's not unusual to find different soil types on the same site. It is therefore best to work with stabilisation techniques that are compatible with most soils. This is important for consistency because you won't have to worry about the impact of using different techniques on the same site, especially if it's chemical stabilisation. Using one method is also cost-effective. Fortunately, most soils are compatible with lime, making it the best approach for sites with different soil types.
Lime Stabilisation Is Better For Winter (Or Wet Season) Work
Lime is also known for its ability to reduce soil moisture content, a property that makes it perfect for working in rainy, wet or snowy seasons like winter. Usually, adding quicklime and other types of lime to wet soils will quickly dry them up. This is beneficial because it allows for extended working even in rainy, wet and winter-like conditions. That means you won't need to delay your project in wet weather.
Moreover, lime stabilisation allows the soil to compact more by removing water from it. Soil compaction is crucial for reducing the likelihood of settlement after the construction of your building or any other structure.