10 May 2022
 Categories: , Blog

When you think of paving installation, you probably assume that all you need to do is purchase your preferred pavers and have contractors install them and your exterior flooring will be ready to use but this is not usually the case. If the land they are working with is characterised by unstable soil, the paving contractors need to take precautionary measures to ensure that the pavers will receive adequate support. And one popular measure they could take is lime stabilisation. As implied by the name, this process refers to the incorporation of quicklime into soil that has a high content of silt and clay in an attempt to stiffen it up. Resultantly, the soil is optimised for paver installation and this comes with an array of benefits. Keep reading to learn why you should not skip lime stabilisation before paving installation.

Lime stabilisation limits the risk of the pavers shifting

Soils that contain high levels of silt and clay tend to be highly vulnerable to swelling and this is due to their propensity for moisture absorption. During the wet season, these soils become waterlogged and this causes them to swell. On the other hand, during hot and dry seasons, the soil is less permeable, which makes it susceptible to shrinking. These changes in volume with eventually cause damage to your pavers since they are constantly getting dislodged out of place. Instead of having to replace the pavers prematurely, you should look into lime stabilisation. As stated earlier, the quicklime will make firm up the soil so it is not excessively permeable. Consequently, the soil provides a robust subgrade for the pavers to be installed on.

Lime stabilisation ensures a fast turnaround for your project

While you may want your paving contractors to install the pavers when the weather is favourable, you should know there is always the chance of it becoming unpredictable. Sudden spikes in humidity or spontaneous rainfall will change the composition of the soil, and this not only increases its plasticity but also makes it increasingly challenging to work with. Consequently, you will have to put off paving installation, which can be highly inconvenient if you are looking to make use of the exterior of your property in the short term. To maintain the workability of the soil, you should prioritise lime stabilisation beforehand. Once the soil is stable, you can rest assured the paving installation can go on without a hitch.