The Best Ways to Stabilize the Ground
Share this post

The Best Ways to Stabilize the Ground

There are many reasons why people would want to stabilize the soil. At its most basic level, the ground needs to be stabilized to be built on it. A construction project has to have a strong base. If the soil is not strong enough, the building can sink into the ground, or the whole building can topple over.

What is weak soil? A soil that is too permeable is not strong. If water can permeate the soil too easily, the soil will wash away. How is ground stabilized? By adding products that help bond soil particles together. Another way that the ground can be stabilized is to waterproof the soil particles. The third way is to combine the first two methods.  

Not only do we want buildings to remain to stand, but we also want construction workers to be safe. If the ground they are working on is not stable soil, construction workers can be killed in cave-ins. 

What Are Some Good Solutions for Ground Stabilization?What Are Some Good Solutions for Ground Stabilization

By far, the most common element used to stabilize soil is to add slaked lime. In particular, highway departments use slaked lime to make sure a roadbed is stable. Adding lime also soaks up the water from the soil.  Cement is the second most popular additive to make the soil more stable. It behaves about the same way as lime. They are both excellent ground stabilization solutions.

Tar and Asphalt

Adding tar and/or asphalt makes the soil particles stick together. Tar and asphalt also keep too much water from being absorbed by the soil.  

Various Chemicals

Calcium and sodium chloride and sodium silicate are some of the chemicals used to stabilize the soil. They aren’t easy to use because they tend to leach out of the soil, so they have to be applied repeatedly.  

Plastics

Many companies make plastic grids that can be put down over unstable soil. The size and the depth of the cells in the grid vary according to what will be built on top of them.  One advantage of plastic grids is that they drain well. First, a porous fabric is laid down; then, the plastic grid is placed over that. The grid is filled with gravel or sand, dirt or grass.  

How Are These Materials Applied?

In the most basic method, the soil is mixed with the stabilizing material. Construction workers must keep in mind three things when using this method. First, the kind of soil being stabilized must be identified correctly. Mixing in the wrong material won’t help stabilize the soil. Secondly, the worker must determine the correct percentage of stabilizing material to put in the soil.  Thirdly, the worker must find out how deep to go when adding the stabilizing material.  

A more expensive method is called grouting. It is used when the unstable ground is buried so that the construction worker cannot reach it to mix in materials. The chemicals are injected into the patch of soil and then soaks into the ground to stabilize it.  

Article by

Alla Levin

Seattle-based lifestyle and marketing content creator. I build content funnels that guide your audience from scroll to action, blending storytelling, UGC, and smart strategy—so every piece of content has a purpose.

About Author

Explorialla

Hi, I’m Alla — a Seattle-based lifestyle and marketing content creator. I help businesses and bloggers get more clients through content funnels, strategic storytelling, and high-converting UGC. My content turns curiosity into action and builds lasting trust with your audience. Inspired by art, books, beauty, and everyday adventures!

Categories

movies for entrepreneurs

Luxury Brands Marketing: They Don’t Sell Products—They Sell Dreams..

Trending Posts

I Recommend

All the information you need to understand the business world, your career, and marketing. All the information you need to understand the business world, your career, and marketing.

My favorite tools for creators

My favorite Tools for Content Creation

Courses
I recommend

Be Informed, Be Inspired - Join Today

Email

I do the research to understand your customer's journey, pain points, and what moves them to act

I create content funnels rooted in a deep understanding of where readers are in their journey—meeting them with the right message at the right time

I build content journeys that turn curiosity into conversion through storytelling, UGC, and smart funnels

I constantly run CustDev interviews and test what converts best—so every piece of content is backed by real audience insight