Throughout my career in the turf Industry, I have witnessed hundreds of installations fail due to backfilling and
\ncompaction. Last month I spoke about the importance of compaction around utility boxes, and when poorly done, it
\ndestroys your entire installation, especially when you lift it back up and then put it back down again. Once you remove
\nsynthetic turf to make subbase repairs, it usually never goes back to the first time you placed it. Many contractors
\noverlook details when placing and compacting materials in trenches within or across their installation. Today I will
\nexplain trench compaction and why it is crucial when covering excavated trenches with synthetic turf. For synthetic
\nturf to simulate natural grass, the surface must remain true to shape, contouring, and smoothness. Superior
\ncompaction is necessary when excavating trenches in subbases below synthetic turf surfaces. When backfilling
\ntrenches, you must compact the soils to at least 85% or better.<\/p>\n
If not? They may settle\u2026 like this. Substandard compaction, along with excessive foot traffic may cause depressions
\nand\/or settlement. When this happens?… removal and replacement may be the only choice.<\/p>\n
Compaction & Cohesiveness<\/p>\n
Soil is a combination of sand, gravel, silt, clay, water, and air.<\/p>\n
To ensure that compaction is successful, \u201cCohesiveness\u201d is needed. Choosing the right materials is crucial to trench
\ncompaction. Many contractors place existing soils back into the trench. This may work if the existing soils are free of
\ncontaminants and compactable. Existing soils that are present after the removal of natural grass may be too soft to
\nuse for \u201cbackfilling.\u201d The soil must be \u201ccompressible\u201d without allowing water intrusion to weaken its structure, even
\nafter compacting it. Soils high in clay may not be a good candidate for trench compaction under synthetic turf.
\nWhen contaminated soils become saturated, especially in narrow trenches, they tend to expand and settle. Narrow
\ntrenches backfilled with inferior soils may experience depressions and settlement due to heavy foot traffic.<\/p>\n
It only takes one heavy rainfall to cause settlement.<\/p>\n
Often I get asked hey JW, what is your recommendation to place back into the trench for compaction?<\/p>\n
Well, that is a great question\u2026<\/p>\n
For Landscape irrigation trenches averaging 3\u201d to 12\u201d wide and 12\u201d +, – deep, I recommend placing \u00be\u201d Limestone
\nwashed aggregate as a backfill material. Limestone aggregate is clean, slowly absorbing, and allows excessive water
\nto filter through, preventing settlement. You may top the trench off with DG, chat or 3\/8\u201d minus for contouring the
\nsubbase if needed.<\/p>\n
Compaction Equipment<\/p>\n
Having the proper compaction equipment is crucial for preventing trench settlement. There are different types of
\ncompaction equipment for purchase or rental. Plate compactors will not work well for trench compaction. Depending
\non the width of the trench, I recommend using a \u201cjumping-jack\u201d and\/or \u201cbench sand hammer\u201d like this.<\/p>\n
Backfilling & Lifts<\/p>\n
It is crucial to place imported materials in \u201clifts\u201d.<\/p>\n
Lifts are the thickness and amounts of materials placed at once. Placing too much at once will not achieve density.<\/p>\n
The size of the compaction machine will determine the thickness and amounts of lifts to be placed.<\/p>\n
I recommend placing a maximum of 6-inch lifts at each time. Then Compact.<\/p>\n
Repeat this step until you have reached the proper elevation.<\/p>\n
This will ensure that the trench is properly compacted to prevent any future settlement.<\/p>\n
I hope this video has brought awareness of backfilling trenches that are in your synthetic turf installation\u2026 until next
\ntime \u2026 JW OUT!<\/p>\n","video_link_proof":"a7DuFmJ2Z6U","transcript_proof":"
Throughout my career in the turf Industry, I have witnessed hundreds of installations fail due to backfilling and
\ncompaction. Last month I spoke about the importance of compaction around utility boxes, and when poorly done, it
\ndestroys your entire installation, especially when you lift it back up and then put it back down again. Once you remove
\nsynthetic turf to make subbase repairs, it usually never goes back to the first time you placed it. Many contractors
\noverlook details when placing and compacting materials in trenches within or across their installation. Today I will
\nexplain trench compaction and why it is crucial when covering excavated trenches with synthetic turf. For synthetic
\nturf to simulate natural grass, the surface must remain true to shape, contouring, and smoothness. Superior
\ncompaction is necessary when excavating trenches in subbases below synthetic turf surfaces. When backfilling
\ntrenches, you must compact the soils to at least 85% or better.<\/p>\n
If not? They may settle\u2026 like this. Substandard compaction, along with excessive foot traffic may cause depressions
\nand\/or settlement. When this happens?… removal and replacement may be the only choice.<\/p>\n
Compaction & Cohesiveness<\/p>\n
Soil is a combination of sand, gravel, silt, clay, water, and air.<\/p>\n
To ensure that compaction is successful, \u201cCohesiveness\u201d is needed. Choosing the right materials is crucial to trench
\ncompaction. Many contractors place existing soils back into the trench. This may work if the existing soils are free of
\ncontaminants and compactable. Existing soils that are present after the removal of natural grass may be too soft to
\nuse for \u201cbackfilling.\u201d The soil must be \u201ccompressible\u201d without allowing water intrusion to weaken its structure, even
\nafter compacting it. Soils high in clay may not be a good candidate for trench compaction under synthetic turf.
\nWhen contaminated soils become saturated, especially in narrow trenches, they tend to expand and settle. Narrow
\ntrenches backfilled with inferior soils may experience depressions and settlement due to heavy foot traffic.<\/p>\n
It only takes one heavy rainfall to cause settlement.<\/p>\n
Often I get asked hey JW, what is your recommendation to place back into the trench for compaction?<\/p>\n
Well, that is a great question\u2026<\/p>\n
For Landscape irrigation trenches averaging 3\u201d to 12\u201d wide and 12\u201d +, – deep, I recommend placing \u00be\u201d Limestone
\nwashed aggregate as a backfill material. Limestone aggregate is clean, slowly absorbing, and allows excessive water
\nto filter through, preventing settlement. You may top the trench off with DG, chat or 3\/8\u201d minus for contouring the
\nsubbase if needed.<\/p>\n
Compaction Equipment<\/p>\n
Having the proper compaction equipment is crucial for preventing trench settlement. There are different types of
\ncompaction equipment for purchase or rental. Plate compactors will not work well for trench compaction. Depending
\non the width of the trench, I recommend using a \u201cjumping-jack\u201d and\/or \u201cbench sand hammer\u201d like this.<\/p>\n
Backfilling & Lifts<\/p>\n
It is crucial to place imported materials in \u201clifts\u201d.<\/p>\n
Lifts are the thickness and amounts of materials placed at once. Placing too much at once will not achieve density.<\/p>\n
The size of the compaction machine will determine the thickness and amounts of lifts to be placed.<\/p>\n
I recommend placing a maximum of 6-inch lifts at each time. Then Compact.<\/p>\n
Repeat this step until you have reached the proper elevation.<\/p>\n
This will ensure that the trench is properly compacted to prevent any future settlement.<\/p>\n
I hope this video has brought awareness of backfilling trenches that are in your synthetic turf installation\u2026 until next
\ntime \u2026 JW OUT!<\/p>\n"},"origin_id":"","yoast_head":"\n