Ground Stabilisation

At Haggar, all building projects should start with strong foundations and delivered with sustainability at the forefront. Ground or soil stabilisation is central to any project and all precautions should be taken to avoid not only potentially catastrophic damage, but also limit ongoing issues with a building’s stability. Brownfield sites, airport runways, contaminated/waterlogged land, trench excavations, basement works, pipe works, estuaries and culverts are all examples where ground stabilisation may be needed. Improvements in technology and our understanding of chemistry means that modern methods can also significantly reduce the impact on the local environment.

What is ground stabilisation?

Quite simply, preparing land to improve its strength to hold structures and enhance its tensile power. Any issues with the earth and subsoils can be rectified, removing the need to excavate materials. The processes are sometimes referred to as lime stabilisation, cement stabilisation, soil improvement and soil modification (fill drying). Applications will vary depending on whether the stabilisation is temporary, temporary to permanent, or permanent. 

Advantages of soil and ground stabilisation

• Reduces the construction time when compared traditional methods
• Limits excavation and disposal costs compared with foundation works
• Site safety is improved by reducing vehicle movements to, on and from the site
• Eco-friendly through using some recycled materials, less importing and less disposal of waste

 The main methods of ground stabilisation

Soil modification (fill drying)

This choice certainly ticks the sustainability box as it looks to modify the soil using the materials on the site reducing waste disposal and transportation impact. A measured fill drying application ensures the optimum moisture content and the result is maximum compaction.

Lime and cement 

A combination of both in the stabilisation process along with other binders can improve the strength and durability of the ground. Waterlogged sites can be quickly transformed to enable works within a day or two. The load bearing capacity and quality of soils improves whilst removing the need for the transportation of new materials.

Further information and case studies on soil stabilisation can be found by visiting the British Cementitious Paving Association (Britpave).

Do you need some advice?

We believe strongly that any ground stabilisation should have sustainability at the forefront of the project – where possible, recycling as much waste as possible to minimise the effect on the local environment. At Haggar, we pride ourselves on delivering smart, sustainable solutions for our clients’ construction projects, giving each project the time and focus it deserves and ensuring the highest quality outcomes. We are a family-run business with a huge amount of experience in the construction industry, working on large and small scale projects, but always with the highest level of commitment and professionalism. 

We seek to add value to your project with our expert knowledge, forward-thinking approach and transparent service. If you’re looking for a hands-on team to help you with the utilities for your construction project, please do not hesitate to get in touch and one of our friendly team will be happy to help.