The range of applications of compactors within the scope of road maintenance, construction and landscaping segments are wide and varied. However, one commonality among all of the different types of roller compactors is as the name ‘compactor; which basically means that this particular breed of tool is for compacting materials and increase the density of whatever it is that is being compacted.
Road construction for instance requires the ground to be stable and devoid of empty air pockets which could result in uneven or bumpy roads or in worse case scenarios potholes and sinkholes on roads. It is due to this very reason that within the context of road construction projects compactor rollers are taken for hire by road building entities to compact base materials and as well as the asphalt layers which has a direct and significant impact on the strength and durability of the road that is being built.
Similarly, the same concept applies to landscaping projects based on the simple fact that the roller compactors are used to prep the surfaces that are targeted for landscaping which include among others laying pavers or levelling a surface area that is to be converted into a patio. Compactors are also used for compacting mulch and soil for areas that are designated as garden beds.
Other projects that often require roller compactors for hire include parking lots or driveway projects as a component of smaller home improvement projects that require smaller roller compactors or more commonly plate compactors. Plate compactors are generally more suited for mini paving projects which mainly revolve around achieving a specific level of stability for the target surfaces in order for these surfaces to be able to withstand heavy loads such as trucks and trailers.
Apart from road construction, landscaping and parking lots, compactor rollers also play a very crucial role in establishing foundations and footings in larger construction projects as these compactors are required to compact soil and increase the density of the surface sufficiently before concrete can be poured on the foundations and footings.
This process is critical towards ensuring that there is a solid and stable base for the concrete to settle upon and remain stable. Quite often project managers direct compactor operators to compact backfill after trenching and excavating which ensure the stability of the ground that pipes, cables and other underground elements and structures are installed on.
Using a compactor is not rocket science; however in order to ensure that the best results are obtained or optimal use of the compactor, make sure that the operator of the compactor follows the manufacturer’s instructions closely. More importantly, it is also crucial that the right kind of compactor is chosen for the project in terms of compactor size and weight in correlation to the size of the project space and type of surface that requires compacting.
Last, but not least is also avoiding the issue of ‘over compacting’ as in certain scenarios this would actually make the surface ‘less stable’ and also ensure that the compacted are is free of debris that may cause the ground to destabilise eventually.