Many times, during the construction process it is necessary to compact surfaces such as dirt, asphalt, gravel, or subfloors to make it stable and level. An unstable or unleveled area will not support a structure and will cause the building or structure to collapse. When compaction of these types of material is needed, a vibratory plate compactor is required to get the job done right.
In large construction areas, a vibratory plate compactor can be attached to heavy-equipment to allow for more force and compacting of larger areas.
Vibratory plate compactors help to remove air and gaps in the material. Removing the gaps and compressing the material will decrease the amount of water that can seep in, it helps to prevent soil settlement, and prevents damage due to frost.
Compactor units that exert more force provide more compaction. When selecting a unit, be sure you select the appropriate unit for the type of material to be compacted.
A large heavy duty vibratory place compactor is typically used for compacting asphalt. These are mainly for patch jobs on roads. The compactor makes the patched asphalt smooth when repairing holes in the road.
It is important to know the type of material to be compacted to know what type of compaction equipment to use. Each soil type has different compaction requirements. Granular soil with fine to medium gravel can crumble easily, especially when dry. A vibratory place compactor is the desired way to get the compaction needed for this type of soil.
In locations with extremely cold temperatures, the constant freezing and thawing will cause issues with the surface. Not compacting the material properly, will be problematic. Water will settle and expand as it freezes causing the surface to shift, and when it thaws the surface will cave in resulting in unstable conditions. Proper compaction of soil material is important for a job well done.
