This is the place to rant, rave, brag, belly-ache, crack a joke, procrastinate, and delve into the metaphysical aspects of the DIY mindset. We’re off the map, on a tangent, and frequently off topic. This is the stuff we don’t show on TV.
The main objective of concrete base courses is to regulate moisture, preventing the types of damage common to rigid pavement systems. Load transfer concerns, which can necessitate some base course applications, is less of an issue for rigid pavement. Aggregate base courses for rigid (concrete) and flexible (asphalt) pavements are discussed in article 32.11.23.
Portland cement concrete paving is also referred to as rigid paving. Concrete pavement is supported by a base layer of compacted aggregates or treated soils, which is in turn placed upon the foundational subgrade soils of the prepared roadbed. If two base layers are utilized, they are referred to as the base and sub-base layers (or courses). Rigid (concrete) pavement differs from flexible (asphalt) pavement in that rigid pavement is designed to carry traffic loads within the pavement layer itself.
Brick unit paving offers an aesthetically pleasing alternative to traditional concrete and asphalt materials, when moderate traffic loads allow its use. In the most common brick unit paving construction method, individual bricks are abutted on a bed of compacted sand over a granular base course. These layers (or courses) are constructed upon prepared foundational soils known as the subgrade, and are contained within a framework of edge restraints.
Retaining walls contain soils and hold them in place behind the inside face of a vertical (wall) structure. Retaining walls are installed when a large shift in a site’s grade elevation is desired in a very short distance, in some cases for aesthetic reasons. Since the soils contained behind the wall are trapped at a nearly vertical angle, depending on the height of the wall and the soils there can be tremendous soil pressures present which must be carefully designed for. Additionally, any loads on top of the soils contained behind the wall (known as a surcharge), such as paving or other site improvements, will contribute to an even greater loading on a retaining wall structure. Moisture content and adequate drainage of the retained soils is also an important consideration.
Sound barriers are constructed to protect noise sensitive areas from noise pollution. The most common application of sound barrier walls is to insulate residential communities from highway noise, although they are also installed along railways and around industrial work areas for similar reasons. They can also be used outside specific building locations to dampen the sounds of pad-mounted mechanical equipment, such as air conditioners. Sound barrier walls and noise pollution regulations came with increased vehicle traffic and greater public awareness in the 1970’s. Today, for example, the National Environmental Policy Act of 1970 still requires a noise analysis and barrier wall construction effort, if necessary, as part of federally funded highway projects. A more recent concern of sound barrier walls is that they be aesthetically pleasing and blend well within existing landscapes and communities.
Irrigation provides a water delivery system to maintain landscape plantings or lawns. In order to construct an irrigation system, it is crucial to develop an understanding of the water requirements for the plant species to be irrigated; identify the areas of coverage required; determine the capabilities of the existing water utilities to support an irrigation system;and select and install the required system elements. System elements will include types and locations of sprinkler heads, piping systems, and control units.
Transplantation is the uprooting of established trees, shrubs, plants, or flowers and re-planting them at a new location. This is often done in order to avoid damaging expensive plantings at a project site, or to facilitate new construction work, thereby reducing total project costs. Transplantation can also include the relocation of plantings from one project site to another, sometimes transporting them over significant distances. Uprooting and transplanting foliage can be very traumatic to the plant and can cause it to perish if done improperly. Various practical transplantation guidelines and precautions have been established by nursery, plant and tree professionals, based on their training and experience.
