Ground reinforcement is a mechanical means to increase the load bearing capacity of grass, earth that is be covered with grass, and concrete surfaces that allows for heavy traffic without harm to the underlying surface. The purpose is to keep the underlying surface in place while allowing regular foot traffic, frequent vehicle traffic, animal traffic, or to keep the surface in place by preventing erosion due rain or water runoff.
Applications include grass driveways, grass shoulders, fire truck access, emergency vehicle access, parking lots, overflow parking on grass surfaces, gravel parking lots, grass taxi ways for light aircraft, helicopter landing pads, golf cart paths, handicap access routes on potentially hazardous surfaces, grass parking areas, gravel parking lots, and grass parking spaces in the home.
The advantages are protection of the underlying surface, retention of the underlying gravel grass or soil, and erosion control provided by drainage into the underlying surface. Additional advantages can be environmental friendly materials, ease of installation, reusability, protection from damage expense, and protection from potential lawsuit. Protection of the underlying surface from gasoline, oil, transmission fluid, and other automobile drainage also provides an environmentally friendly advantage.
You should look for a system that provides high load bearing capacity. A higher load bearing capacity per square foot should be considered in relation to the weight of the traffic that will be supported. Heavy trucks require more load bearing capacity than pedestrian traffic.
Ease of installation is a key consideration. You want a system that goes in quickly and easily and can be removed when or if necessary with just the same speed and ease. Mesh systems provide this advantage.
A mesh system is a set of square or rectangular grids that have cups that are vented to the underlying surface. The squares snap together with a groove and pin arrangement that allows for fast installation and removal. The panels have spikes that secure them to the grass or ground and provide stability. The perforations in the cups provide for rain and water runoff into the underlying surface. The size of the panels depends on the intended application that should include consideration of the load bearing capacity and the underlying surface.
The cups in the panels can be filled with earth, gravel, and other material if the application is intended to be permanent. This is usual in new buildings or renovations where extra support is needed. The cups in the panels can even be used for flowers and other decorative plants providing the area the plants are going to be placed in is not subject to damage from traffic. The mesh system installed properly combines the advantage of support and erosion control with esthetic considerations.
The next consideration should be chemical resistance and environmental compliance. You should choose a system that is designed for the application. Many systems are manufactured from high grade recycled polymers providing an earth friendly advantage. They are resistant to damage from automobile chemicals, animal waste, and acid rain.
You must also consider a system that complies with local, state, and national laws concerning storm water runoff and storm drainage requirements. Grading the underlying surface to provide sufficient drainage prior to installation is a must.
Ground reinforcement is a reliable, efficient, easy to install, environmentally friendly way to add support to an existing surface that will be subject to almost any type of wear from traffic and a safe environmentally compliant means to add extra support to a new construction quickly and easily. Ground Reinforcement is also known as Permeable Paving
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