SANTA ROSA — Are you planning to install a concrete walkway or patio on your property? Before you do, find out what type of soil you’ll be working with. Certain regions of the Bay Area (such as Sonoma County) have soils that are highly expansive, which means they expand and contract throughout the wet and dry seasons. If you live in such a region, it’s crucial that you and your contractor take measures to prepare the soil prior to installing concrete. This will help prevent damage caused by soil expansion over time.
There are several steps involved in preparing soil for a concrete installation. One is to remove a large portion of the topsoil and replace it with compacted base rock. Another step is simpler in nature: Soak the soil in the days leading up to installation. That way, when the concrete is installed, the soil will be in a state of maximum expansion, which reduces the chances for damage caused by soil expansion later.
If you’re unsure whether your property has expansive soil, consider calling a local soil engineer to get more information. If needed, they can assess your site for a fee. While this isn’t always necessary, if you’re doing a large project, a professional’s insight can be well worth this extra fee—after all, it’s a lot less expensive than the cost to repair issues caused by improper installation.