Anyone in the construction industry knows that before you can build - whether it’s a skyscraper, an airport, or a humble residential driveway - you need a strong, well-compacted foundation. Fewer, though, know which roller is best. Static roller vs vibratory roller - which one should you choose?
Let’s talk about why compaction is so important, demystify a few of the technical terms you might hear from compaction professionals, and compare which types of rollers are typically used in construction.
Why do I need to use the right roller?
There are five principal reasons rollers are used in soil compaction and to compact asphalt finishes:
- Increase the load-bearing capacity
- Reduce the settling and shrinkage over time
- Ensure a reduction in water seepage/ingress into substrate
- Reduce swelling and contraction
- Provide better overall stability
If a building or road is constructed on a loose substrate, or the finish has cracks as a result of sticking, the weight of a structure or passing traffic will slowly compact the material downward. As a result, the structure or road will slowly change in shape – causing cracks, expensive structural damage or a cracked pavement that is unusable or unsafe.