Month: December 2016

When concrete blocks don’t meet the aesthetic standards of the project, turning to natural stone can be a viable solution. Stones can come in all different shapes and sizes. Bigger stones can assist with constructing a gravity wall and eliminate the need for geogrid reinforcement. Or, multiple sizes can be used to achieve a mosaic pattern. No matter the pattern, any wall can be reinforced with geogrid if needed to add extra strength for support of the load baring on top of the wall. All our stone walls are strategically designed by an engineer to make sure the wall can preform with the stone that is selected. The quality aesthetics of natural stone can be a unique addition to any construction project.

The Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute demonstrates permeable interlocking concrete pavers (PICP) as a durable cost-effective solution for compliance to national, state/provincial and municipal storm water regulations. PICP can reduce runoff and pollutants from walkways, patios, driveways, parking lots, alleys, parking lanes, and low volume streets. The surface consists of solid concrete pavers with small, stone-filled joints that allow water to flow into highly permeable, open-graded bedding, base, and sub-base aggregates. The spaces among the aggregates store water and enable infiltration into the soil sub-grade rather than generating surface runoff. The paver joints provide 100% surface permeability.

At Structures, we can provide not only a feasible solution to storm water control, but impressive improvements to project schedules as well. With the use of a Probst Paver Machine, we are able to double, and sometimes triple production speeds to laying pavers traditionally by hand.

Segmental pavers set in a sand setting bed is an application dating back to the days of ancient Eqypt when workers needed to transport large stones to the temples of Giza nearly 5,000 years ago. Today’s installation methods have been modernized, but many aspects of the segmental paving system remain true to its history. Tightly fitted, uniform units are placed over a sand setting bed and compacted aggregate base. Segmental pavers come in all different types of finishes, colors, shapes, and sizes ranging from clay bricks to concrete pavers. Structures can discuss valued engineering ideas from introducing innovative paver products, to changing a poured concrete sidewalk system to a low cost, low maintenance segmental paver application. Snow melt systems can easily be integrated to eliminate snow and ice removal efforts.

Gabion baskets come in all different shapes and sizes. The benefit of constructing a gabion basket retaining wall is that baskets can be added to make the base of a wall thicker, therefore constructing larger gravity walls than typical segmental walls. Also, baskets can be used in a site fill application with geogrid reinforcement at each course. The baskets are filled typically with football sized rock, however there are endless possibilities for the design pattern of the stone and the type of material that that can be used. Many architects like the “industrial” feel and look of the gabion basket system. Gabion basket retaining walls can be designed to meet the site specifications of many different applications across the country.

Natural stone unit paving is a specialty application typically driven on aesthetics alone. Structures has installed all types of granite stone paving and flagstone slabs across the country. We have installed granite pavers and cobbles ranging from finely cut granite out of Wisconsin to 200 year old cobbles pulled from the streets of Europe. We have resources that can meet demanding quality including personalized inscriptions and logo engravings. With natural stone pavers, the possibilities are endless!

MSE Panel Retaining Walls are typically used to support large vehicular loading in applications consisting of new highways and bridges. The panels are wet-cast concrete designed to meet strict Department of Transportation (DOT) testing regulations. Each panel is designed with geogrid reinforcing straps attached to the back that will be compacted over with structural fill soil typically with the use of a large ride-on roller. Every project goes through a demanding design and submittal process to ensure the construction procedures and materials are in complete conformance with the local DOT. These walls are selected for particular applications because of their performance, but different panels can be selected with integrated facing textures to meet high quality aesthetics.

The use of slope stabilization comes into play when the owner of a property is looking for a more efficient solution with vegetation. In these images, a slope was created at a pitch of 1.5H:1V. The Enkamat R45 is able to stabilize the slope and allow grass to grow overtime. The Enkamat is rolled out down the slope and anchored into place with 3′ deep RVX Armor Anchors at 7.5′ offsets. During these types of installations, it is mandatory that we have a written tie-off safety plan in place that is site specific for the installation method.

Welded Wire Facing Units (WWF) are used to show vegetation of a near vertical slope, or sometimes are used as the reinforcing structure of an MSE Panel Retaining Wall. For vegetation growth, erosion control blankets are wrapped at the face of the basket as it is filled with topsoil-like material. For MSE Panel installation that covers the face of the WWF wall, heavy-duty filter fabric is used to support the structural soil fill within the baskets. Every basket course is reinforced with geogrid (typical to a regular segmental wall) at a depth structurally designed by the wall engineer of record.