Impact of Reducing DGA Below Pavers, Long-Term

[StormMaster]

I'm working on a project that involves the use of pedestrian (PP) and vehicular pavers (VP) as pavement for a commercial site. The VP's will see occasional, but not day to day, heavy-duty traffic (mostly delivery trucks). Both pavers currently have dense graded aggregate as a base with thicknesses of 8" (PP) and 12" (VP). If we reduce the thicknesses to 6" (PP) and 8" (VP) in an attempt to reduce the cost on-site, would we be sacrificing the long-term durability of the proposed pavement?

DieseDesign, L.L.C.

 

[msquared48]

Logically, yes.

But:

1. What term of durability does the client want, and

2. What life of the product will the manufacturer give with proper placement of the product?

If 2 does not exceed 1, then, if the client insists on lowering the cost of the project by making this change, have him assume the liability for the change.

Mike McCann
McCann Engineering

 

[concretemasonry]

As long as the pavers meet the current ASTM requirements and any freeze-thaw requirements that are specified, the life willl be determined by by the base/subgrade quality and the ability to control excess moisture, assuming the installation is correct.

If excess moisture is retained in the base, there is the possibility of loss of stability of the setting bed. Some paver shapes and patterns will actually have greater pavement strength and stability.

Usually, the "pretty" shapes and patterns with wider/variable joints (cobblestone, fish scale, fan pattern) or aligned joints will be less stable and permit more moisture in the grade because of the wider joints.

The best shape is probably the "Z" or "zig-zag" paver shape in a herringbone pattern. There are few studies on the shape differences since most standards are written for the minumum standard using a brick shape.

Dick