Dirt roads are prone to challenges that paved roads just don’t face. From ruts, dust, and mud to washboarding and wash-outs, dirt roads can be wildly unstable. And it seems like every time you turn around, they need more work.
But what if we told you that dirt roads can last for years? Yes, you read that right. Not weeks. Not months. Years.
At Substrata, we specialize in making long-lasting, reliable dirt roads. And we want to help you do the same. Let’s explore the challenges of dirt road construction. Then, we’ll dive into dirt road stabilization, dust control, and how you can make a dirt road that lasts for years with little to no maintenance.
Dirt roads are relatively cheap to build compared to paved roads but difficult to maintain. Whether it’s a local county road or a mining road for a large corporation, dirt roads require constant repairs. That can be extremely difficult when you're operating under strict budget constraints and, at times, environmental regulations. So, why are dirt road construction and maintenance so challenging? It has to do with the dirt itself and erosion.
Around one billion people in the world lack access to reliable, all-season roads because many roads worldwide are unpaved, and dirt is softer, weaker, and lighter than roadbuilding materials like rock or asphalt.1 Dirt shifts easily and can’t support as much weight as other road construction materials. These features leave dirt roads vulnerable to many different types of erosion.
Erosion stems from a combination of weather- and traffic-related factors, such as:
For example, a single rainstorm can wash out huge gullies or turn a dirt road into an impassable mud pit. Or, heavy trucks and equipment break down dirt roads quickly, increasing dust on hot summer days.
Dirt’s physical properties and vulnerability to erosion make dirt roads unreliable. Unreliable roads make travel times longer or, worse, prevent people from using the road at all because it’s unsafe. So, it’s absolutely essential to stabilize dirt roads and control dust to keep communities and company employees safe.
Stabilizing soil during and after construction is one of the best ways to make a dirt road last longer. Soil stabilization prevents the road from eroding or shifting as much.
For example, clay expands when wet, turning a dirt road into mud. This gummy surface is difficult or even impossible to drive on, and it’s prone to forming ruts and low spots. When clay dries, it shrinks, cracking the road's surface, forming dust, and increasing the chance of potholes. To prevent these problems, roadbuilders often over-excavate the clay and replace it with more stable material during construction. After construction, they’ll use additional soil stabilizers like chlorides and gravel to control dust and create a harder, stronger driving surface.
Dozens of soil stabilizers are available, including polymers, chlorides, geotextiles, gravel, plants, enzymes, and more. Each has pros and cons and works better for some roads than others. Ask these four questions to help you choose the best soil stabilizer for your road.
Some soil stabilizers work really well. They harden the dirt, control dust, and create a smooth driving surface. But others, not so much. Beware of diluted, knock-off, and downright crummy products.
Additionally, consider how the soil stabilizer will work for your soil. If your road is full of clay, enzymes will be more effective than polymers because clay particles are microscopic. Enzymes can bind these small particles together effectively, while polymers need coarser soil to do their job.
Some soil stabilizers, like chlorides, wear off after a few months. They’ll need frequent reapplications. Other soil stabilizers, like Perma-Zyme, can last for years with one application.
The most cost-effective product is not necessarily the cheapest. Remember, you’re looking for the soil stabilizer that gives you the best results for the best price over time.
For example, let’s say you spend $300,000 to apply gravel to all the roads you manage, while another soil stabilizer would cost $400,000. Seems like a no-brainer, right? You’d go with the gravel! But wait. The “expensive” soil stabilizer lasts for an entire year, while you have to reapply gravel three times a year. That means you’re spending nearly $1 million on gravel, and the other soil stabilizer will actually save you money.
Don’t keep paying the costs of reapplying short-lived soil stabilizers! Spending more upfront for a product that will save you money long-term is worthwhile.
Our society is becoming more eco-conscious, and people want products that reflect those values—whether that’s organic food, sustainable clothing, or even natural soil stabilizers. Consider these reasons to look for more eco-friendly products.
Loose soil that washes off dirt roads often enters waterways. This can contaminate drinking water, damage pipes, reduce biodiversity, and harm aquatic wildlife. It can even reshape rivers and streams, compounding erosion problems near the road.
Stabilizing soil helps prevent sediment from reaching the water and keeps our water supply safer. However, some traditional soil stabilizers can also pollute water and soil. Thus, it’s essential to protect our most critical resources by choosing soil stabilizers that are both effective and safe.
When they’re not covered in mud during the rainy season, dirt roads get dusty during the dry season.
The type of soil that dirt roads are made of significantly impacts the amount of dust they produce. That’s because dust comprises many small soil particles that dry out enough for the wind and passing cars to fling them into the air. The tinier the soil particles, the more likely the road will have problems with dust. Since clay soils have the smallest particle size, they create some of the dustiest dirt roads.
Overcoming dust can be a challenge. Five of the most common solutions for dust control on dirt roads are:
In most cases, we recommend primarily using a soil stabilizer with dust suppressant properties, like Perma-Zyme. Perma-Zyme gives you long-lasting soil stabilization for up to 10 years and helps reduce dust for up to two years, whereas other solutions may only last a few days or months. This solves multiple dirt road problems at once, making it a very cost-effective solution.
Soil stabilization and dust control will make your dirt roads last longer, and Perma-Zyme can help you achieve this goal. Its unique enzyme formula resists all types of erosion, including washboarding, potholes, and ruts. It also significantly decreases dust on roads and jobsites.
One Perma-Zyme application stabilizes unpaved county roads for 10+ years or heavy industrial roads for up to five years or more with minimal maintenance. This eliminates the need for costly repeat treatments, saving you time and money on road repair. It’s also 100% natural, non-toxic, and non-hazardous, so it's safe for the crews who apply it and the environment.
Even better, dirt road construction is easy with Perma-Zyme.
Before using Perma-Zyme, you’ll want to evaluate your soil. Some soils naturally work better with Perma-Zyme than others, so it’s smart to know what type of soil you’re dealing with. We’ll check your soil (or send you an at-home soil evaluation kit if you’re an international customer or homeowner) for free. If your soil is naturally compatible, you’re ready to use Perma-Zyme right away. If it’s incompatible, we’ll walk you through some simple ways to amend it to help make your project successful.
Once you know your soil’s compatibility level, you’re ready to start planning your project. Some factors that you’ll need to consider during the planning phase include:
During this phase, our team of soil stabilization experts can help you plan your project. We even offer onsite consultation services for U.S.-based public and private commercial customers, as well as some of our international customers.
Once you’ve checked your soil and planned your project, you’re ready to begin construction. To make a dirt road with Perma-Zyme:
And that’s it. Applying Perma-Zyme is so simple that you can handle the construction from start to finish in as little as one day. Now you know how to save time and money on dirt road maintenance by creating a safe, stable road with Perma-Zyme.
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