Before applying Perma-Zyme, you'll want to make sure you have the right equipment for the job. Having the right equipment makes the process smoother and helps you achieve a successful application. But what equipment is that… and what happens when you don’t have it?
Generally, the equipment you’ll use to apply Perma-Zyme includes:
Let's talk about what you use each machine for, what sizes and models we recommend, and what substitutions you can make if you don't have these machines handy.
Motor graders play a crucial role in applying Perma-Zyme. You’ll use them to rip up the soil before the application. Then, during construction, you’ll use them to mix the Perma-Zyme into the soil and shape the soil surface.
We recommend using two Cat 140 motor graders or equivalent. Why use two motor graders instead of one? It makes large projects go much faster. If you’re working on multiple miles of road or a multi-acre drilling pad, using just one motor grader will take a long time. (On the bright side, you can get by with using only one for small projects.)
The motor grader(s) should have ripping attachments that can go at least six inches deep. These attachments rip up the soil far more effectively than the grader’s blade can. And the six-inch depth is ideal because most standard Perma-Zyme applications only require treating the soil six inches deep.
Finally, we recommend a 12-foot blade because that's the standard lane width for most roads. This way, you can easily make one pass with the motor grader in one direction and one pass in the other direction. Of course, if your road has wider lanes, it will require more passes.
For small-scale projects or those without access to a motor grader, you can use a tractor with a tiller attachment and grader box. The tiller will replace the ripper, while the grader box will replace the blade.
When using a tractor in place of a motor grader, be aware that the application may take longer, as the tractor may move slower and have smaller implements.
Water is a key ingredient in Perma-Zyme applications. You’ll first use water trucks to wet the soil to around 80% of its optimum moisture content. Then, you’ll refill the water truck and add Perma-Zyme. After mixing the two—either with an onboard mixer or by driving around for 15 minutes—you’ll spray the Perma-Zyme mixture onto the area you intend to treat. Last but not least, you may need to use the water trucks to apply more water during compaction so the soil maintains its optimum moisture content.
For most projects, we recommend two 3,000-gallon water trucks. That's because maintaining the soil’s optimum moisture is essential to compact the treated soil and achieve the strongest possible surface. So, most projects will need a lot of water.
However, the number of water trucks you need may vary. If you’re working in a dry climate, your water source is far away, or your water trucks are smaller, you may need to use three or four water trucks to keep your soil moist. But if you have a small project, nearby water source, humid climate, or water truck with a bigger tank, you may only need one water truck.
However many trucks you use, make sure they are not potable water trucks. Perma-Zyme is made from food-grade materials, but its enzymes are not digestive enzymes. They can cause stomach cramps and diarrhea if ingested, so it's best not to mix them with drinking water.
You can make several substitutions if you do not have access to a water truck. Water buffalos are pull-behind tanks that you can attach to a truck or tractor. They hold anywhere from roughly 500 to 1,500 gallons of water. You can also use a feed truck or chemical sprayer.
When making these substitutions, thoroughly rinse the equipment before and after using it. That way, you won’t accidentally apply chemical residue, animal feed, or Perma-Zyme anywhere you don't want them.
Additionally, reaching optimum moisture may take longer, and maintaining it may be more difficult. That’s because water buffalo tanks, feed trucks, and sprayers generally tend to be smaller than water trucks, making it harder to thoroughly wet the soil and keep it wet.
A padfoot compactor—aka sheepsfoot compactor—has large, knobby protrusions on its roller to allow for aggressive compaction that results in a stronger finished surface after the Perma-Zyme treatment.
You only need one padfoot compactor, and it must have vibratory functionality. The vibration shakes the soil particles closer together for a stronger bond.
The size of the padfoot compactor you use will depend on your preference, project size, and local availability. As with other equipment, using a small compactor on a large project may make the application take longer, while using an oversized compactor could result in ineffective compaction and extra fuel costs.
If you don’t have access to a padfoot compactor, you can use the wheelpacking method. Fill a front end loader or water truck to capacity so it weighs as much as possible, then drive slowly over every inch of the Perma-Zyme treated area until you’ve fully compacted the soil.
Wheelpacking takes longer than using a padfoot compactor, and it may not compact soil as tightly as the compactor would. That said, it is sufficient for many projects, especially small-scale ones.
After using the padfoot compactor or wheelpacking method, you'll finish the Perma-Zyme application with a smooth wheel compactor—aka smooth drum compactor—to smooth the treated soil’s surface. This step is important because the padfoot compactor’s aggressive drum leaves divots in the soil; the smooth wheel compactor removes these divots to achieve a smooth driving surface.
As with the padfoot compactor, you’ll want to choose a smooth wheel compactor that’s an appropriate size for the job. It should also have vibratory functionality to help shake the soil into place. You'll complete most passes with the vibratory function on, then complete the last two or three passes with the vibratory functions off for a smoother finish.
There is no good substitute for a smooth wheel roller. Wheelpacking will not yield optimal results because most heavy vehicles have aggressive tire tread that creates a rough surface, while smaller vehicles with smoother tire tread may not weigh enough to achieve maximum compaction. Consider borrowing, renting, or hiring a smooth wheel roller for the day. The upfront cost is well worth the long-term savings that come from stabilizing soil for years—instead of weeks—at a time.
Some Perma-Zyme applications require a reclaimer, also known as a pulverizer or soil stabilizer. You’ll most often need a reclaimer if you’re doing a full-depth reclamation or working on a road that’s had years of gravel or chloride treatments. The reclaimer will pulverize the existing asphalt, gravel, or soil into small pieces that you can recycle into material for the new road.
A reclaimer can replace one water truck since it can apply water, too, but you’ll still need at least one water truck onsite to supply the reclaimer with water.
Some people also use reclaimers in place of motor graders, since reclaimers can rip up soil, and reclaimers are highly effective when the road’s surface is extremely hard. However, we advise you to keep at least one motor grader onsite because it’s faster and more agile for mixing in the Perma-Zyme and shaping the road after you break up the surface.
For full-depth reclamation projects, there is no good substitute that’s as capable of ripping and grinding asphalt as a reclaimer.
For very small paved areas—like a short driveway or parking pad at a private residence—you may be able to break up pavement with a jackhammer or tractor attachment. However, this method is labor-intensive and time-consuming, making it highly ineffective for larger projects.
To successfully apply Perma-Zyme, you need just four to five pieces of equipment. And if you don’t have them, you can make simple substitutions to do the job. To recap, those are:
We hope this helps you feel confident that you can apply Perma-Zyme successfully with the equipment you have on hand. If not, now you know exactly what equipment to acquire in time for application day.
