Washboarding

Find out why washboarding happens after a Perma-Zyme treatment and how to fix it.

Why Does Washboarding Happen?

Washboarding typically happens because the soil did not have time to dry thoroughly before receiving traffic and/or the compaction was not adequate. Traffic, especially traffic that’s slowing down or speeding up, will move the soil layers if they are not fully cured or compacted. Common areas that see washboarding are hills, turns, driveways, intersections, and other speed-change areas.

Washboarding-1

How to Fix Washboarding

Usually, you can repair washboarded areas without having to rework the entire road. To repair the washboarding:

1. Wet the soil with a Perma-Zyme and water dilution (1:1,000).

2. Using a grader, loosen and rework the soil to remove the washboarding.

3. Compact the soil with a smooth wheel roller with the vibratory function turned on.

4. Finish compacting the soil with the smooth wheel roller with the vibratory function turned off.

5. Let the soil thoroughly dry prior to allowing traffic on the roadway. If possible, keep the roadway closed for at least 24 hours, then allow only light traffic traveling at low speeds for the next 48 hours.