FLOWABLE FILL
FLOWABLE FILL IS DESIGNED TO REPEL WATER FROM THE FOUNDATION
SERVING SASKATCHEWAN
FLOWABLE FILL SERVICES
CLAY BASED MATERIAL
Flowable fill is a clay base material that can be used for many applications. Flowable fill consists of clay, sand, and cement. The cement that is added won’t hurt any trees, shrubs, etc. When a job requires more cement, it can be added to give the material more strength. Flowable fill is designed to repel water from the foundation when it is sloped away. The most important thing you can do to the outside of your house is having the ground around your foundation sloped away from your house. Allowing water to drain towards the foundation can cause foundations to settle and then it may need compaction grouting. This may require shotcrete/gunite or bracing of the basement walls. Water damage from excessive amounts of water getting into the basement can cause floor heaves and damage to drywall, carpets, etc. No equipment is put in the yard as the backfilling is done. The flowable fill is pumped through a 2” hose that can be pumped through hundreds of feet of hose. We park all of our vehicles on the street so no heavy equipment is on your property. For more information about our flowable fill services and the benefits of this service, see below.
Understanding the Benefits of Flowable Fill: The Importance of Proper Landscaping and Backfill Materials for Foundation Protection
Flowable fill is a clay base material that can be used for many applications. Flowable fill consists of clay, sand, and cement. The cement that is added won’t hurt any trees, shrubs, etc. When a job requires more cement, it can be added to give the material more strength. Flowable fill is designed to repel water from the foundation when it is sloped away. The most important thing you can do to the outside of your house is having the ground around your foundation sloped away from your house. Allowing water to drain towards the foundation can cause foundations to settle and then it may need compaction grouting. This may require shotcrete/gunite or bracing of the basement walls. Water damage from excessive amounts of water getting into the basement can cause floor heaves and damage to drywall, carpets, etc. No equipment is put in the yard as the backfilling is done. The flowable fill is pumped through a 2” hose that can be pumped through hundreds of feet of hose. We park all of our vehicles on the street so no heavy equipment is on your property.
A lot of households are landscaped improperly. Without knowing what kinds of materials to use, most households are at risk. Even if it appears that the ground has the right amount of slope, the only thing that matters is what kind of material was used to achieve the slope. A lot of households place top soil around the foundation to build up the slope. Even if a lot of slope is created, top soil acts like a sponge and just absorbs the water and still allows water to get to the foundation. If sand, gravel, or rock is used, it also allows water through because they act like a filter. The best way is to either place a good clay base backfill material or our flowable fill around your foundation to shed the water away. Once either material is used, you can then put your top soil, sand, rock, etc. on top.
5 Reasons Why Flowable Fill Is the Best Choice for Your Backfill Project
- The flowable fill doesn’t need to be compacted because it is a self leveling material and
compacts. - By the next day or earlier, depending on the weather, the top soil, rock, sand, etc, can be placed
on top to finish the project. - Flowable fill can be pumped under decks and in hard to reach areas with no complications.
- Even though there is cement added to the mix, it can still be dug up anytime with a shovel, but it
will be compacted, which will make it difficult to dig then loose soil. - Easier then shoveling, especially in large areas.
Protect Your Foundation with Flowable Fill: How Flowable Fill Can Save Your Concrete from Cracking and Water Damage
Some concrete is attached to the house with rebar and needs flowable fill or void filling done to fill cavities underneath the concrete pad or step. If this isn’t taken care of, it will allow water to get the foundation. It can also save the concrete from cracking due to the weight of the pad, vehicles, etc. In some cases, mud jacking may be needed to lift and fill the concrete.
If a water or sewer break occurs after the repairs have been fixed, the trench can be filled with flowable fill instead of dumping material into the trench. Flowable fill is a compacted material and eliminates having a mound of material in your yard. The mound can take a long time to settle and is an eye sore.
When the flowable fill is placed in the trench, the top soil can be placed back in a day or two and you’ll have your old yard back. If a water or sewer break occurs under concrete, the concrete in that area may need to be taken out. In that case a trench will be dug and then a hole will need to be filled. Usually, the material is dumped in and after a short time, can cause the new concrete to settle and need mud jacking or crack the new pour. Using flowable fill will stand up better than putting the loose material in the hole.
Other applications for flowable fill are:
- Sloping or building up of crawl spaces.
- Filling culverts full to decommission them or filling in between a new culvert and an old culvert to fill the voids.
- Filling of abandoned above or below ground tanks, tunnels, sewers, etc.
- Filling voids under bridges.
- Filling of old ventilation or heating ducts in floors. When changing to overhead heating, we can fill the old ducts to eliminate molds, voids, etc.
- Voids under asphalt can cause the road to cave in. Flowable fill can be placed in the hole to fill either large or small voids. The asphalt can then be placed back over the flowable fill.
