Upgrades and Safety Innovations to Heavy Construction Equipment

Upgrades and Safety Innovations to Heavy Construction Equipment

Understanding the Differences in Fill Dirt

Veronica Leon

The term "fill dirt" is used as a generic phrase to describe a number of different types of dirt or soil that you might purchase in bulk in order to fill in rough patches in your lawn or prepare a property for construction. Clean fill dirt is free of contaminants, pollutants, residual materials, and the like; it's ready for planting or for construction.

There are actually different types of fill dirt you might purchase, so it's good to understand how they're different, since dirt may look all the same to you. You might not realize those differences and choose fill dirt by price alone, only to have it crumble under your new construction. Note a few of the differences when it comes to various types of fill dirt so you know what to buy for your property.

1. Topsoil

Topsoil is often the most expensive of all fill dirt because it's usually the richest when it comes to nutrients. It's used to support lawns and gardens and give them a healthy start for growing. If you will be planting any type of grass, flowers, or vegetation on top of the dirt you choose, opt for topsoil. Trying to treat other types of dirt with additives, plant food, and such materials in order to prepare it for planting can be difficult, so topsoil will be the right option instead.

2. Compactable

This type of fill dirt will not usually contain any type of topsoil, but it will have a certain consistency that will allow it to be compacted. This compaction then makes the fill dirt stronger and more able to hold up heavy weights, so it's the right choice for construction. If you need to fill in an area around a foundation or prepare a pad for a new home or garage, you need compactable fill dirt. This is also true of anything made of concrete, such as a driveway, walkway, and the like. Other forms of fill dirt may not hold these up properly, and your concrete surface could shift and crack.

3. Non-compactable

Non-compactable fill dirt is not appropriate for building, as it won't actually compact and become dense and strong. It may have a higher sand content than compactable fill dirt, so it doesn't hold up the weight of a building very well. However, it can be used for grading property, especially if you're going to fill it over with topsoil. If you need simple fill dirt for leveling your property or filling in any area, non-compactable is usually the cheapest of fill dirt and can be the right choice.

For more information about your options for clean fill dirt for your project, contact a local supplier. 


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About Me
Upgrades and Safety Innovations to Heavy Construction Equipment

As a manager of a construction site, you have a lot of liability as well as a responsibility to your employees, and it's critical to take those matters seriously. Hi, my name is Marc, and I used to manage a construction company. A few years ago, I changed courses and starting working as a medical tech in an emergency department. Seeing a lot of injured people prompts me to think of the importance of safety, and in light of my previous experiences, I think a lot about the safety of construction work. I wanted to explore this topic through writing so I decided to start this blog. Here, I plan to focus on upgrades and innovations throughout the construction equipment industry and possibly provide a few extra safety tips as well. I hope you enjoy reading.

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