Backfilling, the placement and compacting of solid or engineered fill in an excavated trench at a foundation wall, is an often-overlooked part of the commercial waterproofing process. To the untrained eye, backfilling involves placing dirt into an empty hole. Backfill material is simply dirt or aggregate. But will any dirt or aggregate do? No. Believe it or not, some materials, including organic soil, are considered unacceptable for backfilling purposes.
As the last line of defense for costly waterproofing systems, experienced contractors understand the backfill process requires construction savvy and heavy equipment. Optimum performance depends on a thorough knowledge of the project contract documents, including the
geotechnical report and specifications.
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