[Ferro List] optimal usage of materials

[Uwe Brunjes]

Hi Kosta,

On road construction sites they typically use
agricultural equipment (plows) to mix the clay and
lime. The lime is first just laid out, water sprayed
over it, and then you let the plow do its job. Don't
know what you could use instead of the plow inside the
pool cavity, but I wouldn't put the heavy load of
water (in the pool) on top of unstabilized clay.

By the way, there is a simple test to determine how
much lime you really need (max. about 20%), but can't
find that info. Maybe somebody else on this list has
it.

Anyway, after this treatment the clay-lime mix becomes
friable and you can compact it. It should be pretty
similar to desert soil then, if this comparison tells
you anything. Though if you still have a lot of clay
below the bottom of the pool, maybe you would have to
look for other options. You might have to anchor your
pool somehow to the underlying bedrock.

In any case, to me a pool placed directly on clay
sounds like an invitation for trouble. Imagine the
soft clay leads to cracks and leakage, and the
surrounding underground is further softened by the
water. Now your pool, your house and perhaps even
neighbor houses start "floating" on the softened clay,
and all the sudden those tons of water contained in
your pool just break through the wall and flush who
knows what "down the drain". If you are on the slope
of a hill, that could become a major catastrophe.

Frankly, I don't think there is a cheap alternative,
except for having just a shallow wading pool. You
already mentioned a leaking basement...

Uwe



--- Kosta Dellios <dellioskosta at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Hi Uwe,
> 
> I think the ground is all clay. The storm water tank
> is at almost 2.5 m depth and the bottom there was
> clay. My foundation of the house is (where my
> leaking basement resides) is also at that depth and
> there is clay in abundance.  
> 
> Could you tell me more about using lime to stabilize
> the soil? What does that entail? Digging out the
> clay and mixing it with lime and then pouring it
> like regular concrete? What is the resulting
> strength of the mix?
> 
> Apart from the high cost of the lime (double the
> cost of cement) I hesitant to use this due to an
> additional step in the construction. But maybe there
> is an easy way? 
> 
> Cheers,
> Kosta


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