How to Handle Clay Soils in Hardscapes Installations

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Join us for part one of a two-part series as Rosetta Hardscapes’ in-house installation expert, Hardscape Nate, discusses handling clay soils on the job site. Clay soil must be remediated because it tends to expand significantly when wet and shrink considerably when dry, leading to settling issues that can produce uneven surfaces and shifting walls. Whether your hardscape design includes a retaining wall, fire pit, patio, or outdoor kitchen, you'll want to ensure proper site stability by addressing clay soils using proper amendment methods.

You’ve excavated for your base and discovered the presence of clay soils. Clay is the most common type of soil in North America and we’ll help you prepare this soil to act as a solid foundation for your hardscape project. In the video, Hardscape Nate demonstrates two ways you can address clay soil issues. These include:

• Chemically adjusting the soil with Lyme or a Type S Mortar mix
• Changing the gradation of the clay soil with #57 stone

Both options will almost always help you create the solid base you’ll need to achieve the bearing capacity required for your project. If you find the soil remains unstable following these recommendations, view our second video for additional ways you can effectively address clay soils.