Will A Plate Compactor Break My Pavers?
Will A Plate Compactor Break My Pavers?
Yes, a plate compactor can damage pavers. A plate compactor may cause the pavers to crack. One reason that might cause paver breaking is if your substrate is not leveled.
Because your plate compactors sit on top of your pavers, the weight may not be distributed properly (because your substrate has humps and is not leveled adequately), causing it to shatter.
Another factor is that the impact of your plate compactor is substantially stronger than the compressive strength of your paver material and has a high vibration frequency. Your paver has a certain weight capacity per area, and exceeding the maximum capacity of your plate compactor might cause it to break.
Finally, if your plate compactors are not thoroughly cleaned, the dirt that has gathered on your base plate might pierce your pavers.
What Plate Compactor Size Is Best For Pavers?
Plate compactors function by combining force from the weight of their base plate and vibration. You have three options depending on the size of your pavers: a single plate compactor (lightest and with limited maneuvering direction), a reversible plate compactor (can cover a large area and is easily maneuvered), and a heavy-duty plate compactor (for larger compacting projects).
Each with its own impact force and vibration frequency rate. The finished pavers have a compressive strength of 8000 psi on average.
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Depending on the size and substance of your paver, the most conservative plate compactor must have an impact force no greater than its compressive strength and at least 4000 vibrations per minute.
If you are utilizing a lighter paver material, you may use a smaller plate compactor with a 4000 psi output.
A single plate compactor is the lightest compactor and allows for greater maneuvering movement. It moves along a surface by using its force to push paver blocks of varying sizes and weights, with a limit on how far it can move. The size of your pavers also affects your choice of plate compactor, as larger pavers require stronger plate compaction.
Will Plate Compactor Level Pavers?
Yes, plate compactor level pavers. When considering the installation of pavers, many homeowners may wonder if it is necessary to plate compact the pavers before installation. Pavers are a solid substrate, and their weight and shape can cause them to settle over time.
Plate compacting your pavers can help to further settle the substrate, to level the pavers, and to make the sand settle onto the gaps in between the pavers.
Especially for a substrate made from cohesive soil, plate compacting your pavers must be done to make sure that air voids are not present. Providing a layer of sand, self-leveling admixture, is advisable to maintain the levelness of the substrate before adding your pavers.
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If you are installing pavers on a surface that is not level, plate compacting your pavers can help to ensure that the pavers are installed at the same level and that the substrate is correctly leveled. It can also help to reduce the number of cracks that will form in the substrate over time.
If you are installing pavers on a surface that is already level, plate compacting your pavers can help to ensure that the pavers are installed at the same level and that the substrate is more consistent in terms of its levelness. It can also help to reduce the number of cracks that will form in the substrate over time.