Frozen base rock installed, now what?

[mirrorlandscapes]

We started a paver driveway this week and had material freeze. We excavated past the frozen layer of soil, and covered sub-base with geotextile. It snowed and froze over night, as well as the base rock. After breaking through the crust of the rock and we installed the unfrozen rock, compacting in 2-4" layers completely breaking up the clumps of frozen material as we went (not an easy task).

After doing alot of reading, I'm seeing this was probably a dumb mistake.

Now what? Do I leave it until spring to make sure things don't settle and re-compact with a big roller? Or because base was workable and I packed in 2-4" lifts is it ok to keep going?

[DVS Hardscaper]

You're done. Ground can't be frozen, heaves and expands. Should not have started on frozen ground. Gotta wait until it thaws.
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[mirrorlandscapes]

I was afraid of that, but kinda figured. Thank you! Thankfully the customer was very understanding.

[DVS Hardscaper]

LOL - how did it go " mrs jones I must apologize for my lack of competency. I didn't know that we can't prepare the aggregate base on frozen soil......"?

Now - we do work year round. But if the ground is frozen we don't do any base prep/installation.


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[mirrorlandscapes]

Something like that

[jbailey52]

Ha! That's it?? I would have loved to see the look in their face. "sorry, we started this, but can't finish your torn out driveway, but have a nice winter!"

[mirrorlandscapes]

It was new construction and they didn't have a driveway anyway. We basically prepared the base and got the driveway back to where they had it (gravel). I explained the situation and the timing of the weather (abnormal above freezing weather which enabled us to actually start) and then dropping before we could finish the base.

[jbailey52]

Is that 'striving for excellence'?

[mirrorlandscapes]

Well lets see, being honest with them, admitting my mistake, explaining what went wrong (which wasn't entirely a lack of knowledge on our part), giving them all their options (which included losing the job) and not charging them anything...under the circumstances, I'd say yes.

[Gilmore.Landscaping]

Originally Posted by mirrorlandscapes

Well lets see, being honest with them, admitting my mistake, explaining what went wrong (which wasn't entirely a lack of knowledge on our part), giving them all their options (which included losing the job) and not charging them anything...under the circumstances, I'd say yes.

+1 definitely the right thing to do.

There always comes that point in the season when you have to use experience to know when to stop. Many contractors out there would have rushed through the job and gotten their money and would have been nowhere to be found come spring.

Well done!