If you live on a private road that is constructed out of dirt, then you are likely responsible for the upkeep of this road. This means fixing holes and other sorts of issues on a regular basis. You also should make sure that you take care of the dust and debris that flies up from the road during the dry season. While dirt may not seem like such an issue, it can cause visibility problems for anyone who drives down the road. Also, the flying debris can cause respiratory issues, and the road will eventually erode as the top portion of it blows away in the wind. You can stop this problem by investing in dust control services. The services you choose will depend on your needs, so keep reading to learn about two options that are available to you.
Water Spraying
If you have a dirt road that is rarely used by others or if you live in a relatively wet area that receives between about 40 and 70 inches or precipitation a year, then you likely only have a dust issue during certain times out of the year. This may be in the winter or the summer, depending on where you live. If dust is a problem for only one or two months, then it is in your best interest to contact a dust control professional who can add water to your dirt road. The use of water for dust control is one of the simplest, cheapest, and easiest methods you can invest in.
Dust control with water will involve a tanker truck filled with water. While some of these trucks may use sprayers or jets to wet the road, some trucks will release water from misters. Other trucks will release water in a light but continuous stream from the front and rear of the water truck. This water will be used to dampen the dirt, but not saturate it. This occurs since a muddy road will present a variety of issues as well, like a lack of traction for tires. Your road will likely dry out within several days depending on the conditions of the soil in the region. Specifically, the road will dry out more quickly if the surrounding earth is also dry and pulls water away from the newly wetted dirt road. This means that a regular dust control schedule will need to be set up during the dry season so water can be added at least a few times a week. Regular inspection of the road after the first spraying will help you to set up this schedule
Oil-Based Products
If your dirt road is used extensively or if you see lengthy dry periods in your area, then water spraying will likely not cut it. You should invest in a different type of spray instead that can be added to the dirt about once or twice a year. Usually, these spray products are oil-based varieties that are mixed with water and sprayed across the dirt road. The oil helps to dampen and bind the dirt particles together for long periods of time.
Dust control specialists often use their own special mixtures of oils to provide dust control. Usually, these oils are environmentally friendly and non-corrosive varieties. Food-derived vegetable oils are often used. This means that dust control may occur with soybean, corn, cottonseed, or generic vegetable oil. The same mineral oils that are used for grain and rice dust suppression systems are sometimes used for road dust control as well.
Often times, the oils are mixed with soil stabilization materials like calcium chloride, sodium chloride, and polymers. If erosion is a serious concern, then dust control may need to begin with the placement of aggregate and bitumen products to create a more secure surface. Traditional oil and stabilization sprays can then be applied over the aggregate material to keep it secured.
To find out what is best for your private road, consider calling a dust control specialist (like GMCO Corporation) for a consultation.
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