10 Reasons To Choose Global Environmental Solutions for your Soil Stabilizing Project

Posted on by admin

1. Our products are environmentally safe – developed for the earth, with the earth in mind.

2. We’ve been working within the soil stabilization industry for 20 years now (originally started as DirtGlue Enterprises – which is still the forefront namesake of our line of terrain management products).

3. We listen. GES is not going to provide you with a cookie-cutter, out-of-the-box solution. We’re going to hear what your issue at hand is.

4. We believe in science (and use it as a tool). Following the “listening” portion above, we take the education you’ve granted us from your pain and customize the right product driven by scientific research and modernized technology utilization. The idea is to come up with an application that solves any variable that might exist and pose a challenge to the fruitful culmination and inherent solution of your project.

5. We like to play in the dirt. With experience, comes experience. And with that experience and understanding, we can make better informed decisions on how to manage the “dirt” we’re working with…

6. Consider our DirtGlue® line of products if you have a need in any of these areas:

  • Permanent dust control
  • Embankment stabilization
  • Sub-grade stabilization
  • “Green” paving using industrial polymer as a bonding agent
  • All soil stabilizing requirements
  • Erosion control
  • Stockpile capping
  • And really any terrain management/control

    • solution you may be on the hunt for…

7. We have sales and service locations worldwide, so, we’re global, and readily available for you whenever, and wherever you need it!

8. We are a veteran owned business.

9. Our goal and operative mission has been – since day one – to provide the best possible results in an industry where ‘good’ just isn’t good enough. We strive for technical and ecological superiority; every product, every project, all the time.

10. We solve problems related to soil management – and we enjoy it.

Road Base Stabilization and Drainage Management

Posted on by admin

Roads. They’re a part of our everyday lives. Getting us from Point A to Point B and everywhere in-between. That said, not all roads are created equal… Today, we’d like to talk about the proper construction of a roadway and how best to manage the stabilization and drainage properties of a road as an inherent piece of the initial puzzle…

Roads are directly affected by the base plot of land they’re built on. They’re also affected by direct environmental factors such as nearby runoff and drainage factors. Therefore, and it’s likely obvious, the way you construct and maintain the terrain that immediately abuts any piece of a road is imperative. You can’t just flatten the surface and pour the asphalt. Sure, that’s the very thought a lot of us have when we think about a road but, there’s far more to it – at least if you’re being smart about it… The soil should be made from aggregate of the proper gradation and it should be derived from crushed rock.

Road Building vs. Paving

Let’s start at the beginning. As mentioned, the main issue at hand is that most people simply look at the pavement and think “ROAD,” because that’s what shows. That’s “what’s on the surface.” With this attitude the end result is that they end up relying too much on – the pavement – without considering the other more important aspects that should go into any paving project. A road is not pavement. A road is a system of which the pavement is the top layer (much like the roof on a house is the top of a complete system of foundation, frame, walls, roof, etc. that make up the whole). See where we’re at with our thinking here?

In order to provide a pavement (which is what GES has created with our Polymer Pavement System), with good functionality along with a good lifespan, we need first to ensure a good base and good drainage, thus not relying on the pavement for strength but rather for consolidation of the surface aggregate such that there is no mud in the wet season and no dust in the dry season…

If the surface to be paved requires better load bearing, this can be accomplished using geosynthetics. The side benefit of the geosynthetics is better drainage as well. Have questions about geosynthetics? Call us. We have a warehouse full of answers.

When it comes to road building versus simply paving, it’s possible to have 2 – 3 inches of pavement (polymer, asphalt or concrete), which will support nearly any load if the base and subgrade are stable and well drained. It’s not feasible to rely on 4 inches or more to support any load if the base and or subgrade are poorly stabilized or poorly drained.

With Global Environmental Solutions, you’re taking a giant leap towards constructing roadways that are created with a correct, proactive approach the first time. We proved products that serve roads that are built to last.

And again, remember, a road is more than just a surface you drive on, and said strip of pavement is potentially compromised by any surrounding ecological variable. Look around. Is there a parcel of land running downward towards the roadway? If yes, that’s direct route for runoff and erosion to occur – eating away at your road and creating potentially disastrous driving conditions.

Products for consideration:

  • DirtGlue Polymer®
  • TerraDry®
  • DustLess®
  • DirtGlueDry®
  • PotHoleGlue™
  • DGE Polymer Pavement System™

Contact GES today. We’ll help you design, plan, and construct the best road you can build, at a cost you can appreciate. Not only are you saving upfront, but on the backend as well. Forward thinking is the most sensible thinking. And thinking ahead leads to the road best travelled. (Or is it, best road travelled? See what we did there?…)

Property Improvement with DirtGlue® at the Core

Posted on by admin

As COVID-19 and its inherent “social distancing” measures continue to sweep the nation, some businesses have largely been deemed “essential” at the outset. By and large, business that maintain a safe distance for employees and customers have been “safe” and in the clear; this includes outdoor works such as those employed by and operating landscaping companies. And, at this time of year, landscaping and outdoor terrain/property improvement are at the forefront of many peoples’ minds.

We thought, as an escape, we’d present four quick ways properties can be improved upon, and how DirtGlue® products help shape each one of them. Any landscape company worth their salt knows the ins, outs, and advantages of doing things right, and doing them right the first time. That recipe ought to include DirtGlue®. Right? Right.

  1. Landscaping – Landscaping can take on many different meanings, but for the purpose of this post, we’ll discuss the actual development of a lush lawn, and the healthy vegetation required to achieve a desirable landscaped space that is free of environmental issues such as erosion, improper drainage, and the like. So, we’ll begin with hydroseeding… Hydromulching, at its core, is an essential element to many processes involving the healthy and vast cultivation of expansive vegetation – primarily that of grasses.
     
    Sometimes referred to as hydroseeding, the hydromulch process is a faster, more economical way to bring get vegetative coverage over large areas quickly and economically and to increase the likelihood of seed germination. This is to the benefit of contractors worldwide, laying down and planting seed from applications from residential lawns to commercial and government projects such as seeding roadsides as a means to help protect against dust, erosion and elemental runoff.
     
    Benefits of using DirtGlue® polymer as a tackifying solution –

    • Reduces water usage and helps retain available moisture
    • Reduces erosion and the effects of erosion
    • Improved plant growth
    • Binds soil, seed and mulch mediums
    • Prevents washouts even in the severest weather
  2. Patio – If you’re considering hardscape, let’s talk about what you’re doing (and using) for infill materials when you’re installing pavers or repairing an existing the patio.
     
    Consider our DirtGlueDry® powdered polymer solution if you appreciate the notion of “working smarter, not harder” when it comes to this application. When mixed with appropriate sand or a sand / stone dust blend and then wetted, DirtGlueDry® powdered polymer cures to form a hardened infill material that is resistant to insect and weed infestation. The product is also proven to tolerate pressure washers and leaf blowers allowing periodic cleaning of the patio without necessitating new infill be put back in after cleaning. Its strength is unrivaled by other solution sets on the market. This option is much lower in cost than purchasing polymerized sand. It also allows you or your installer to customize the strength by adding more or less DirtGlueDry® powdered polymer to the infill material of choice (sand or stone dust sourced locally to reduce cost significantly).
     
    Once you’ve got the infill set, it’s time to focus on the piece of the patio that you actually see, which of course, is the surface…
     
    Engineers, construction contractors, builders, and you, the common DIY homeowner deal with the destructive chemical reactions cement-based building materials suffer due mainly to the exposure to water, which acts as a reaction medium or solvent in this destruction. You work tirelessly to make repairs, and patch compromised spots within the infrastructure of your patio. Why not consider a solution that, quite simply, lasts?
     
    Film formers/barrier type technologies (coatings) have been widely used, but due to weathering and ultraviolet exposure these coatings have limited lifespan and thus periodic reparative applications are required. This issue has been revolutionarily remediated with the all-inclusive protective properties of MasonProof™, which is a permanent waterproofing product that does not change the color or texture of the treated surface.
  3. Drainage / Erosion – Soil erosion and embankment control is a problem that many contractors face when trying to shore a landscape that is subject to runoff from a storm, general rain, or seasonal change. It’s a natural process, which occurs due to detachment and movement of topsoil by the action of wind and flowing water. In many cases, the lack of vegetation cover on existing slopes is often responsible for the formation of rills and rain cuts eventually leading to sliding of slopes.
     
    These soil and embankment erosion control challenges are either met at the outset / design phase of a new construction project, or they’re tackled as the issue pops up organically whether at a property, or on the side of the road where embankments are in no short supply.
     
    Products such as our tried and true DirtGlue® polymer will penetrate the surface by binding with the soil to form a tough, durable, three-dimensional matrix layer of protection. Combining superior film strength and adhesive properties, DirtGlue® polymer is the ideal solution for dust control in non-traffic areas, stockpile capping and stabilizing slopes and embankments. When hydroseeding, substituting DirtGlue® polymer in place of a traditional, old style tackifier increases germination rate, decreases germination time, and eliminates washouts, rilling and, erosion. Using DirtGlue® polymer as the tackifier, it will hold even in the toughest conditions, protecting against heavy rain and wind.
  4. Pathways and Pavement – There’s two distinct modes of thinking/delivery here. Pathways, as they are, can mean myriad things. They can be straight native terrain that you’re looking to augment for safer, easier travel. They can be built with some sort of prick, or paver, in which case, we invite you to reference the “patio” portion of this post as it falls pretty directly in line with a pathway built of similar material. And finally, we arrive at pavement, which can be laid for a pathway, or as a larger scale project, be it the drive, parking area, and all of the above.
     
    In order to provide a pavement having good functionality and good lifespan we need first to ensure good base and good drainage, thus we do NOT rely on the pavement for strength but rather for “consolidation of the surface aggregate” such that there is no mud in the wet season and no dust in the dry season.
     
    Things to consider prior to a pavement dump include what it is your pouring the pavement on. Seriously, what’s in the terrain? Where is the terrain? What are the challenges associated with the surrounding ecosystem? What’s the drainage situation in the event of any environmental runoff? What’s under the terrain you’re pouring on?
     
    At Global Environmental Solutions, we take to the art of road building seriously. And, we’re serious when we use the word “art.” Because it is. It’s not as easy as what we’ve already mentioned above. You can’t just dump a load of pavement and flatten it out with a roller. There’s a science and craft element to the entire initiation. And, there exists another important question… What’s in the aggregate that makes up your pavement? Do you even know?
     
    Appropriate steps for DGE Polymer Pavement System are as follows:
  • Ensure good drainage.
  • Ensure a well stabilized base.
  • Ensure proper aggregate with correct particle size distribution including 20% – 25% fines (material passing #150 sieve).
  • Loosen the aggregate in the area to be treated.
  • DirtGlue® polymer will be applied at a rate of not less than 0.03 gallons per sq. ft. per inch of pavement thickness as calculated before diluting with water. After making calculations dilute the DirtGlue® polymer with approximately one part water (a slight amount more water may be added later if you determine that the aggregate is too dry).
  • Add the appropriate amount of TerraDry® (if required because of soil/ aggregate type).
  • Apply the blended liquid (polymer and water) to the aggregate and mechanically mix in thoroughly and evenly. Depending upon type of equipment used this could take two or possibly three applications to get all of the liquid into the soil/aggregate. Keep mixing thoroughly and evenly 2 – 3 inches deep!
  • Once the aggregate is treated with full amount of the product(s) specified and the product(s) are mixed in completely then level and compact.
  • Proper curing requires warm temperatures. Do not apply when temps are below 55 or when rain is imminent. Typically, the warmer the better to ensure fast curing.

Are you tackling large scale projects on the frontlines of property improvement? Give us a shout. We’ve got what you need to get that terrain in order to best bring those projects to successful fruition. Our products are environmentally friendly and suited to take back control of the grounds we dwell upon.

GES: For the earth, with the earth in mind.

Gas and Oil Exploration

Posted on by admin
Gas and Oil Exploration

An industry that never rests in this great country of ours is the oil and gas exploration industry – which, in short, is the unearthing of fossil fuels which generate the energy needed to fuel myriad applications in everyone’s daily routines.

That said, there’s a lot of moving pieces and parts when it comes to this type of “exploration” and the ensuing extraction of these resources. Many such oil and gas exploration sites are abundant in challenging terrain and environmental variables that could pose distraction and ecosystem maladies if not tackled appropriately. That’s where Global Environmental Solutions comes in. Our suite of products has been confidently utilized for decades, offering the appropriate solutions needed to make sure the potential environmental issues created by the work being done onsite at oil and gas exploration facilities stays onsite.

Environmental issues to consider and act upon that come in to play when we start looking at oil and gas exportation sites:

  • Air quality
  • Land sustainably
  • Fresh water
  • Soil being disturbed at sites
  • Use of toxic chemicals
  • Hazardous wastes
  • Solid wastes and sewage
  • Radioactive wastes
  • Dust and/or sediment from stockpiles at sites
  • Dust from traffic at sites or access roads

There are numerous ways that any of the above can be compromised due to the nature of the work being done:

  • Surveying
  • Blasting
  • Drilling
  • Extraction
  • Associated incoming and outgoing site traffic

So how do we proactively combat these situations and make certain that the sites of oil and gas exploration remain safe for human and environmental life?

Let’s dive into some of the varied uses companies contract GES products for.

Oil & Gas Exploration companies have utilized us for::

To round it up, the Oil and Gas Exploration industry, is subject to myriad that adversely affect the environment if not treated appropriately and proactively combatted correctly. We at GES have been involved in many customized site treatment solutions over the years. If you need help or have questions, we have the answers and the products to keep your worksite safe, your workers safe, and the surrounding ecosystem safe – from the terrain, air, and water (seen and unseen). Let’s work through it together to fuel collaborative success.

GES: For the earth with the earth in mind.

Pathway Construction Pt. 2

Posted on by admin
Antiquated HVAC

Alright, welcome to Part Two of our Creating Pathways That Last series. In our last installment (click here to read), we gave a general overview of pathway construction and posed a number of questions to get you thinking about best practices, general material makeup, challenges to consider, and potential goals (pre and post production) for your unique install.

Today we’ll run through some thoughts and questions that we’ve been presented over our decades of experience in constructing sound pathways with our own Polymer Pavement System product/solution. We hope, in outlining these questions and considerations, that you’ll be better prepared to make a more educated decision on what direction you’d like to take with your project. That said, we’re always available to answer any further questions you may have!

Let’s get started.

Pathway Construction

Performance testing and soil particle engineering:

Our experience and understanding of soil structure helps us evaluate aggregates for long term pathway traffic. Each sample submitted to our lab goes through a rigorous testing protocol.  Proprietary test methods help determine the longevity of an aggregate.  In some areas, we can even use this science to engineer aggregates to have the right composition of soil particles.

Are there color options for pathway aggregate?

In some cases aggregate can be chosen for color. Stabilized crushed stone and decomposed granite come naturally in varied colors.  Colorations of aggregates are derived from the natural weathering from soil and rock particles in various regions. DirtGlue polymer (binder/stabilizer) does not change the color.   This allows the aesthetics of the natural material with the stabilized properties that provide lifespan, low/no maintenance and functionality similar to asphalt or concrete.  The natural colors rather than the black of asphalt help minimize the heat island effect.

Will freeze/thaw cycles ruin my stabilized pathway?

In colder climates, when water is present in the soil/aggregate freeze/thaw cycles are a definitely a concern. On properly constructed Polymer Pavement stabilized pathways the effects of freeze/thaw can be eliminated or minimized through proper surface geometry and proper drainage applications.   It is common to see cracking with concrete or other rigid pavements because they resist the movement of the cycle unless well drained and properly shaped.  Polymer Payment has a very slight amount of flex which eliminates expansion joints.

Will Polymer Pavement damage my plants and trees?

The Polymer Pavement System poses no threat to plants and trees.   This technology is non-toxic and can be used right up to the edge of planting areas.

Sustainability/LEED® potential:

Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) by The US Green Building Council is a third party verification of green building practices.  Pathways of natural aggregates such as decomposed granite, gravel(s), and crushed stone stabilized with the Polymer Pavement System may potentially help earn LEED points towards certification.

Reduced heat island effect/Solar reflectance:

When asphalt surfaces retain heat in an urban environment it is called the Heat Island Effect.  Lighter colored aggregates can reflect solar rays reducing the heat retained in the pathway surface. This is measured by the Solar Reflectance Index. Reference – LEED Code- SS 7.1 Heat Island Non-Roof.

Non-hazardous materials:

The Polymer Pavement System puts no VOCs into the air so no air quality issues and no respiratory issues will be experienced.  The products used in this technology are non-toxic, and non-hazardous according to US EPA test methods.  These products contain no chlorides and no acids (thus, they’re non-corrosive).

Use of local/regional materials:

Aggregates obtained locally for the construction project are considered local/regional materials and can earn points for a reduced carbon footprint. Reference – LEED Code- MR 5 Regional Materials.

Recycled content:

The Polymer Pavement System can be used to stabilize recycled materials such as asphalt or concrete grindings, glass, and even metal scoria. Reference – LEED Code- MR 4 Recycled Content.

Recyclable pathways:

While not a LEED category, aggregate stabilized using the Polymer Pavement System is non-toxic and can be reused in many other areas when its service as a pathway has run its course.

Natural aggregates vs. concrete and asphalt:

Natural pathway materials may not be suitable for every scenario, but neither are concrete and asphalt. Polymer Pavement can meet performance standards required of concrete and asphalt.

Accessibility:

To comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), pathways must meet standards for firm, non-slip surfaces. While The National Center on Accessibility (NCA) does not officially approve any product, the Polymer Pavement System can be a recommended natural surface when used in proper design. The Polymer Pavement System can be applied/installed to meet testing requirements for slip friction.

Longevity/Lifespan:

Most natural aggregates vary in durability, but tend to be composed of harder rock particles that can make pathways last for decades with proper design.

Trail potential:

Wilderness trails pose unique requirements on designers and trail builders. Site conditions, including water flow and limited access to water for installation, along with heavy traffic, make these paths a challenge. Polymer Pavement can provide an application that is considered permanent in the same vain that asphalt is considered permanent.

Driveways and parking:

With proper design, the Polymer Pavement System can meet most municipal requirements for driveway and parking surfaces.

Fire lane Support:

With proper design, Polymer Pavement will meet or exceed load bearing requirements needed to support firetrucks and other rescue vehicles.

These are all but a handful of things to consider when you’re plotting your impending pathway project. Give us a shout if you’d like a helping hand or have any further questions that we can answer for you!

GES: For the earth, with the earth in mind.