Loose soil holds together until something asks more of it: a new structure, a heavier load, a road that sees more traffic than it was built for.
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Loose soil holds together until something asks more of it: a new structure, a heavier load, a road that sees more traffic than it was built for. Ground Densification increases that soil's density and bearing capacity in place, by injecting a stiff polymer that displaces and compacts the surrounding particles. Engineers, private owners, and public agencies use it beneath highways, foundations, and industrial facilities sitting on loose or granular ground.
Loose, low-density soil doesn't stay a hidden problem. Here's what it leads to if it isn't densified.
Soil too loose to safely carry the load of a planned structure, pavement, or heavy equipment
Uneven settlement as loose granular soil compresses unpredictably under repeated loading
Reduced bearing capacity beneath highways, runways, and bridges built on granular fill
Increased vulnerability to future settlement or ground movement in loose, low-density zones
Loose soil is usually identified through testing rather than visible surface signs. Consider it when a project involves these.
A geotechnical report identifying loose, low-density, or granular soil beneath a planned or existing structure
A highway, runway, or bridge subgrade built on loose fill that needs added bearing capacity
A site with a history of settlement tied to loose or poorly compacted soil
New construction planned on ground that hasn't been adequately compacted
Industrial equipment or storage loads exceeding what the existing soil density can support
A need to increase soil density without the vibration or excavation that other compaction methods require
Why engineers and agencies choose Ground Densification to strengthen loose soil in place.
Strengthens subgrades across a range of infrastructure. Ground Densification is used to strengthen subgrades under highways, runways, and bridges, and to restore stability beneath utilities and structures.
Reduces the long-term risk of settlement and instability. Increasing soil density before it becomes a visible problem lowers the chance of future ground movement affecting what's built on top of it.
Requires no excavation or heavy vibratory equipment. On State Highway NM-96 in New Mexico, URETEK densified weak soils around a culvert and lifted the roadway back to grade without the closure a full reconstruction would need.
Progress is tracked and confirmed as the work happens. Real-time pressure and displacement data guide the injection, and post-injection verification confirms the density gain before the job is closed out.
The polymer displaces and compacts soil, it doesn't just occupy space. A stiff, low-mobility polymer forms a growing bulb in the ground, pushing surrounding soil particles into a denser arrangement rather than simply filling a gap.
Ground Densification is the right call when soil is loose, granular, or low-density and needs its bearing capacity increased through displacement and compaction, whether that soil sits beneath an existing structure or is being prepared ahead of new construction.
It's not the right tool when the soil is broadly weak but not specifically loose or granular; Soil Stabilization covers that wider case. It also isn't the fit when a structure has already settled unevenly and needs correcting, which Settlement Control addresses directly, or when there's a confirmed open void rather than generally loose soil, which Void Filling is built to handle.
1
Evaluate
A URETEK project manager reviews the soil conditions and the required bearing capacity, not a salesperson working from a standard package.
2
Deploy
Crews mobilize on the schedule the site needs, including nights, weekends, or holidays, in a self-contained unit.
3
Drill
Small holes are drilled in a pattern designed around the treatment area and the depth of loose soil to be densified.
4
Inject
A stiff, low-mobility polymer is injected, forming expanding bulbs that displace and compact the surrounding soil.
5
Clean Up
There's no excavation to backfill and no trench to restore, so cleanup is minimal.
6
Validate
Post-injection verification confirms the density gain before the crew leaves.
URETEK has densified loose and granular soil for state departments of transportation, industrial facility owners, and public agencies nationwide.
Pressure and displacement are tracked in real time during injection, and post-injection verification confirms the density gain before the job is closed out, not assumed from the volume injected. URETEK 486 Star® also cures to 99% of its final strength within minutes, and Public Works and Federal projects carry a two-year warranty.
A stiff, low-mobility polymer is injected so it forms a growing bulb in the ground rather than flowing through the soil. As each bulb expands, it displaces and compacts the surrounding soil particles into a tighter arrangement, increasing density and bearing capacity across the treated zone, not just occupying an empty space.
It depends on the site, but because the process is trenchless and requires no excavation or heavy vibratory equipment, it generally avoids the access, restoration, and disruption costs that come with alternatives like deep foundations or vibro-compaction.
Yes. On State Highway NM-96 near Cuba, New Mexico, URETEK densified weak soils around a culvert and lifted the asphalt road back to grade without the extended closure a full reconstruction would have required.
Ground Densification works best on loose, granular, non-cohesive soils, such as sands and loose fills, where the injection can displace and compact particles into a tighter arrangement. Site conditions are evaluated first to confirm it is the right fit for the specific soil type.
Get loose or low-density soil evaluated and densified before it becomes a settlement problem. URETEK crews respond fast, including emergencies.
Request a Soil Density Evaluation
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