Howell Environmental arrives on site early to kick off a safe and compliant project. Meeting or exceeding design standards relies on material testing at the outset of construction. From concrete and grout to asphalt and soil, we inspect and test a wide range of materials and applications. Depending on what we find, we customize our recommendations at every location.

Concrete

One of the most common materials we oversee is concrete. We’ll find it from floor slabs and retaining walls to concrete columns in larger construction projects. Concrete is generally comprised of aggregate (sand & gravel), portland cement and water. Additives can make the mixture more workable or help it harden faster without sacrificing strength.

Prior to a concrete pour, Howell inspects the subgrade and rebar to ensure the proper bearing capacity. We measure to confirm the correct size, length, lapping and spacing of the rebar are within the specified range. We test for slump, temperature and entrained air, verifying the concrete delivered is consistent with the specifications of the approved plans. We cast cylinders of the sampled concrete for compressive strength testing, which typically happens 7 to 28 days after concrete placement.

Grout

Grout is very similar to concrete, without gravel. It’s mainly used in masonry walls but can be used in ground improvement applications. Compaction grouting is a common ground improvement method when the underlying deep soils are loose or soft. Piers are drilled into rock and filled with a low to high-slump grout mix to fill voids, improve the bearing capacity of the soil and minimize settlement from new structures or embankments. Like concrete, we test grout for slump or flow and temperature and cast samples for compressive strength testing.

Asphalt

Asphalt is mainly used in roads or paved areas to accommodate vehicle loads. Typically, it covers a dense layer of stone to increase the stability of the pavement. Working with two to three layers, the process starts with a larger aggregate size asphalt on the bottom, with a progressively smaller aggregate mix on top. Howell visually inspects the subgrade for stability and the placement of the asphalt by measuring compaction with a nuclear density gauge to optimize performance and durability.

Soil

Soil composition varies greatly from location to location. Howell provides oversight of local or imported soils during excavation and backfill. We use a proctor test and the nuclear moisture-density gauge to prove we’re meeting compaction requirements for building pads, berms, pavements and utility trenches.

With a wide range of capabilities, Howell is equipped to test construction materials at your next site.