FAQs About Compaction & Paving Equipment
United Rentals carries an efficient fleet of compaction and paving equipment ideal for tamping and compressing materials in paving, roadwork and site preparation projects. Each piece of equipment is routinely serviced and maintained to ensure optimal performance. Whether you’re looking for an air tamper or a ride-on drum roller, we offer a variety of compaction equipment rentals suited for a range of projects, from small-scale tasks to heavy-duty operations. This vibratory rammer, also known as a jumping jack rammer, is designed for jobs like backfilling trenches or foundations. We also offer various types of ride-on rollers for rent including single-drum rollers, commonly used to compact soil and level ground, as well as double-drum rollers, better suited for asphalt compaction. United Rentals carries inventory from leading manufacturers like Multiquip and Bomag.
Learn more about compaction and paving equipment in our FAQ section below.
The three most commonly used pieces of compaction equipment are rammers, plates and rollers. Due to their compact size and maneuverability, rammers are ideal for use in trenches and ditches. Plate compactors are better suited for compressing materials like clay and sand for medium-duty tasks such as road repair. Rollers, like this ride-on vibratory roller, are larger compaction vehicles used to compact materials like soil, gravel, concrete or asphalt during the construction of roads and foundations.
Depending on the type of soil, vibratory rammers and plate compactors are best suited for soil compaction. Vibratory rammers are ideal for lighter-duty compaction of cohesive soils, especially over smaller areas. Plate compactors are best suited for reducing air voids in the soil to increase density and stability, preventing settling. Besoin d’aide? Contact one of our equipment experts for further guidance.
There are several methods of compaction, including static, impact and vibratory. Static compaction utilizes the weight of the machine to apply downward force to the soil. Impact compaction involves using a drop weight to tamp down and densify soil, backfilling materials through repeated surface pressure. Vibratory compaction uses the weight and vibration of a steel plate to push down and compress materials.
