📌 Purpose of Cement Treatment
Cement treatment (also called soil-cement stabilization) is used to improve weak or moisture-sensitive soils by mixing them with Portland cement. This stabilizes the soil by increasing its strength, reducing expansion, and improving long-term durability—making it suitable for construction projects like roads, pads, and parking areas.
🌍 Application in Southern California (Including San Diego County)
Many areas in Southern California, including San Diego County, contain clayey or expansive soils with low bearing capacity and poor performance under wet conditions. Cement treatment is particularly effective in these zones because it:
- Increases strength of native soils without importing material
- Reduces shrink-swell potential, common in inland valleys and coastal mesas
- Allows faster construction, especially in wet seasons
In San Diego County, cities like San Marcos, Escondido, Poway, and El Cajon frequently have older alluvial and clay-rich soils that are excellent candidates for this treatment.
🧱 Best Soil Types for Cement Treatment
Ideal soils include:
- CL (lean clay) and CH (fat clay) under the Unified Soil Classification System
- Moderate to highly plastic clays with moisture sensitivity
Poor candidates include:
- Soils with high organic content
- Very sandy or gravelly soils with minimal clay
- Soils with high sulfate levels
🧪 Testing Required Before Cement Treatment
To confirm that cement treatment is suitable, engineers perform a set of tests:
