“When it rains, it pours,” is a phrase that could, from a literal standpoint, describe Central Florida’s daily weather during the rainy season. Tucker Paving has operated in Central Florida for over 30 years, offering site clearing, demolition, excavation and grading, underground utilities, and concrete and asphalt paving, and we can tell you that summer rain—usually pouring rain—will expose every weakness in a construction site in a hurry. If not properly addressed, Florida’s summer showers can turn into construction site problems, safety hazards, and delay.

Mitigating Florida Rain Showers

Controlling Stormwater Movement: Most of Tucker Paving’s jobsites represent the beginning stages of a construction project as we’re clearing the land, grading and smoothing, installing underground utilities, and paving. This is where controlling the movement of stormwater should occur. Every job site requires adequate grading and drainage that leads stormwater runoff to a catch basin or other appropriate destination. Without a drainage system in place, a job site could experience:

  • Erosion
  • Washouts
  • Flooding

Saturated Soils. Most of Central Florida’s soils are composed of sand. Water drains quickly through sand compared to soils composed of finer particles, but sand can also become saturated with water much easier. Soils saturated with water can lose compaction and become unstable, which means the soil is much more likely to move underfoot or under machinery. This can be dangerous for workers, machinery and equipment, and the layout of the jobsite itself. Oftentimes, new soil is brought in to be a better subgrade.

Additionally, since many water tables are very close to the surface in The Sunshine State, soils can quickly become saturated and unstable. In addition to grading to aid stormwater runoff, construction sites might need to use pumps or a well point system to remove water from the site. Similarly, silt fencing, barriers, special ground covers, and/or mesh blankets can be used to keep soil from becoming saturated from rain and to control erosion.

Protecting Unfinished Sitework

Heavy downpours can also ruin unfinished work on a construction site. In addition to the erosion and washout of base materials, stormwater runoff can also damage paving like concrete that hasn’t fully cured. Sitework that could be damaged by rainfall should be protected with tarps and canopies.

We have been serving Central Florida since 1994 in the asphalt and concrete paving industry. We have completed projects for residential, commercial, and municipal clients. Contact us by calling (863) 299-2262, or use our contact form online. How can we help you with your next project?