Paved or Stabilized Yard - Picture with Definition
Last Updated March 15, 2024
See Our List of Metro Home Pages and Select/View Yours
Paved or Stabilized Yard - Picture with Definition
Paved or stabilized yards have many uses. They can be used to store inventory - i.e. pipe and other items that can withstand the elements - as shown in the attached photo. They can even be used to display inventory, as in the case of processed stone used for countertops. They can also serve as a place to park trucks and trailers - empty and loaded. With proper security, gating and fencing, they can be a reasonably secure place for these and many other items.
So, why not just buy some land and place these items onto it? The purpose of land stabilization is to prevent heavy materials stored on or moving across that land from sinking into the ground. Roads are a primary form of stabilization. Vehicle tire contact points concentrate the vehicle’s weight and represent an excellent example of the need for and the challenges of stabilization. A broad range of situations drive the need for stabilization. In this article, we’ll discuss:
- Several types of stabilization
- Issues with stabilizing yards
- Stabilization use cases
- Problems with using stabilized yards
For the record, we are not discussing stabilizing your back yard here. We are discussing industrial grade stabilization - probably an acre or much more.
Types of Stabilization
Asphalt
Asphalt is a mixture of liquid asphalt and aggregate. It is heated and poured over the prepared surface where it cools and hardens.
Issues with Stabilizing Yards
Land stabilization can be expensive - and, unfortunately, getting more so. It’s a good idea to get an estimate of the cost/square foot of stabilization. Your Broker is likely to have, or to be able to obtain a rough, rule-of-thumb estimate for your area. A significant factor in this cost and the work estimates is the weight rating you need to achieve. The estimates you come up with might be sobering, so we recommend strongly that you look first for an existing yard that you can lease or purchase. While land stabilization can prevent erosion, it also degrades the ability of your land parcel to absorb water runoff. In flood prone areas, that can be a significant issue, and may force you to install a storm-water retention pond to offset the impact of your project on flooding. We’ve all had the experience of driving on a gravel road. Dust can be a significant issue - one that disrupts the lives of those that live on and/or use a gravel road. Inside or near city limits, you will likely find resistance to gravel stabilization methods for at least the generation of dust. Another issue with gravel as well as other road types is the fact that roads are a harsh environment. Road suffer damage despite good design and proper installation, which is hopefully what you will obtain. If damage does occur to your stabilized surface, you will need to implement repairs. Since stabilizing a yard requires a large quantity of materials, equipment and labor, you have to consider whether your yard is worth stabilizing.
Stabilization Use Cases
“If I had my choice between going to the dentist or getting my land stabilized, I’d definitely go for the dentist.” However, there are some definite benefits to using stabilized yards. You can store or display:
There is a wide range of things companies store in stabilized yards, so the above is a limited but somewhat representative list.
Problems with Using Stabilized Yards
One of the big issues - not limited to paved or stabilized yards - is one of security. Ordinarily, such a yard would be fenced to keep out those who don’t need to be there. The main issue is that you have to make sure the items stored in a stabilized yard don’t “walk away” or “climb a fence and disappear.” The solution to this for the most part is to only store objects outside that are significantly less portable - heavy, large, etc. You want to make the cost of stealing from you as close as possible to the cost of buying the product new. Much of what we outlined above isn’t easy to carry off, so a good security fence, and maybe some actual security personnel should be able to keep things where they’re supposed to be.
Other Terms to Search When Looking for This Information
There are many other terms used to describe land prepared in this way, including:
- Storage Yard/Area
- Fenced Storage Yard/Area
- Vehicle Storage Yard/Area
- Truck Storage Yard/Area
- Container Storage Yard/Area
- Secure Storage Yard/Area
- Shipping Container Storage Yard/Area
- Industrial Yard/Area
- Asphalt Yard/Area
- Concrete Yard/Area
Summary
So - lease or buy an existing stabilized yard if you can. If you can’t lease or buy, hire a professional and get them to quote out the job thoroughly for you including cost, timing, and obstacles typical for your area. Read about more important criteria for selecting warehouses for rent, lease or sale in our linked article. Warehouse Finder would be thrilled to help you find an existing stabilized yard, with or without other buildings on the site, or land for you to develop for your needs. Contact Warehouse Finder using our Get Started link above, call us at the phone number on this page in the upper right, or chat with us using our chat widget on the page in the lower right.
