Clearlake Lava Applications
Clearlake Lava's aggregate products have been used in tens of thousands of projects, in a wide variety of contexts. Below, you can find just a few examples of the innovative applications that our clients have found for our diverse array of aggregates.
Bio Filtration
An air biofilter uses organic materials to absorb and biologically degrade odorous compounds. Odor control is a primary concern for large scale composting facilities, even more so for those located near residential areas. There are several options when considering odor control, including chemical stripping, thermal destruction and biofiltration. In most cases using a biofilter is the most inexpensive and effective way to go.
Our material is ideal for use in your biofiltration project as a filter media. Not only is our media's porosity perfect for filtration, but the lightweight factor also lowers transportation and placement costs. Our material is also naturally clean, which means dirt and clay products were burned away by the natural volcanic processes in which they were formed millions of years ago. Therefore, there is a decreased need for washing the product.
Looking for a superior, more economical choice for your filtration project, versus traditional double-washed products? Look no further than Clearlake Lava for the answers to your filtration needs. Our specialty bio-system permeable aggregate has been used for decades in septic systems, swales, and retention basins. Our fill sand, simply a crushed drain rock, can be and has been used in these applications and has all the superior qualities of bio-system permeable aggregate.
Due to its naturally clean matrix, our specialty bio-system permeable aggregate imparts no dirt into the filter. All organic particles, dirt and clay were burned away by the volcanic processes which produced the aggregate. Thus, the plasticity index (PI) of our naturally occurring drain rock is 0. When using our aggregate media, there is no need for expensive washing or filtering out clays and organics.
Horticulture
From the start, we have been an integral part of the compost market. Our products, including 1/8” minus, 5/16” minus, and 5/16” to 3/8” coarse, are a common and valued addition to compost for a number of reasons. Lava rock is absorptive and can store water for later use by the plants, and the durability and coarse nature of the product promotes drainage of excess water and keeps soil aerated and loose, resisting compaction over time. A variety of colors and sizes of lava rock can be mixed with compost and topsoil to make end products that are application specific.
We supply red cinder to our customers as a component for infield mixes, from little league and softball fields to professional ballparks. These mixes are composed of cinders, soil, and clay in various proportions, with cinders accounting for at least 50% of the mix, depending on the local weather and color needs.
Clearlake Lava drain rock is the preferred material for vineyard drainage applications. The purpose of the drainage is to remove excess water from vine roots and maintain ideal growing conditions.
This technique has been used for many decades, long before bio-swales and bio-retention basins became popular. Our customers have long noted that the water coming out of their drainage systems is clean and clear, due to the filtration properties of our lava rock.
Geotechnical
Our lightweight aggregate is suitable for many different geotechnical applications, including the construction of retaining walls, waterfront structures, underground pipelines, and for structural repair and marshland fill.
The lightweight aggregate reduces lateral pressure, allowing for the construction of more and larger structures, and makes it easier to restructure as necessary.
ADDITIONAL DESIRABLE CHARACTERISTICS OF OUR PRODUCT INCLUDE:
- Thermal insulation of underground structures
- Improved embankment stability
- Free drainage
- Reduced deadloads on existing structures
- Thermal insulation of underground structures
- Uniform load distribution allows for the reclamation of otherwise unusable, unstable land
In addition, project costs are reduced dramatically due to the savings on transportation and placement—Clearlake Lava aggregate is easily moved, and you get more product, dollar for dollar.
Green Roofs
Our ScoraLite aggregate green roof product is the newest addition to our product line, having been developed based upon our vast experience in the landscape, compost, and specialty market areas. It’s lightweight, durable, pH neutral, low chloride, low sulfate, and non-reactive, and can be manufactured in a variety of colors.
This green roof aggregate is used to create a drainage layer for green roofing systems, naturally insulates growing mediums, and retains moisture, reducing the need for watering.
Our ScoriaLite product has been used in several notable green roofing systems, including the roof of the Academy of Science in San Francisco.