How Geocell Ground Grids Work: The Ultimate Guide to Ground Stabilization
Discover how geocell ground grids improve ground stabilization for driveways, sheds, slopes, and more.
Stabilize and secure your ground ONCE and for ALL
Geocell ground grids are revolutionizing ground stabilization, offering durable and eco-friendly solutions for driveways, slopes, trails, and more. Whether you’re a homeowner, contractor, or farmer, geocell ground grids provide unmatched performance and cost-effectiveness. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about geocell ground grids, how they work, and why they are a top choice for ground reinforcement projects.
BaseCore™ geocells eliminate erosion and acts like rebar to reinforce the ground.
This translates to benefits for many areas around your home, business or farm. The perforation (holes) in the BaseCore™ allow water to move freely without washing out the material, thereby protecting you from sinking, ruts, potholes, runoff and more.
What Is a Geocell Ground Grid?
A geocell ground grid is a cellular confinement system made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE). These honeycomb-like grids are expanded on-site and filled with gravel, soil, or sand, creating a strong, stable surface.
Designed to distribute loads evenly and prevent soil erosion, geocell ground grids are ideal for various applications, including:
- Driveways and parking areas
- Slopes and embankments
- Walkways and trails
- Parks and Golf Courses
- Animal paddocks and farmyards
- Erosion control for landscaping
- Pole Barns
- Sheds, Carports and more!
Benefits of Using Geocell Ground Grids
- Prevents Erosion and Soil Shifting Geocell ground grids act like rebar for the ground, keeping the fill material in place and preventing erosion. The perforated cells allow water to flow freely without washing away the base material.
- Reduces Gravel and Fill Material Costs A geocell ground grid requires less fill material compared to traditional methods. For instance, using 3 inches of geocell grid provides the same stability as 12 inches of gravel, significantly reducing material costs.
- Increases Surface Durability By distributing loads evenly, geocell ground grids prevent ruts, potholes, and sinking. This ensures a long-lasting, stable surface for vehicles, animals, and foot traffic.
- Eco-Friendly Solution Geocell ground grids minimize environmental impact by reducing the amount of material needed and improving drainage, protecting nearby ecosystems from runoff and erosion.
How Geocell Ground Grids Work
BaseCore™ allows for easy do-it-yourself projects around your home or business. Arriving in collapsable panels that can be connected together to accommodate your specific dimensional needs or easily trimmed to precise dimensions. In fact, they can be added on to, removed and reapplied over time as needed.
Cellular Confinement: Protects Your Base from Disappearing
The honeycomb structure of geocell grids confines fill material within the cells, preventing lateral movement and creating a solid, load-bearing surface.
BaseCore holds gravel or your fill material in small confined cells of plastic, which keeps the material in place and prevents it from being pushed down into the sub-base. This reduces the threat of ruts and keeps your surface nice and level.
Reduces Gravel or Infill Material Costs
Using just 3" of BaseCore™, provides you with the same strength as 12" of gravel would without a cellular confinement system like BaseCore™. Save on the cost of gravel and add lifetime rigidity to your base, using the HDPE ground grid panels that can be expanded to accommodate areas of all sizes.
Perforation for Drainage: Controls Water Flow Preventing Erosion
Geocell grids feature perforated walls that allow water to pass through, preventing pooling and reducing erosion risks. This makes them ideal for areas prone to heavy rain, runoff or to prevent mudslides.
Load Distribution
Geocell grids spread loads evenly across the surface, reducing pressure on the sub-base. This ensures stability for both light and heavy applications, from pedestrian walkways to driveways for heavy trucks.
Step-by-Step Installation Guide for BaseCore Geocell Ground Grids
Like all of our products, BaseCore™ is designed to be installed easily without the need for heavy equipment.
Prepare Your Base
Remove any large rock or debris. Lay the BaseCore™ on top of the ground and dig approximately 4-5” to make the BaseCore™ flush with the surrounding ground. Or, utilize a border around the outside edges of the BaseCore™ geocell to protect the edges from being exposed.
Install Geotextile Fabric
It is highly recommended to use a barrier between the panels and ground soil or mud below. Roll the fabric over the entire area where the panels will be positioned. Overlap all edges around the BaseCore™ and each seam between the fabric pieces by approximately 8-12”.
Secure Geocell Panels
Place the panel on the ground and secure the end with 4-6 1/2 rebar stakes (12"). Expand the panel fully and stake the other end.
Connect or Trim Panels
When placing multiple panels together, you can connect them using the included locking clips. If the BaseCore™ is larger than the area needed, you can trim the excess with scissors or a utility knife or only expand it enough to cover the desired area.
Fill Basecore™ Panels
Fill each geocell with angular gravel, extending the amount of gravel approximately 2” above each cell. Once each panel is set and has enough gravel to cover each geocell plus the additional 2”, it can now be driven on by a tractor or other equipment.
Compact Your Surface
Run the compactor slowly over each inch of the space including each edge. If any of the BaseCore™ becomes exposed, add more gravel and compact it.
Applications of Geocell Ground Grids
- Driveways and Parking Areas Geocell ground grids provide a stable, rut-free surface for residential and commercial driveways, parking lots, and carports. They can handle light and heavy vehicle traffic with ease.
- Erosion Control for Slopes and Embankments Prevent soil erosion and landslides on slopes with geocell grids. Their structure holds soil in place, even on steep inclines.
- Walkways and Trails Create accessible, erosion-free paths for pedestrians, bikes, and wheelchairs. Geocell grids are perfect for parks, nature reserves, and hiking trails.
- Farmyards and Animal Paddocks Reduce mud and erosion in high-traffic areas such as paddocks, feeding zones, and farmyards. Geocell grids provide a stable surface that’s easy to clean and maintain.
- Landscaping and Garden Projects Use geocell grids to stabilize soil for garden beds, retaining walls, and decorative gravel paths. Their versatility makes them a popular choice for DIY landscaping projects.
Why Choose BaseCore Geocell Ground Grids?
BaseCore™ geocell ground grids are engineered for exceptional performance and durability. Made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), they are UV-resistant, weatherproof, and designed to withstand heavy loads.
The BaseCore™ geocell features a very high tensile strength to withstand large amounts of lateral force and is effective in all climates. Whether you’re reinforcing a driveway or stabilizing a slope, BaseCore™ provides a cost-effective, long-lasting solution.
You can use angular gravel, crushed stone, sand, or soil as fill material. Angular gravel is recommended for maximum stability.
Specifications and Options
- 2-Inch BaseCore Geocell – Ideal for light pedestrian use, trails, and garden paths.
- 3-Inch BaseCore Geocell – Suitable for light vehicle traffic, such as driveways and carports.
- 4-Inch BaseCore Geocell – Designed for heavier vehicles and sloped terrain.
- 6-Inch BaseCore Geocell – Perfect for commercial use, including parking lots and fire truck access.
Basecore
Cell Measurement
Collapsed Dimension
Expanded Dimension
Expanded Section Dimension
17.5 x 3 in, 9 x 15 cells Expanding Dimension (Theoretical)
Basecore HD
Cell Measurement
Collapsed Dimension
Cell Measurement
Collapsed Dimension
Expanded Dimension
Expanded Dimension
Expanded Section Dimension
11.4 x 3 in, 9 x 15 cells Expanding Dimension (Theoretical)