What flows into voids in one continuous pour … forming ground you can walk on in just 20 minutes?

It’s Redi-Fill, the specialty backfill available only from Prairie Material.

Contractors throughout our region use Redi-Fill to solve problems, add strength and cut days and dollars from projects of all sizes – from local street repairs to the runways at Indianapolis International Airport.

At world-famous Fermilab in Batavia, Illinois, Redi-Fill provided stability around complex pipe networks near new buildings completed in 2009. “We used it in other areas, too … wherever we needed to be absolutely sure there was no settlement,” says Jaycen Whittaker of Whittaker Excavating, contractors on the project. 

Nicor, the natural gas utility for northern Illinois, uses Redi-Fill to reopen streets fast after emergency repairs. “A 2-man crew can fill the void around a repaired gas main in minutes,” says Lonny Terzo, Prairie’s manager of quality control for northern Illinois. “Redi-Fill makes it possible to repave the spot within an hour of backfilling.”

The Indianapolis Water Company uses nearly 20,000 yards of Redi-Fill every year, relying on it for every job requiring backfill under pavement, says Prairie’s Tony Kivett.

Over 100,000 yards of Redi-Fill were used to anchor pipes installed deep under runways at the Indianapolis airport, Kivett adds. “This was the largest installation since Prairie began offering the material to Indiana contractors in 1991.”

Better in every way

Unlike sand-and-stone backfill, which must be placed in successive layers and compacted with specialized equipment, Redi-Fill just flows into place, explains Terzo.

 “It’s self-compacting, so workers don’t have to get down in the hole,” he says. “The pour is done in one smooth step.”

Contractors also rely on Redi-Fill to support foundations and footings, Terzo notes. "At a local car dealership, we filled 8 large voids in an afternoon and the footings for the new building were poured the next morning," he reports. "Wherever strength and stability matter, Redi-Fill really delivers."

“We love this stuff!”

That’s what one construction supervisor says about Redi-Fill, which he’s used for years on complex municipal jobs.  And what’s not to love?

It flows in fast. This self-compacting material fills voids of all shapes and sizes, working its way around pipes and other underground features.

It’s strong and it lasts. Redi-Fill delivers strengths of 4,000 to 5,000 pounds per square foot and stays stable, even under stress. “Just ask the City of Indianapolis,” says Prairie’s Tony Kivett. “They found that street cuts backfilled with sand and stone failed 60% to 80% of the time. With Redi-Fill, the failure rate is now zero.”

It’s diggable. Even after placement, you can put a shovel into Redi-Fill. “We like the fact that if we’ve laid it on too high, we can move it around,” says Whittaker.

It works year-round.  Redi-Fill can be placed even in sub-zero temperatures -- and it gains strength evenly in all weather.

Considering Redi-Fill for an upcoming project? For expert support, contact Lonny Terzo at lterzo@prairie.com or 708.458.0400.