One Panel Replaces 288 lb of Compacted Crushed Stone Gator Base is an interlocking EPP panel that replaces 6 inches of compacted crushed stone and 6 inches of excavation. One 1.32 lb panel does the work of 288 lb of aggregate, and it insulates at R-3.6 per inch. Pedestrian applications. Ships Same DayFrom our NJ warehouse 1 or 10 Panels6.1 sq ft each, 1.32 lb Replaces 6 in of Stone288 lb of aggregate per panel Real Humans(856) 418-4895 Why Contractors Ask for Gator Base by Name The base is most of the labor on a patio and almost all of the trucking. Gator Base takes 6 in of stone and 6 in of excavation out of the job, which is why a two-person crew can do in a day what used to take three. Replaces 6 in of compacted crushed stone and 6 in of extra excavation. One panel equals 288 lb (130 kg) of compacted aggregate. 1.32 lb per panel. Five panels cover about 29 sq ft and weigh 6.6 lb, against 12 wheelbarrows and 1,440 lb of stone. R-3.6 per inch thermal resistance. Alliance rates one panel as insulating like 15.7 in of dry compacted stone, roughly three times more effective. LOCK-N-GO tongue and groove. Panels lock together and trim with a utility knife. Drains properly. Water evacuation channels on a 1 degree slope and five drainage holes per 16 sq in. Cuts costs across the board. Alliance claims 50 percent savings on excavation, minimum 20 percent on labor, plus truck, dumping and machinery wear. 100 percent recyclable and does not degrade in soil. Gator Base Specifications Panel size 24.25 in x 36.25 in (61.5 cm x 92 cm) Total area 6.1 sq ft per panel Usable surface 5.79 sq ft (23.5 in x 35.5 in) Thickness 19 mm (0.75 in) Panel weight 1.32 lb (0.6 kg) Material Expanded polypropylene (EPP) Replaces 6 in of compacted crushed stone plus 6 in of excavation Equivalent aggregate 288 lb (130 kg) per panel Thermal resistance R-3.6 per inch Dynamic load 8 psi, 1,152 lb per sq ft on a 12 x 12 in paver Static load 2 psi, 288 lb per sq ft with a 4:1 safety factor Traffic rating Pedestrian only Standards ICPI Tech Spec 2, 9 and 10 Each panel covers 6.1 sq ft total, 5.79 sq ft usable once the overlap is accounted for. Divide your patio area by 5.79 and add for cuts, or call (856) 418-4895 and we will do it with you. Where Gator Base Works Alliance rates Gator Base for pedestrian applications: Paver patios, sidewalks, walkways and paths Pool surrounds and pool decks Seating walls up to 18 in high and 12 in deep Fire pits, with a thermal barrier between the heat source and the panel Heated paving systems up to 122 F Concrete pavers, natural stone, wet cast and porcelain via the Gator Tile system Where Gator Base Should NOT Be Used (Straight From the Manufacturer) Pedestrian use only. No vehicular traffic, no driveways. Static load must not exceed 2 psi (288 lb per sq ft including the height of what sits on it). Seating walls and fire pits are limited to 18 in high by 12 in deep. Fire pits require a thermal barrier between the heat source and the panel. All organic matter must be removed beneath the panel. Heated paving is compatible only up to 122 F (50 C). Not sure if your project qualifies? Call us at (856) 418-4895 before you order. We will give you a straight answer, even if the answer is that this is not the right product for your job. How to Install Gator Base Panels The full step by step guide is in the official documentation below. Here is the shape of the job: Excavate to fabric plus 3/4 in of sand or ASTM No. 9 stone, plus the 19 mm panel, plus your paver thickness. Go 6 in wider than the paved area, 12 in for a seating wall or fire pit. Call utilities first. Level and compact the soil to a 2 percent slope away from structures, with no protrusion or hollow over 3/8 in. Lay Gator Fabric GF4.4 over the area and up the sides, then screed 3/4 in of sand, moisten and compact to 1/2 in. ASTM No. 9 stone needs no compaction. Install the panels staggered, locking the tongue and groove, trimming with a utility knife and keeping a 6 in overlap for the edging. Set the pavers directly on the panels, then install Gator Edge firmly against them with a Gator Base Screw at every second hole. Sand the joints with Gator Maxx G2, compacting with a rubber-padded plate to 1/8 in below the chamfer, then activate with water.
