There are pros and cons to using a single or double drum roller. It all depends on the site and the soil you are working with. Single drum rollers have wheels in the back, so they have traction and can handle gradeability and narrow turns. Double drum rollers have no wheels, so they cannot tolerate any obstructions in the road, and they have no traction.

Water can be used in multiple ways in the compaction process. Drum rollers may contain water tanks inside the drum to add more weight to the machine, increasing the amount of compaction force. Some ride-on roller models contain a water tank to spray water on the soil to add moisture for aiding in compaction. Lastly, operators can spray down the roller drums so that hot asphalt does not stick to the equipment.

United Rentals carries a variety of padfoot rollers for cohesive soil compaction. Both padfoot and sheepsfoot rollers have lugs or “feet” attached to the drums, best suited for cohesive soils such as silt and clay. As the drum moves across the work area, the feet enter the soil and compact it. Padfoot rollers have higher production capacity compared to sheepsfoot ones. They break up large clumps of clay or silt and spread the soil across the area. After compaction, you will have uniform and level soil.