How to Grade and Prepare Soil for Building Projects
Survey the site you are going to build on., Obtain permits from any regulating authority., Mark any timber that will need to be removed., Decide whether you want to establish a haul route and permanent road onto the property., Seek engineering help...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Survey the site you are going to build on.
There are three things you need to carefully consider before beginning your site work.
Determine the property boundaries and encroachments such as underground utilities so you can legally proceed.
Determine if you will need permits and how clearing or modifying the grade will impact stormwater runoff and/or possible soil erosion.
Lay out the exact foot print of the area you plan to clear and grade. -
Step 2: Obtain permits from any regulating authority.
In some jurisdictions, grading projects may require permits, including stormwater management districts, zoning authorities, even your state or local department of the environment.
For some sites, permits may be required from federal agencies like the U.S.
EPA. , Merchantable timber may be sold, and logging companies may agree to purchase such timber, as well as removing stumps from large trees with their equipment, saving you lots of money and sweat. , Once you begin clearing, maintaining access can be critical to successfully completing the project.
Marking and maintaining a travel corridor should be done early in the process. , Geotechnical Engineers can investigate soil and subgrade conditions to determine whether they are suitable for building.
Things like soil bearing, demucking, soil stabilization, and the permeability of the site may need consideration.
Hauling out unsuitable fill and hauling in suitable fill dirt can cost a fortune, spending money on engineering services before beginning may save a lot, even on a small project. , You should have a grasp of the scope of your project if you have followed the previous steps.
Usually, the first step of action grading and preparing soils for a building project involves clearing and grubbing.
This means removing trees and vegetation, then grubbing out roots, organic materials, large rocks, and other impediments. , Some sites can be balanced, by scraping away topsoil and debris, then using existing subgrade material to level the site. Depending on your soil geology, you may have layers of sand, clay, gravel, or other soils/materials that can be stockpiled during clearing and placed back in a later step. , Most often, unusable materials like limbs, roots, and other things should be removed or disposed of as soon as they are cleared.
In some locations, burning is an economical option, but if it isn't practical or permitted in your area, go ahead and get rid of them so they don't become a breeding ground for pests. , This can be done by setting grade stakes or putting up batter boards with string lines so you can see how much additional material needs to be removed or hauled into your site. , This is the purpose of setting the grades in the previous step. Once the area is leveled, you can calculate the amount (if any) of additional fill material you will need. For a building slab, plan on filling the backslope adjacent to the slab to the required grade, particularly if you are hauling a substantial amount of fill dirt for the slab itself. , Proof rolling with a piece of heavy equipment is often used for this purpose, but a mechanical tamp or motorized tamp machine or compactor may be used, depending on how large the site is. A soil density report by a testing laboratory may be required at this point, check with your local zoning/inspection agency if you are building a permitted structure. , Placing layers of fill dirt, usually 6-8 inches deep, and compacting each layer is a normal procedure. For dry or sandy material, wetting the fill dirt often improves compaction, but for non draining soils like clay, keep from drenching your fill material. , Usually, a fine grade of plus or minus 1/2 inch is acceptable. -
Step 3: Mark any timber that will need to be removed.
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Step 4: Decide whether you want to establish a haul route and permanent road onto the property.
-
Step 5: Seek engineering help if needed.
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Step 6: Begin work.
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Step 7: Seperate suitable fill materials as you grade your site.
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Step 8: Burn or haul off vegetative debris.
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Step 9: Establish the finished grade your project requires.
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Step 10: Level the whole area you are preparing.
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Step 11: Compact the subgrade you have established in leveling your site.
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Step 12: Add fill dirt in lifts to reach your desired grade.
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Step 13: Grade the building pad using a builder's level or laser level or string lines to make sure it is within the desired tolerance (in respect to being level).
Detailed Guide
There are three things you need to carefully consider before beginning your site work.
Determine the property boundaries and encroachments such as underground utilities so you can legally proceed.
Determine if you will need permits and how clearing or modifying the grade will impact stormwater runoff and/or possible soil erosion.
Lay out the exact foot print of the area you plan to clear and grade.
In some jurisdictions, grading projects may require permits, including stormwater management districts, zoning authorities, even your state or local department of the environment.
For some sites, permits may be required from federal agencies like the U.S.
EPA. , Merchantable timber may be sold, and logging companies may agree to purchase such timber, as well as removing stumps from large trees with their equipment, saving you lots of money and sweat. , Once you begin clearing, maintaining access can be critical to successfully completing the project.
Marking and maintaining a travel corridor should be done early in the process. , Geotechnical Engineers can investigate soil and subgrade conditions to determine whether they are suitable for building.
Things like soil bearing, demucking, soil stabilization, and the permeability of the site may need consideration.
Hauling out unsuitable fill and hauling in suitable fill dirt can cost a fortune, spending money on engineering services before beginning may save a lot, even on a small project. , You should have a grasp of the scope of your project if you have followed the previous steps.
Usually, the first step of action grading and preparing soils for a building project involves clearing and grubbing.
This means removing trees and vegetation, then grubbing out roots, organic materials, large rocks, and other impediments. , Some sites can be balanced, by scraping away topsoil and debris, then using existing subgrade material to level the site. Depending on your soil geology, you may have layers of sand, clay, gravel, or other soils/materials that can be stockpiled during clearing and placed back in a later step. , Most often, unusable materials like limbs, roots, and other things should be removed or disposed of as soon as they are cleared.
In some locations, burning is an economical option, but if it isn't practical or permitted in your area, go ahead and get rid of them so they don't become a breeding ground for pests. , This can be done by setting grade stakes or putting up batter boards with string lines so you can see how much additional material needs to be removed or hauled into your site. , This is the purpose of setting the grades in the previous step. Once the area is leveled, you can calculate the amount (if any) of additional fill material you will need. For a building slab, plan on filling the backslope adjacent to the slab to the required grade, particularly if you are hauling a substantial amount of fill dirt for the slab itself. , Proof rolling with a piece of heavy equipment is often used for this purpose, but a mechanical tamp or motorized tamp machine or compactor may be used, depending on how large the site is. A soil density report by a testing laboratory may be required at this point, check with your local zoning/inspection agency if you are building a permitted structure. , Placing layers of fill dirt, usually 6-8 inches deep, and compacting each layer is a normal procedure. For dry or sandy material, wetting the fill dirt often improves compaction, but for non draining soils like clay, keep from drenching your fill material. , Usually, a fine grade of plus or minus 1/2 inch is acceptable.
About the Author
Paul White
Paul White has dedicated 1 years to mastering engineering and technical solutions. As a content creator, Paul focuses on providing actionable tips and step-by-step guides.
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