3 Site Preparation Guidelines for Residential Construction

The process of building a new home can be exhilarating when you can customise the structure. On the other hand, this project can be expensive and stressful unless you have made explicit budget plan. One of the aspects that can be easily forgotten when planning is site preparation. This refers to the process of making your site ready for actual construction. You should understand the tasks involved as a potential homeowner so that you will plan for the expenses.

Demolition and Clearing

The building site must be cleared to provide a free area for construction. The type and amount of work required will depend on the initial state of your plot. If your site is virgin land, you will need to clear out the vegetation, remove trees and clear out the debris. If your land has an existing structure, demolition will be necessary. 

You can carry out partial or full demolition to accomplish your site preparation goals. Partial demolition involves taking down only part of the old house. It is an economical choice because the remaining parts can be incorporated into the new building. Moreover, you can preserve the original charm of the property by preserving walls and facades. Full demolition is necessary when the house is highly damaged and the cost of renovation is high compared to rebuilding.

Cutting and Filling

Cutting and filling are processes which are aimed at making your site more level before construction. Cutting involves removing the soil from the plot in order to attain level ground. The technique will be used if your land has raised areas which are likely to interfere with the construction. If your building site has holes or general depressions, the filling technique is crucial. Basically, soil is obtained from a secondary location and used to fill the hole to create a level area.

You should ensure that this work is carried out by experienced contractors to avoid future complications. For example, if the new soil structure is not properly compacted after filling, it will not support your home well.

Grading

Grading is a critical process in preserving the long-term structural integrity of your building. This involves creating a ground grade that slopes away from the foundations of your new home. The process will ensure that the rainwater will flow away from the structural base. In addition, this drainage plan should not affect the potential landscaping features negatively. The grading work can be difficult especially for flat plots, so you should discuss your options with the contractor.

You will likely have questions about the process, how much it will cost, and how long it will take. You can contact resources like Vinmar Homes with these questions.