Get ready to dig! Moving leftover debris is what these Earthwork Contractors do. This article discusses the critical steps in a foundation’s site preparation.
Lot clearing is the first and foremost important step when preparing a new home-build project.
The residential excavation company works hand-in-hand with the engineer to safeguard the home’s foundation. The project also aims to create a permanent residence for the homeowners to enjoy for years to come.
5 Steps For A Proper Lot Clearing and Preparation
1. Before Residential Excavation Can Begin, Know The Land
It’s a rule of thumb to never begin any project without first getting a soil report from the engineer.
Even though experience in the industry can indicate when there is clay in the soil, documentation is key. Knowing what is in the soil lays the groundwork for how to proceed with the land clearing project.
The soil report will show the components of the soil as well as indicate the plasticity index (PI). The PI measures the level of the soil’s plasticity characteristic.
Clay Is The Main Culprit For Raising The PI To Suboptimal Levels.
When water is added to the clay material during site preparation, the characteristic becomes moldable, flexible, and easily manipulated, like plastic. This is not ideal to have underneath a foundation of a home.
Additionally, as the material becomes saturated with water, it expands, causing havoc to the stabilization of the foundation and adversely affecting the permanency of a home. If clay is found in the soil, it will have to be removed.
It’s important to note that Prescott Valley does not require a soils report before site preparation. However, a professional approach ensures that clay under a house does not compromise the structure due to moisture expansion.
2. The Engineer And Land Clearing Company Work Together On The Site Preparation For The Best Foundation Option For The Home
An important aim is to save developers as much land grading costs as possible. When the type of foundation is in question, options include:
- Laying a conventional foundation once the clay has been removed from the soil
- Using a post-tension slab, which enables the whole foundation of the home to move as a unit if the earthwork underneath happens to shift
While post-tension slabs are impressive, they can sometimes exceed the cost of a conventional foundation during lot clearing.
Speaking of saving money—years of providing consistent quality work have led to extensive knowledge of creative methods to save builders time and money.
Efficiency in land surveying ensures jobs get done in the most time-efficient manner, using available resources effectively.
3. The Excavation Contractors Survey The Slope
Good lots, meaning flat lots, are hard to come by in the Quad City Region, as they’ve been built upon. Prime spots now have slopes that need earthwork contractors to get the ground level for the foundation. There are prime spots with a view in the forest but have rocky soil or actual rocks that require excavation with a power hammer.
The lay of the land determines what the lot clearing and excavation company must do to proceed. Dirt won’t always be the answer to leveling a sloped lot. If there is too much of a slope, the best method is to create a level foundation by building it up using either wood or concrete.
For land that can be leveled using the traditional method with dirt, quality buildable soil will need to be trucked to the site.
To save time and money, Aspire Construction Group imports structural fill that is engineered specifically to create a strong and sturdy base for the foundation. The fill is also pre-moistened for quicker compaction without the need for a water truck—another time and money-saving tactic.
The slope of the land is measurable using a laser beam level to calculate the highest and lowest points of where the foundation is to be laid. With these given points, the amount of engineered fill necessary to level the land is determined.
4. Compaction Is Key
The purpose of compacting the soil before laying the foundation is to minimize the number of air pockets within the subsurface of the soil.
Effectively reducing air pockets decreases the risk of soil shifting under the pressure of the house due to dirt settling into these empty spaces. Compacting the dirt also makes it much more difficult for water to pass through the soil, reducing hydraulic conductivity.
Consistent Tests For Precisely Compacted Dirt
As the lot clearing and site preparation contractor raises the dirt to the determined height, each foot of ground raised must be inspected by the engineer until the finished grade is reached.
The excavation and land clearing services crew must use external mechanical pressure to attain optimal density and compaction. This is achieved using wheel-roll grid compaction over the dirt, ensuring every square inch is compacted per square foot raised.
5. The Engineer Inspects Every Step Of The Excavating Process
There is no room for cutting corners when it comes to proper compaction of the foundation’s soil. Constant communication with the engineer ensures the best work possible with the engineer’s guidance.
This portion of the project is extremely intricate, requiring knowledge and precision to avoid wasted time with the engineer and the developer.
The Proctor Compaction Test:
The engineer uses the Proctor Compaction Test to determine if the soil is foundation-ready based on two crucial factors: moisture level and density level.
The goal is to achieve a state of optimum moisture that allows for the highest density. Optimal moisture consists of three parts:
- Soil
- Water
- Air
Together, these should equal 100%. Any excess suggests irregularities in the soil composition.
The test also calculates the dry density of the soil when it is in its natural state.
The Nuclear Density Gauge can perform the Proctor compaction test. This is an extremely accurate piece of equipment with a state-of-the-art microprocessor to compute multiple soil characteristics, including:
- Wet density
- Dry density
- Moisture content
- Percent of moisture
- Percent of compaction
- Void ratio (the volume of air pockets to the volume of the soil particles)
- Amount of air spaces
Upon completion and approval of these tests, the foundation will be ready for construction.
What’s the average price for lot clearing?
The average cost to clear land is $500-$2,000 for lightly wooded acres with the removal of some large trees.
Heavily wooded lands, on the other hand, may cost up to $5,600 per acre.
As a site preparation step, the cost to clear land to build varies depending on the following factors:
- Land area
- Density and sizes of trees
- Rocks, brush, stumps, and other debris
- Existing surface and underground structures
- Time of the year
We Put the Best In Our Land Clearing Services
Aspire Construction Group is a locally-owned family business, providing services in Central Arizona. With over 30 years of experience, we offer high-quality land clearing and excavation services at great value.
Our diligent, hard-working professionals deliver sensible solutions for our clients. Hiring a trustworthy crew ensures the job is done right the first time.
For top-notch Arizona residential excavation needs, contact Aspire Construction Group today for a free estimate!
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