The Preparation of Land for Residential Construction

25 Apr The Preparation of Land for Residential Construction

Have you purchased a beautiful piece of property and can’t wait to construct the home of your dreams? Well for potential homeowners who are in the process of residential construction there are certain factors that must be considered after acquiring the land before moving onto the construction phase.

Residential Construction  Tips For Land Owners

Even though most people visualize their home when it is finally completed the land on which the home is to be built must be prepared prior to constructing the home. There are also numerous things that must be addressed as it relates to grading the land and securing a solid foundation so that it is suitable to commence construction .

Once you have located and purchased the perfect property and everything is finalized your next step would be to retain the services of a construction company who will then begin by clearing the land. This would include removing trees, shrubs and tree roots, blasting rock and hauling in-fill dirt after which the ground is compacted and levelled.

After the basic groundwork is completed the construction/general contractor will then initiate the creation of foundation trenches on which the house will be erected. Heavy machinery is usually mobilized to handle the digging of trenches and firming up the ground however there may be a need for some extra dirt to be brought in if the ground is not as solid as it should be.

The next step in this process would be erect stakes that will indicate where the corners of the house will be situated. This is mainly done so that workers pouring the concrete will be aware of where the footings are supposed to go.

This is also a good time to find out the topography of the land just in case your house has to be stepped up into the hillside. If so then it would make it all the more convenient for the contractor to go ahead and have the driveway poured while the concrete truck is there.

As the site preparation progresses up next would be to install the groundwork for utilities. This phase will involve laying the lines for electricity, water, natural gas, and sewage. If there isn’t any sewer connectivity in the area a separate space will be dug out for the septic tank.

If house plans include a basement this too will also be dug out and smoothed off. Persons should also double check with contractors to make that they aren’t any issues with the drainage as this could result in a wet leaky basement when the house is completed.

Given all the factors outlined, there is no doubt that a significant amount of preparation is required in order to make a piece of land suitable to build on. Great attention should be given to project details along with a well thought out building plan in order for projects to be less hassle cost effective and within budget.  Contact us for more information.