While it is never glamorous, site preparation is an important step in construction projects. It involves all the initial work required to make a site viable for work to start on different types of projects. Proper site preparation helps projects go a lot smoother and can save contractors both time and money. It involves various steps that we will look at below.

Site Surveying

While you might have an idea of where you need to be putting a structure or project, you need to be 100% sure before you start work. A site survey line shows the exact area where the new project is supposed to be. This is typically done using survey pegs that not only mark the boundaries of the piece of land where work will commence, but also the exact location of the new building or structure.

You might not be required to complete such a survey in some circumstances, but it is required during zoning and permitting processes. Also, it is required because the survey will help with the translation of the contractor’s plan onto the physical piece of land.

Site Clearing

The whole area has to be cleared and then graded. The types of tasks undertaken during this process can vary and include demolishing existing structures and buildings, removal of trees, and elimination of underground infrastructure.

Other obstacles that might interfere with the future viability of the project have to be removed. For example, the site manager can hire a company to remove tree roots from the ground which could become a problem once the digging and grading begin.

Since site clearing can affect how smoothly the project progresses and if any unforeseen issues come up, it has to be completed carefully and thoroughly.

Soil Testing

Even when the site has been chosen and cleared, work cannot commence before the contractor understands the underlying soil.  Testing is crucial and can be done before or after the site is decided upon. It is a critical tool in helping the site engineer understand the soil’s properties including how much water it absorbs and how well it can support the proposed building or structure in different circumstances.

Whether it is done before or after the site is selected, the site engineer will insist on doing it before any construction begins.

Site Plan Design

Once the site engineer says the soil is good enough for the proposed structure, all septic tanks, drainage systems and other utilities have to be marked out. You do not want to start construction only to find that you have put the foundation where the septic tank is supposed to be.

The placement of these utilities should be marked on the design and announced to everyone so that people know where to work. Also, there should be a permanent record of these underground structures, especially in areas where the earth shifts.

The plan will also include paths made available for construction vehicles, including where they pass and park during the project.

There are just some critical steps that need to be completed before a construction project commences. They help ensure smother projects as well as the long-term viability of the completed project.