What Are the First Steps of Clearing Newly Acquired Land?

If you’ve always wanted to build your dream home, you’re probably aware that the first step in the process is buying a plot of land. After all, you can’t build the perfect home unless you’ve got a place to build it! But there’s a lot to do between buying the right plot and building the ideal home. Specifically, you’ll need to undertake environmental cleanup and make sure the land is ready for development.

Preparing newly acquired land for development is a variable process that depends greatly on the condition of the land you purchase. In a good situation, it might be a plot that’s just dirt with no previous developments. In a less-than-ideal situation, your plot might be overrun with foliage and have debris from previous developments or activities. In any case, it’ll need to undergo construction site preparation.

Demolition and debris removal

For sites that have previously been utilized, debris removal is the first step. This can include everything from digging up buried items to knocking down old outbuildings to demolishing retaining walls and more. In many cases, it simply means removing foreign debris from the lot. This also includes boulders and other stone impediments.

Trim back foliage

Once any non-natural debris is removed from your site, it’s time to think about getting the foliage under control. On small plots, you might be able to dig out ground-level shrubs or mow down grass… but it’s more than likely it’ll take a lot more to ready your site for development. Most lots need more extensive clearing, including mulching for all ground-level greenery, tree removal and stump removal.

Alternatively, for larger sites with heavy foliage, site developers recommend doing this stage after a survey of the land is complete. There’s no sense in totally clearing the land of foliage if your home is only going to occupy part of it!

Survey the land

With debris cleared away and the greenery under control, your next step is to call a surveyor. Before any development can be properly planned, a surveyor needs to examine the site and make sure the proposed structure falls within Jeffersonville, IN civil code for development planning. For example, a surveyor needs to determine how utilities will be run to the home and if there are any easements to be aware of while building.

Grading and staking

After the land is surveyed and the proposed development is approved, there’s still site prep work to be done—namely, grading and construction staking. Grading ensures the land is level and ready for general excavation. Construction staking shows where the development will take place and where other excavation work will occur, such as trenching for utilities.

Ready to start building!

With the land cleared and properly marked off for development, construction can finally begin! The importance of construction site preparation will become evident as the build quickly progresses from excavation to foundation pouring to framing and beyond. It all starts with proper prep work. As the old saying goes, “If I had four hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend the first two hours sharpening the axe.”

Categorised in: Land Clearing

This post was written by Writer