Every single commercial project requires intimate collaboration between contractors, specialists, and tradespeople. And while keeping a site as natural as possible is appealing, it can present problems in the long run.
Luckily, contractors can use construction site grading to prepare the land for commercial development. Keep reading to learn site grading basics and why it’s essential for commercial construction projects.
The Importance of Understanding Site Grading Basics
Site grading is a vital part of the construction process. Unfortunately, it’s a step often disregarded and marked as unnecessary. If you skip this step, you end up with a list of never-ending problems when you finish construction.
However, avoiding problems is only the by-product of the ultimate goal you want to achieve. Some of these goals include:
- Zoning compliance
- Provide a foundation to attain desirable aesthetics
- Environmental considerations for pollutants, erosion, and stormwater runoff
Out of the goals given above, the most important one is to control excess stormwater.
There are two main problems that it presents. Once it starts collecting around the foundation, you’ll face rot and marshy soil textures.
This presents a significant problem when it dries out. For example, the excess stormwater will contract and expand once it dries out. That causes cracks to appear or the foundation to eventually weaken.
And that’s beside the damage to the windows, floors, doors, and even walls.
There’s really only one way to avoid threats to your building’s foundation and other problems. And that’s by hiring professional site grading contractors.
In such an important step of the process, it’s important to utilize experts whose knowledge goes beyond site grading basics.
How Is It Used in Construction?
Site grading contractors will survey the land before the loaders, graders, and excavators start rolling in. Surveying is necessary to determine the different elevations and shapes of the land in question.
After taking soil samples and surveying the land, the grading contractors will then create a site plan. This part is discussed and created with the other experts on the team.
Within the plan, you’ll typically find specifications for the following:
- Adding and removing material
- Machines required to create specified surface
- Unexpected debris
- Underground utilities
Having a thorough plan is vital in preventing a total building collapse from an uneven surface.
Once the plan is complete, the next step is to secure all necessary tests, inspections, and permits. The heavy machinery rolls in once the list of paperwork is complete. Every company has its own techniques. Regardless, they’ll follow the same protocol for some of the machines.
For example, the contractors use excavators to remove large sections of soil and rock while using graders to create a smooth, even surface.
Site grading isn’t limited to creating smooth surfaces for commercial buildings. If you need to create an aesthetic surrounding to draw in more visitors, you can use site grading as one of the first steps in designing out a business park.
Ensuring Safety and Saving Money
Understanding the site grading basics is critical to creating a stable commercial building. It’s there to prevent lasting and expensive damage to your commercial building.
If your future development plans require site grading, then get in contact with our specialists to get a no-hassle, free estimate!
