What Is Fill Dirt?

Fill dirt is a common element at construction sites.

If you have seen mounds of dirt stacked up at a construction site, then you have seen fill dirt. It is one of the cheapest but most essential elements to any major construction project.

Function

Fill dirt is soil obtained from an off-site location and brought to a construction site for the purpose of using it to "fill" holes or serve other construction needs.

Types

Types of fill dirt can range from inorganic clean fill dirt found underground to top soil used for areas where plants or grass might eventually grow. Rocks, sand and gravel can also be used as fill dirt.

Features

Typically, fill dirt is the most inexpensive dirt possible, lacking the qualities that make soil valuable in limited quantities for landscaping and other projects.

Effects

Along with "filling" holes, fill dirt can also be used to level areas of varying elevations on a construction site along with creating artificial mounds and changing the grade or elevation of a property.

Fun Fact

In 2009, the Birmingham News reported that the city of Oxford, Alabama, had caused controversy with a plan to use soil from an ancient Indian burial ground as fill dirt for construction of a Sam's Club department store.

References

• EMG: Industry Terms and Definitions
• Birmingham News

Resources

• Dirt Fill