How to Prepare a Building Site

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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To prepare a piece of land for constructing a home or any other type of building involves planning and analyzing the area. Certain soil tests are necessary. Decisions must be made in regard to your vision of how you want the finished project to look. Read on to learn why.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Step1

Have a perk test done by a soil specialist in order to determine if your building site will sustain a septic tank system. This is important whether you are building a personal home or a commercial building.

Step2

Analyze the topography of the site where you are preparing to build. Determine if the land is rolling and hilly, level or sloped. Find out about soil conditions. You need to know if there are large rocks or sandy areas that will need to be addressed before you start grading.

Step3

Walk the area where you are going to prepare a building site. Decide what trees you want to leave and mark them with red or orange flags so that they won't be disturbed when you start to clear and grade the land.

Step4

Cut down all trees and brush that you don't want and make room for the size house you are going to build. Plan enough room when you prepare a building site for yards, driveways and walkways.

Step5

Grade the land to prepare a building site. Rent a bulldozer to run yourself (if you have experience in that area) or hire a professional grader. If you are building a home, you need to decide if you want a basement, crawl space or concrete slab for the foundation. Grade your land perfectly flat in order to pour a concrete slab.

Tips & Warnings

Most counties require that you pour gravel where the driveway will be before you start building. This provides a way for trucks to get in and out in all kinds of weather without spreading mud throughout the neighborhood.
Silk fence is also required in many areas. It is put around the perimeter of freshly-graded property. It lets rainwater in, but keeps the mud and dirt on your own property.