Published Oct 19, 2020
Before beginning any major construction work, many preparations need to be done. You first have to ensure the land you’ll be working on is in the ideal condition for your project. One of the processes that improve the quality of land is land grading.
What is land grading?
At its core, land grading is the leveling of a land’s surface. This process typically involves taking dirt from higher areas to the lower ones to smoothen out the surface. However, that dirt may not always be enough, so it isn’t uncommon for additional dirt to be brought in from outside sources to complete the job.
Uses of land grading
Land grading is integral for engineers in planning and executing a project because it allows them to account for the land’s elevation at specific points. This data is necessary for the building’s design to secure its structural integrity. Land grading involves modifying the surface to the desired grade, found by engineering surveys, evaluations, and layouts.
Land grading is also extremely useful for laying out a sturdy foundation. The foundation is the most critical and integral part of any structure, private or commercial. Not only is it ideal for laying your foundation down on an even surface, but the drainage must also be effective at keeping runoff away from it. Negative drainage is when water runoff flows toward your building instead of away from it. With negative drainage, this can potentially damage your foundation by causing cracks and structural damage. Another use of land grading is the proper positive drainage.
Finished surfaces may be flat, but it may also be sloped to a planned grade and specifications for drainage and other design purposes. If you want to build a lovely brick walkway, you’ll want a flat surface on which to lay bricks. But if you’re going to keep rain runoff away from your house or build an inclined driveway, you should have a sloped surface to accomplish this.
Do you need land grading?
The answer to this question lies in the suitability of the land where construction is to be done. Land grading provides the ideal topography for buildings and facilities, preventing unwanted surface runoff, erosion, and sedimentation from otherwise ungraded land. Land grading is applicable for project sites with irregular or steep topography, or easily erodible soils, as it stabilizes slopes and decreases runoff velocity. In most cases, land grading is essential because it solves most drainage problems or prevents those problems from possibly arising in the future.
How to hire a grading contractor
If you plan on hiring a contracting to perform land grading activities on your project, you’ll want to go over a few things beforehand. To ensure their suitability on your project, here are some tips for you to consider.
- Consider experience: Experience is an excellent gauge for the quality of work you will be receiving. Because grading is such an essential task for preparing your construction site, you want to select a trustworthy contractor for this job. Additionally, it would be best to go with a specialized contractor, meaning you shouldn’t choose a residential expert for a commercial job.
- Ask technical questions: You should be sufficiently educated on all the services you will be receiving from grading contractors. Be sure to ask as many technical questions and clarify your concerns when obtaining a quote.
Determine what’s included in a quote: Lastly, you should also be informed of everything included in the quote. Many contractors charge exorbitant fees because they insert many unnecessary components that drive costs up. You should know exactly what you’re getting and not be afraid to ask about anything included in the quote.
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About The Author
Terrence Tan Ting is an industrial engineer by profession but a full time writer by passion. He loves to write about a wide range of topics from many different industries thanks to his undying curiosity.