Constructing a new home or business is an exciting project, but before you can break ground, land clearing is an essential first step. Land must be properly prepared before it’s safe to begin development. Even if you’re not planning to develop the land, clearing it can significantly increase its value because opens up a wide range of options for future use.
Land clearing is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the process of clearing out trees, brush, hazards, and debris and if necessary, leveling or grading a piece of land. Because every property is unique, every land clearing job is different. The size, location, vegetation, and environment all come into play when determining the right strategy for preparing a property for construction.
If you have a piece of land that you’re looking to develop, below are some steps on how to best approach the land-clearing process from start to finish.
1. Conduct An Initial Assessment
Land clearing is a large job, so planning is always the best first step. You’ll need to know the scope of the project so you can properly prepare. To guarantee the best outcomes, you can always hire a professional to conduct a land feasibility study, which will outline all the work required prior to beginning construction. However, if you’re going to do it yourself, start by conducting a visual assessment of the property. Take note of the trees, vegetation, and other obstacles that need to be eliminated. Evaluate the degree of elevation or slope on the property and work with your developers to determine if grading, leveling, or erosion control measures are needed. Once you have a good idea about the work that needs to be done, you’ll want to make sure to secure the proper permits to do the work.
You’ll also need to use your initial assessment to take an inventory of all tools, equipment, vehicles, and people needed to perform the job. Excavators, front-end loaders, bucket trucks, skid steers, chippers, and stump grinders are some examples of the machinery needed for a land-clearing job.
This is also the time to do a thorough site survey. You’ll need to know the location of all gas lines, water pipes, and electric cables that run through the property and make sure they’re marked accordingly. Accidentally hitting a line can lead to huge expenses and lengthy delays in your construction project. It’s highly recommended you hire a professional to do the survey, as you definitely don’t want to miss anything.
2. Eliminate Vegetation and Debris
Once the paperwork and permits are wrapped-up and the equipment has been delivered to the property, the actual land clearing can begin. It’s common to start with tree removal and stump grinding before eliminating obstacles and hazards such as rocks, boulders, buried debris, or other structures. Finally, you’ll want to tackle any ground vegetation or brush. Once you’ve removed all vegetation and debris, it will need to be hauled away and disposed of properly.
In rare cases, the land may also contain contaminated soil or hazardous materials – in which case, you’ll need to hire a professional to ensure safe disposal.
3. Grade The Land If Necessary
Once all the debris and vegetation are eliminated, the land can be graded if necessary. Grading is the process of reshaping soil to enhance stability and create a level surface. A simple grading job involves digging away dirt from a higher section of the property and using it to raise a lower section of the property. Fill dirt is also commonly used to raise or level sections of land. Land grading is a critical step in order to be sure land is capable of supporting construction. Your developers should provide instruction on the amount of leveling or grading required to build. Because land grading is highly important, it’s a job that is usually best left to professionals.
During the grading process, you should also consider if any type of erosion controls are needed. Erosion controls, such as silt fences or control blankets, prevent sediment and runoff from contaminating local waterways during and after construction. In Volusia County, it’s necessary to impose “reasonable restrictions to control stormwater runoff and conserve water sources”, and so the land will need to be prepared with stormwater management strategies in mind.
4. The Final Inspection
Once the land is properly cleared and graded, it should be thoroughly inspected before construction can commence. Your developers, investors, and local building and planning office should all be involved and consulted, and each should sign off before construction begins. You can also hire a structural engineer for extra peace of mind. The last thing you want is to encounter a hazard or experience erosion during construction. This is also a good time to double-check that all construction permits and approvals have been secured prior to moving on to the development phase of the project. Once the property is inspected and all parties sign off, it’s time to start building.
Why You Should Leave Land Clearing To The Professionals
Land clearing is challenging work. Not only does it require skills, experience, compliance with environmental regulations, and well-maintained machinery, there are significant consequences to doing a poor job. If a developer discovers land wasn’t properly prepared during construction, it can disrupt the entire project. Therefore, it’s not something you should attempt to do alone. Hire a reputable outdoor services company like CFB Outdoors to assist with your land-clearing needs and ensure your construction project is set up for success. At the end of the day, it’s in your best interest to partner with a company that knows the land.
CFB Outdoors is Central Florida’s top outdoor services company, and nobody knows Central Florida landscapes like we do. We were born and raised in Volusia County, and we have decades of experience clearing land in this area. We also own our own equipment, so we’re not dependent on any third parties to get the job done. If you’re looking for a highly-qualified company to do your land-clearing work, contact us today.