Groundwork and Excavation – DIY Series

Before starting anything else a driveway must be created to gain access to the building site. Check with state and country transpiration authorities to see if there are restrictions or guidelines about where the driveway must be on the property. If you do not check first, you might waste time and money tearing it apart and doing it all over again, in addition to the possibility of getting a fine.

Clearing the lot is the next step of the groundwork and excavation process. This, of course, involves the removal of trees, stumps, and brush that can cause interference with the construction of the house and the driveway clearing. Removing as much of this as you can on your own will save money in subcontracting fees.
Be sure to check if the environmental laws are in place regarding sediments and other runoffs into streams that might occur from the construction site.  It is crucial to follow these codes to protect the streams and other environmental factors. If you ignore this detail, you will find yourself facing fines and delays, public disdain, and perhaps upset neighbours.

Before the excavation can begin on the property, be sure to meet with the excavator ahead of time to mark off where the house is going to be situated. This is where the foundation, slab, or crawl space will be dug. The thing that needs to be done during this meeting is physically marking the corners of the foundations; the excavator will do the rest.

Setting up a timetable for this phase of the project depends on the type of foundation being dug, the slope of the land, and any other preparations that needs to occur on the building site. Be sure to pay close attention to what the excavator is doing so the hole is being dug properly to ensure the house is going to be situated as in the drawings.