Before construction workers begin building, they must follow a series of steps to get the excavation site ready. Tasks like soil analysis and grading ensure the property is safe for construction. Below the land-clearing and excavation contractors at Weddle Enterprises, Inc. in Somerset, KY, explain what it takes to make sure a piece of land is suitable for construction.

3 Steps to Preparing an Excavation Site for Construction

Soil Quality Report

Builders and engineers need to know the conditions of the soil around the site. Before the construction and excavation processes, the ground must be tested. The analyst will prepare a geotechnical report describing groundwater levels, slope stability, soil strength, and the soil’s load-bearing capacity.

Land Clearing & Excavation

The next steps are land clearing and excavation. Obstructions such as vegetation, rocks, and trees will be removed during this process. Once the area is clear, the excavation contractor removes soil using backhoes, steam shovels, and scoopers until they reach a predetermined depth. These machines remove dirt and load it onto transport vehicles for disposal.

Site Grading

The excavation site will then be graded, so it slopes away from the building location, preventing floods. Site workers typically use bulldozers to lay a 5% grade, or 1 inch of rise for every 20 inches of horizontal run. This ensures water will flow away from the building’s foundation.

Site Compaction

Once the excavation site is the proper depth and grade, workers must compact the soil to 90% of maximum dry density. They use rollers, tampers, and vibration machines to make sure the dirt is sturdy enough to support the weight of the new structure.

When you need excavation contractors that offer precision, speed, and reliability, the team at Weddle Enterprises, Inc. are the professionals to trust. They’ve been preparing excavation sites for over 40 years, so buildings throughout the Somerset area are on stable ground. Visit their website to learn more about their services, and call (606) 678-4057 to schedule a consultation. Like the company on Facebook to see photos of their current projects.