Construction Project Management Services and Construction Books
  • Construction Home
  • About Paul Netscher
  • +Construction Books
    • Successful Construction Project Management
    • Building a Successful Construction Company
    • Construction Claims
    • Construction Project Management: Tips and Insights
    • Construction Management: From Project Concept to Completion
    • An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses
    • The Successful Construction Supervisor and Foreman
    • Designing your ideal home
  • Construction Management Services
  • Book Reviews
  • Contact
  • Blog | Construction Management
  • Site Map
  • Blog | Home Improvement
  • Index of construction articles
  • Useful Links
  • Index Home Improvement

Clearing way for your new home

22/1/2021

4 Comments

 
Picture
Image by mac231 from Pixabay
So you've bought a property and you are ready to start building your dream house. Have you decided where your house will sit on the property? What's in the way? Trees, old buildings? What must be moved before construction of your new home begins?
​You need to clear the area to make way for your new home. Do you just get a bulldozer in to smash everything down and clear it out the way of construction? Do you flatten the whole site?

Clearing space for your new home – not simply sending a bulldozer in

Picture
Image by andreas160578 from Pixabay
​Clearing the construction site could involve:
  • Demolishing existing structures. Demolition company tore down the wrong house, said it was a mistake
  • Removing vegetation. It’s important to clearly mark trees that shouldn’t be removed and fence off vegetation which you don’t want damaged. A bulldozer or excavator can do big damage in a few seconds when your back’s turned. Vegetation can be chipped and mulched and stockpiled to use as compost and mulch for landscaping at the end of the project.
  • Stripping topsoil. In general, topsoil is the top layer of the ground suitable for plants to grow in, which could be between 50mm and 200mm thick (two to eight inches). It isn’t suitable under houses and roads and must be removed, and shouldn’t be used for filling in trenches. Topsoil is usually a valuable commodity and should be separated from construction debris and other soil. Good topsoil is essential for landscaping and sufficient quantities should be stockpiled on the property (space providing) to be spread in new garden areas when all building work is complete. Importing new topsoil is expensive, plus there’s the cost of carting away the material stripped from your property. Stockpiles of topsoil on the property may need to be protected so it isn’t washed away by rain, possibly blocking stormwater drains, or being carried onto neighbouring properties or roads where it must be cleaned up. Excess good topsoil could even be sold, or given away free providing people cart it away at no cost to you. See also Levelling an area for your house  for more useful information.
  • Removing any obstructions and impediments to the project work.  

Do not flatten the wrong things

It's easy to send a bulldozer in and clear everything on your property. But you will have additional costs to remove everything you smashed down on the property - stuff that could have, or should have remained in place. You could later regret the trees that were destroyed, or the good top soil that you paid to be carted from the project, top soil and trees that you wish you had to establish your new garden. Of course as we said in our previous article you definitely don't want to be building on top soil or vegetation, which won't provide a good foundation for your home.
Other Useful articles
Steps to constructing your new house. Part 1
​Are You Building On Toxic Land?
Choosing Your Property – Where to Build
Picture
​This is an extract from the author's book 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses: Volume 1 Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home'.
​© 2020 This article is not to be reproduced for commercial purposes without written permission from the author.

Want to learn more about designing, renovating and building houses?

Picture
Click on this picture to read more on Amazon
​Paul Netscher has written 2 easy to read books 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses - Volumes 1 and 2'. An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses Volume 1 deals with Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home.  and Designing your ideal home Volume 2 deals with Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home. 
​("Great for those that DIY. Very helpful in home renovations!" said a Reader on Amazon.com 5*****)
These books are available from Amazon and other online bookstores in paper and ebook.
4 Comments
Mia Evans link
14/7/2022 10:58:09 am

It's interesting to know that there are trees to be marked before you have land clearing services, especially when they are not supposed to be removed from the property. We definitely have to do that for the piece of land that I inherited from my parents. There are definitely trees that I don't want to be removed from the area to keep the natural touch in it when we have our dream home constructed there by next year.

Reply
Braden Bills link
19/10/2022 12:02:46 am

I want to clear out some old shrubbery from my property so that I can build a shed. It makes sense that I would want to work with a land clearing specialist to help me out with this. That seems like a good way to ensure that I handle things correctly.

Reply
Millie Hue link
15/12/2022 01:08:30 pm

It really helped when you said that we should have trees marked when they shouldn't be removed as well as protect the vegetation that you want to keep. I will mention this to my sister because she has bought a piece of land where she will get her dream house erected by next year. She will definitely need some land clearing services to remove some trees on some areas and get rid of weeds as well.

Reply
Steve Smith link
24/1/2023 08:02:26 am

I like how you mentioned that clearing the trees is part of a land clearing to obtain vacant land. My cousin informed me yesterday that he is looking for a trustworthy clearing service to efficiently clear their land for their business store property construction. He asked if I had thoughts on the best option for consultation. I appreciate this informative article, I'll tell him he should consult a trusted land clearing service as they can provide more details about the process.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    I’m a construction professional, author of several successful construction management books, and a home owner. I’ve made mistakes in construction management, I’ve seen others make mistakes, but importantly I’ve had multiple successful construction projects and I’ve learned from the mistakes. I want to share these lessons and my knowledge with you.
    'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses - Volume 1 Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home' are my latest books. packed with tips and information to ensure your home construction project is a success. Get your copy today from Amazon and other online stores.

    Also available from:
    ​​Amazon Au, 
    Amazon DE, 
    Amazon ES, 
    Amazon CA,
    Amazon IT, 
    Amazon FR, 
    Amazon NL,
    ​Amazon India
    and 'An Introduction to Building Houses - Volume 2 Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home' ​
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Construction Books

Successful Construction Project management
Building a Successful Construction Company
Construction Claims: A Short Guide for Contractors
Construction Management: From Project Concept to Completion
Construction Project Management: Tips and Insights
​
Build and Renovate Your Home With Your Eyes Wide Open
Book Reviews

Construction services

Construction Management Services
Paul Netscher
Construction Management Blog
​Home Improvement Blog

Contact
Developing Successful Construction Project Managers.

Building Successful Construction Companies.
30 years of construction project management experience
  • Construction Home
  • About Paul Netscher
  • +Construction Books
    • Successful Construction Project Management
    • Building a Successful Construction Company
    • Construction Claims
    • Construction Project Management: Tips and Insights
    • Construction Management: From Project Concept to Completion
    • An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses
    • The Successful Construction Supervisor and Foreman
    • Designing your ideal home
  • Construction Management Services
  • Book Reviews
  • Contact
  • Blog | Construction Management
  • Site Map
  • Blog | Home Improvement
  • Index of construction articles
  • Useful Links
  • Index Home Improvement