When starting construction work, whether for your site, a park, or another building, the earthwork phase is one of the most important phases of the project. The earthwork of a place is this step at the beginning of the construction work, which allows you to prepare the surface of construction in order to adapt it to what you want to put in place.

Therefore, earthwork should not be taken lightly because it requires a certain technical knowledge. So, following this article, we present you with 5 tips to succeed in your earthwork. If you need more advice, do not hesitate to call a professional to learn more about the issue.

1. Staking out

earthwork

Staking is the first step in proper earthwork. Staking is the step that consists of marking the boundaries of the land to be excavated. Indeed, when we carry out construction work, we set up construction plans, and it is important to stick to them. Staking out the boundaries before digging will help you respect the plan. In order to have a more pronounced precision, it is generally recommended to think of a surveyor to help you determine the boundaries. If you have close neighbors, this will help you not overflow on their land.

2. Make the drainage system

The design of a water drainage plan is a very important step during the earthwork because a water drainage system is necessary. Indeed, in order to limit the risks of infiltration and stagnation of rainwater and others, which can constitute, in the end, a real danger for your building site, it is important to foresee slopes for the evacuation of the latter.

We advise you to foresee a slope with an inclination of 5%, bounded by a channel made of concrete. This will greatly reduce the risk of infiltration and, therefore, the damage to your site.

3. Do the stripping

earthwork

Still called stripping, the excavation of your land is this step during which you remove the topsoil from your soil until you reach the level of the strata. The removed soil will be distributed evenly over the entire construction surface. This step is necessary in order to restore the surface of the ground, to facilitate later the installation of the accesses to your house or all by the ticket of your car.

4. Digging the excavations and trenches

This step consists in setting up the excavations, in which the foundations of your construction will be built. Still called the bottom of the excavation, we recommend that you make them a few days before the foundations. This time is necessary to reassure you of their reliability and of their capacity to accommodate the foundations.

5. Backfilling

earthwork

Backfilling is the last phase of the earthwork. Indeed, this step allows us to fill the holes previously dug during the construction of the gutters, the pipes, and others. The objective here is to level the ground and make it flat. Moreover, it is recommended to install a geotextile film before the backfilling stage.

This film is designed to prevent the regrowth of undesirable weeds and roots while protecting you from rising damp. However, you need to know that just like geotextile film, the backfill step may not be suitable for all soils. You will need to check with your local city hall or simply call in a professional.

Looking for help?

For all your earthmoving needs, contact The Groundsman now. With over 28 years of experience in the industry, they are the leading experts in earthmoving in the greater Melbourne Eastern suburbs. Their team of experienced professional deliver safe and reliable earthmoving services. They’ll get the job done, whether it is to remove rubble, earth, or soil. So what are you waiting for? Give them a call for more information!