Levelling a site

L-M

About to start building a house which is about 30 metres back from the entrance. Just from the road there’s roughly a foot maybe 2 of a drop which gradually goes back up the closer to the house you get to almost perfectly road level.

I’ve access to a 20 tonne and dumper and while I could be out of work for the next few weeks i was going to attempt levelling it out.

Would I be correct in saying that I can take back the top soil, put more subsoil where the dip is and then put the top soil back on top?

I’m assuming it’s not that simple but the question is, is subsoil what gives the structure to the soil or would I have to put in stone etc where I want to raise the land?

Stihl waters

Scrape back all the topsoil and pile it in a place it won't be in the way, you'll need it for lawns and finishing after, don't use the topsoil for fill, use the sub soil to level site and stone it then, its not really a job for a novice but if you know someone who you can pick their brain if you get stuck then work away, rent a laser level to take your levels as you go

Panjandrums

Make sure you track it in well as you go or it will turn to slop if driven on.

L-M

Thanks for that. Yeah I have access to people who can steer me in the right direction I just don’t want to go into it completely un aware. I can’t find anything online and I don’t seem to have the correct phases. “Level a field” is a coined phrase so a lot of crap comes up.

My main question was if subsoil is the structure as such, which I think you’ve answered.

I have an area that I can put all the top soil and nothing will be going there, it’s out of the way as such.

L-M

Panjandrums wrote: »

Make sure you track it in well as you go or it will turn to slop if driven on.

Track in the subsoil to compact it? Thanks

Panjandrums

L-M wrote: »

Track in the subsoil to compact it? Thanks

Yes, I'm wondering would you be as well leaving it until after you have your house substantially complete.

Would you need the area you're leveling as storage when building the house? Ie will machines be traveling across it alot?

L-M

No, to be honest I probably could leave it until the house is up, I’d probably have the subsoil from the foundations then as well.

It’s probably the first 10 meters is the worst, there’s just a dyke, (I’ve that piped and covered already for now).

I just trying to use my idle time to my best, I could scrap back the topsoil for the driveway and around where the house is going to be built anyway for now. I’ve to finish off clearing and covering the rest of the dyke the width of the site anyway.

Stihl waters

Make sure you leave plenty room for trucks, a lot of sites I see they think a 10 foot gap will do, leave it plenty big and stone it well and you'll have less muck and mess around the place

L-M

Stihl waters wrote: »

Make sure you leave plenty room for trucks, a lot of sites I see they think a 10 foot gap will do, leave it plenty big and stone it well and you'll have less muck and mess around the place

I’ve about 27 foot of a gap opened at the road edge.

The planning dictates the gates need to be 4,5 metres back from the road and and a 45 degree angle out to the road. No shortage of space on that end. I’ll be sure to keep the drive narrow though and narrow enough around the house. Keep them truck drivers tidy lol

enricoh

Personally I'd pay the few quid to get an experienced lad for a day to do the digger.
With a 20ton yoke he'd fly through it, you drive the dumper, roll out land drains etc.

He'll know where to get cheaper stone - the savings made would pay for him. He'd be neater digging footings , less concrete wasted.

kerosene

enricoh wrote: »

Personally I'd pay the few quid to get an experienced lad for a day to do the digger.
With a 20ton yoke he'd fly through it, you drive the dumper, roll out land drains etc.

He'll know where to get cheaper stone - the savings made would pay for him. He'd be neater digging footings , less concrete wasted.

A good man on a machine for a job you are talking about would make a lot of sense. It will be done quicker, neater and properly. Lot of lads off the next few weeks would take a handy days pay, would be money well spent.

L-M

Sorry I should say I won’t be digging footings etc I’m just talking about the topsoil etc around where they’ll eventually be and also stripping back the drive. The stone etc is already included in his price so I’d be saving a bit on labour.

I have a chap that going building the structure of the house for me up to first fix.

Again, I’m off for a couple of weeks potentially and just want to make use of my time.