Before building a home, a commercial building, or any structure of this kind, you need to have the site cut. Site cutting means clearing a construction site from debris (vegetation, rocks) and perfectly levelling it.

Having the site cut by an excavation specialist is paramount, as it will dictate the quality of the foundation and the entire project. Construction professionals have the right equipment and experience to prepare a building site. They are also aware of the safety standards required and what permits might be needed.

Why Site Cutting is Important

For a building to be structurally sound and last for as long as possible, it must have a proper foundation. The level of the foundation and its quality will dictate how good the final building will be. Site cutting prepares the area for the foundation, creating a perfectly horizontal surface to build on.

Here are some examples of buildings that require site cutting before being erected:

• Houses
• Commercial buildings
• Auxiliary structures

The higher a building is projected to be, the more important the initial site cutting is. As houses or other buildings rise higher above the ground, their centre of gravity is compromised and has to be centred. Otherwise, there will be pressure points that will eventually lead to weaknesses and eventual collapse.

Site cutting is not only about the perfect levelling of the ground. Several factors need to be considered; the density of the cut material, water drainage, utility networks, etc.

What Type of Equipment is Used in Site Cutting?

Here are some of the main types of equipment used in site cutting. Knowing them helps you understand the complexity of site cutting and why an experienced contractor should do it.

• Excavators: used in excavations to dislodge dirt and other materials, excavators work fast and cover large areas.
• Cranes and pulling systems: to clear the site from large trees, boulders, and other large items, cranes or pulling systems have to be used to load or drag them away.
• Articulated trucks: versatile and mainly seen on larger construction sites, articulated trucks can carry large quantities of dirt and dump them wherever needed.
• Backhoes: when the terrain is harder to dig with excavators, backhoes step in and level surfaces like rocky or very compact soil.
• Cold planers: if the site you need to prepare for building on has any asphalt or foundation on it, a cold planer will be able to strip it off.
• Compactors: compactors are crucial in “cut and fill” site cuts, where the dislodged soil is used to level depressions. Compactors are very important as having soil of different densities when building can compromise the final result.
• Dozers: if large quantities of soil or other materials have to be pushed at once, dozers do the job quickly and effectively.

Set Your Sites Right

Never consider saving money by not hiring professionals for site cutting. It is a crucial part of building a structure and will influence the rest of the project. If you worry about the costs, know that being cheaper during this phase can cost you a lot more than choosing experience and expertise.

Contact TFR Construction for a quote on your site cutting project and find out more about our excavations, laser grading specialists, and retaining wall builders.