How to prepare a building plot
Preparing a plot for building starts with a plan: where the building will stand, how machinery will get in and where materials will go. It is also worth thinking ahead to the later stages, so that stored materials do not block concrete deliveries.
Documents and the site
Check the site development plan, the requirements for your project and what needs to be agreed with the person in charge of the build. The setting-out, and information on utilities and the limits of the work, should be ready before the machine arrives.
If you are unsure about formalities or tree removal, ask the relevant authority. Do not treat an earthworks offer as confirmation that all the preparations are in place.
Site access
Take into account the vehicles that will deliver aggregate, concrete and other materials. Check the road surface, the gate, the bends and the room for manoeuvring. A road that a car can use may not be suitable for construction deliveries.
Choose the material and layers for a temporary access road with your contractor, to suit the ground and the loads. Aggregate for access roads will help you prepare to discuss the material.
Soil and storage areas
Topsoil stripping and earth moving have to be planned for the work area. Decide where the material will stay and whether it will be used later. Prepare space for other deliveries without blocking the future concrete pump position.
Agree the site facilities, power supply and access to equipment with your crew. Not every part of organising the site is within the machine operator’s scope. You can hire us to strip the topsoil, move soil and build the access road — see site preparation.
Space for the concrete truck
Keep access to the elements to be concreted or to the discharge point. Do not block the route with material that will only be used later. Tell us about cables and pipes, slopes and excavations before you order.
The checklist for the arrival of the truck mixer covers the day of concreting. Even so, it is worth thinking about where the truck will stand as early as when you lay out the plot.
Checklist before construction starts
- the documents and the setting-out are agreed;
- utilities and the limits of the work have been identified;
- the access suits the vehicles you are planning for;
- space for soil and materials has been marked out;
- unloading positions remain accessible;
- the scope of site preparation has been confirmed;
- delivery dates match the sequence of work.
Questions about the plot
Where should I start?
With the documents, the site conditions and a plan for organising the site. Buying materials before the scope is agreed may be premature.
Do I always need to strip the topsoil?
The extent depends on the design and on what the surface will be used for. Do not leave topsoil by accident under elements that need proper support.
How should I build the access road?
Based on the ground, the traffic and how long it will be in use. Agree the material and the method with the person responsible for the works.