Getting ready to build your dream home? Clearing your land may not be much of a dream.
Every project is unique, based upon the property and the build plans, and requires hard work and preparation for each one. Read on to see what you’ll need to take off on your project, from planning and permits to each step of the land clearing or excavation process!
Preparing for Land Clearing: Land Surveying, Marking Utilities, and Acquiring Permits
Before the land clearing process can begin, you may need to get in contact with a land surveyor. A survey of the land will establish the exact perimeters of your property so that you only clear what is necessary. By having your perimeters defined, it will allow you to move forward with the layout of the property itself.
Secondly, you’ll need to look into land clearing and building permits. Permits required vary by location and state In Michigan, you may need to get approval to clear from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. Some factors that may influence whether or not you need a permit are whether or not your lot is on a wetlands area, the number of trees being displaced, and the potential erosion risk.
This step is crucial for large projects like clearing a lot for home building.
- There are land clearing regulations specific to each state.
- You need the go-ahead before clearing land with high risk of potential environmental issues like erosion, flooding, and habitat destruction.
- There may be certain laws you have to follow based on your location, like shoreline protection regulations.
(If you’re hiring the help of land clearing professionals, they can assist you with the permit process!)
Another step for preparing to clear land is establishing the location of existing water lines, electric lines, telephone lines, and any other utilities that run underground. If you are not aware of these underground utilities and start clearing the land before checking, you may end up doing thousands of dollars worth of damage. To avoid this, you need a team of professionals to locate and mark the existing underground utilities. Call your local utility company, who will identify and mark any existing underground utilities on the property.
Potential Risks
There are many risks involved when you choose to clear land yourself. (As previously mentioned, if you are unaware of underground utilities and piping, you could run into problems when using heavy machinery—Avoid this risk by following the steps above.)
If you’re doing construction on the Michigan shoreline, the law requires a permit from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy prior to any work being completed. Secondly, without the help of professionals, you risk interfering with the natural flow of rainfall and the connecting storm runoff. Professionals can assess which areas need to be stabilized to prevent erosion and possible flooding.
Potential Erosion & Flooding
You’ll want to ensure to have support systems in place such as large rocks and boulders which help to stabilize the land and avoid the down-sloping that can occur from sediment erosion. This can really happen on any property and is dependent on the type of soil, sediment, slope and geography of the land, etc. A good rule of thumb is to leave an undisturbed area of trees and plants between the land being cleared and the property boundaries. This way, the area will keep the supporting sediment in place and prevent properties from erosion damage.
If the proper steps to avoid soil erosion are not in place (e.g., keeping the land stable and to withstand the weight of the building, flooding can occur and make matters even worse.
It’s also important to take the proper steps to protect and avoid disrupting surrounding habitats when excavating land. When habitats are too disrupted, this causes direct threats to wildlife.
Because of all the potential risks associated with land clearing, it is wise to consult with and hire professionals for the job. At Lakeshore Customs, we are familiar with the permit process, land clearing regulations, and effective erosion control methods for lakeshore properties and those across West Michigan.
Using the Right Equipment & Machinery
Every land clearing job comes with its own set of complexities, and one of the most challenging ones can be knowing which equipment you’ll need. If you’re doing this on your own, you’ll want to do your research! Using inadequate equipment makes it more work on your end to get the job done. You will need to be informed on the equipment, rent it yourself, and be able to operate the heavy equipment for your land clearing project on your own.
The right equipment is dependent on multiple factors: the size of the property, existing structures that need to be taken down, and how heavily wooded the area is. When you understand the degree of the project, you can make a better judgment on whether you’ll be able to do it yourself with an excavator or bulldozer, or if you’ll want to hire a professional service. If you’re questioning the scale of your project, consult us today.
At Lakeshore Customs, we use the right machinery for the job, every time. Some of the machinery we are experienced with includes:
- Excavator
- Skid Steer
- Loader
- Dump Trailer/Truck
- Milwaukee hand tools
- STIHL chainsaw equipment
Beginning Your Land Clearing Project
You’ll want to remove weeds, brush, undergrowth, and other vegetation first so that you can reach the larger trees, stumps, and roots. Secondly, large objects like random rocks and boulders that are not supporting the perimeter of the lot should be removed. Once you’ve removed all unwanted material from the surface of the property, you can then level the property on an even playing field so it’s able to support the building.
Clearing Brush and Tall Weeds
Clearing the top layer of the soil is called “grubbing.” The grubbing process can be done quickly using a shovel for the looser brush, weeds, and a hand saw to remove stubborn roots and plants. The more condensed a property is with vegetation, the better off you are to hire professionals to use heavy-duty equipment to clear the land efficiently and effectively.
Tree & Stump Removal
After all of the brush, weeds, and undergrowth are removed, you’ll be able to get to the bulk of your clearing project: tree removal. Tree removal can be done easily and effectively with the right equipment and causes no damage to the property when done professionally. Tree removal may seem like a simple process when using a chainsaw, but in order to make sure no new growth happens, it’s important to get down to the roots, too.
Stump removal can be a tedious task depending on the size of the stump and the length of roots. Some of the stumps on a property can be removed using a chainsaw while some may need more work, like using a stump grinder to fully and effectively remove the entirety of the stump and all of its roots.
How to remove roots from cleared land
Root removal is an essential part of site clearing. Grubbing refers to removing all debris (trees, shrubs, buried logs, brush, and stumps) completely from the site by digging them up from the soil. In doing so, you create a new base foundation.The size of the land will determine which machinery will be needed for root removal. For large plots of land, bulldozers, excavators, chainsaw equipment, and a team of workers is necessary to get the job done.
Preserving Trees
Looking to preserve a little forestry on your lawn? Create a plan for the property to make a strategic plan for which trees to keep and which to remove. It’s important to keep your yard healthy by persevering the healthy trees on your lot for adequate shade in the summer and insulation in the winter. (Healthy trees on your property can actually help reduce your home’s energy bill!) However, you will want to remove trees that are unhealthy, decaying, or a potential hazard when the next storm hits.
Complete Your Land Clearing Project
Ready to get your building project started? You may be surprised to learn that winter is the best time for land clearing. The frozen ground is better suited for heavy equipment than the muddy ground of spring and summer months. There is generally less precipitation and runoff too, keeping soil disturbance at a minimum. It’s best to prepare your land during winter so that come spring, you’ll be ready for your other landscaping projects.
As you’ve read, it’s a lot of preparation and work to clear your own land! If it sounds like too much of a hassle, hire experienced professionals to do the work for you.
At Lakeshore Customs, we specialize in land clearing. Ready to increase your property’s value? Call Us!
How much does land clearing cost?
The cost of an excavation or land clearing job will depend on the size of your lot, the amount of trees and other debris to be removed, and any permits that must be obtained.
Excited to start on your project? Let us help you prepare with a land clearing process that best fits your budget, plan, and schedule!
