There’s a certain appeal to living on a sloped site. Visually, it’s much more interesting than a pancake-flat lot. If your home is positioned on the upper end of the property, you may enjoy bird’s eye views of the surrounding countryside. But, slopeside living comes with its own design challenges, the first of which is having enough usable space. Here are 4 ways excavating contractors make sloped landscapes more livable in Peterborough and Bedford, NH, areas.
Related: WHEN EXCAVATING REQUIRES CONTRACTORS TO COLLABORATE DURING EXCAVATION IN HOLLIS NH
Site Preparation
Site preparation is the single most important element of a successful landscaping project. Soil - even soil that appears completely stable - will move over time and cause damage to masonry. Preventing future damage to structures requires the services of an excavation contractor and in some cases an engineer.
Of course, not all parts of the landscape will be covered with patios and walkways. Excavation contractors can also shape the land to be more pleasing to the eye. For example, berms can be built to block the view (and noise) of a nearby road.
Tree, rock, structure, and debris removal is also part of the site preparation process. Dead trees need to be removed, as well as any trees that are either in the way of a landscaping project or dangerously close to structures.
Rock blasting may be required to create a more usable site. And once trees, rocks, and any existing structures are removed, they need to be removed from the site. Excavation contractors have the equipment and expertise to remove dangerous obstacles safely and efficiently. Once the land is cleared of anything that gets in the way of the project, the building process can begin.
Drainage
It’s vital to ensure water goes where it’s supposed to, and does not flow or collect in undesirable areas such as in a corner of a patio or along a home’s foundation. In addition to grading, excavation contractors will create French drains and other drainage solutions to preserve the integrity of retaining walls, patios, walkways, driveways, and the home’s foundation.
Retaining Walls
The most effective way to add usable space on a sloped lot is to create a series of terraces using retaining walls. The size of these terraced areas will depend on the steepness of the slope and how much of the slope is excavated (the deeper you cut into a slope, the taller the retaining wall and the greater the structural challenges).
Masonry retaining walls are attractive and timeless landscaping features. They’re much better-looking than poured concrete or railroad tie retaining walls; but, they also require proper footings to ensure their structural integrity and longevity. Excavators will dig adequately sized footings based on the height and style of the retaining wall.
Excavation contractors will also work with any structural engineers to ensure there is enough space behind the wall. This space will be backfilled which helps create downward pressure instead of lateral pressure from the soil behind the wall.
Excavation contractors will also incorporate drainage solutions to prevent the accumulation of water pressure behind the wall.
Patios
Specialized equipment is used to dig into the hillside to expand living spaces, and to level and prepare the newly created flat parts for hardscapes or softscapes.
In a relatively wet climate like New Hampshire, it’s important to ensure that drainage around and beneath the patio is enough to handle rain and snowmelt. This starts with proper grading and leveling.
Related: HOW EXCAVATION PLAYS A ROLE IN THE LANDSCAPE DESIGN AND BUILD PROCESS IN BEDFORD NH
