I am in the site selection process for a new home construction and I have two questions below:

The site I am interested in seems quite steep.

1) How can I determine if a steeped site needs further work (back filling , grading etc..) before building on it
Do I contact an excavator or what kind of professional would be able to provide me this information.

2) What kind of work is normally required to prepare a steeped site for construction? (Grading or filling, etc...)
What kind of professional do I contact to receive an estimate on this type of work?


John Aerena

Steep lots can be a real pain! We generally bid a job per plan, then if the homeowner likes our number and susspects taller wall heights we will go to the jobsite, quick lay the foundation out and shoot grades to determine if the wall heights will need to be taller. This helps a homeowner determine if the extra foundation costs are worth the less expensive lot. Also keep in mind many houses are better for step lots. If the lot is really steep try to say with a boring old rectangle design where the garage doesn't stick out far from the house.