Site Prep

[Calhouncm]

Hello

I’m looking for some others opinions on site prep. I locked in with a builder for a 36 x 48 pole barn. I’m working on getting quotes for the site prep. I’m in upstate NY, I’ve had a couple of people stop in about the site prep and they recommended waiting until spring.

Does the wetness of the ground/winter cause issues with compacting stone?

In the paperwork my builder gave they state the site should be built up 8”. With the slope of my lawn, the lowest corner would require around 24” of fill. Is it necessary to for the fill to be 8” above the highest area? Obviously I want to ensure water doesn’t flow into the garage, 8” just seemed like it may be more than necessary.

Around the 8” fill question, do they mean 8” of fill plus concrete on top? I’m planning on 5” of concrete. Didn’t know if the 8” included concrete or not.

Thanks for the info


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[Kevin54]

I'd prep it now if the ground is thawing. Let the remaining freeze and thaws move it around, then when the ground totally thaws, compact everything and top off what has moved. And 8" of fill is just that, 8" of fill. Concrete is everything over and above as far as finishing. Prep is the dirt and stone.

 

[Kaizen]

I’d wait. Soil should be removed before adding fill. You should be getting down to virgin stable soil. Hard to determine if it’s all frozen.

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[Bretny]

Where is "upstate" to you?. I'm near Poughkeepsie and I can tell you even though the ground only has about 3in of frost you don't want to start building anything until the frost and mud/water is gone. Skipping this step can give you major grief later. The ground is very soft and saturated now even well below the frost.

As for grade levels ask your builder, we can only guess that.

 

[Bondo]

Where is "upstate" to you?. I'm near Poughkeepsie and I can tell you even though the ground only has about 3in of frost you don't want to start building anything until the frost and mud/water is gone. Skipping this step can give you major grief later. The ground is very soft and saturated now even well below the frost.

As for grade levels ask your builder, we can only guess that.

Ayuh,.... I'm in Watertown, 'n can tell you, now is not a time for site work,....

Too much frost in the ground,....

 

[Bretny]

Watertown you prob need to wait 3-4 more months. It's going to be very cold up there the next few days.

 

[Bondo]

Watertown you prob need to wait 3-4 more months. It's going to be very cold up there the next few days.

Ayuh,..... We usually start diggin' in mid to late April,.....

 

[Calhouncm]

Thanks everyone. I’m in Western New York near Canandaigua. A bit warmer than Watertown, but I was concerned about how wet the ground will be so I will wait.


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[manwithtools]

Rely on the foundation / concrete/ grading guy's for best practices in your area. Internet advise is of little value later on when your building is flooded or the concrete is cracked because of soil conditions when the work was performed.