One of the most important planning aspects of new construction is the site development; the determination of where the building will be located on the land and how the positioning of the structure on the land will impact the final look of the improvements. Many architects are known for their work in designing homes and structures which seemingly appear to have just risen from the land it is built upon. Site development is an essential component and goes hand in hand with the site work and excavation.

Excavation and grading is a necessary part of any construction project. The powerful equipment which should only be operated by a skilled and trained individual is mesmerizing to watch in action. The scope of the excavation will vary according to the plans and the land upon which the structure is to be built. Basic excavation will require the digging of footings for the foundation and can extend to moving several cubic yards of earth and rock. The one thing all successful excavation jobs have in common is careful planning and forethought.

Here are a few definitions of common excavation terms:

Excavation Cut is defined as removing material to lower the elevation of an area.

Excavation Fill is defined as placing material to raise the elevation of an area.

Excavation Removal – Hauling results when the land that is being developed cannot contain all of the soil and/or rocks which are being removed as part of the cut.

In many areas of Prescott site development will involve rock excavation. Rock excavation solutions vary greatly. The best method to remove rock in an excavation has to be assessed on a site by site basis. Rock can be removed by ripping, blasting, or breaking, depending on the rock type, quality and quantity. Ripping is a mechanical splitting of rock by inserting a steel point into a rock crevice and applying force. Blasting involves explosives placed in drill holes and detonated. Breaking of rock by a hydraulic hammer bit [hammer hoe] mounted on a backhoe or excavator is used when the rock quantity is easy to break apart.

Some of the common misconceptions of excavating are that people do not anticipate that the property they have purchased with huge quantities of rock; while adding character to the parcel will also add more money to their construction budget when they develop the property. Parcels with a rocky topography will require the removal of rock and earth to create a building pad.

The best solution to developing a piece of property with a lot of character is to design a home to fit the natural topography of the lot. When a building is designed based upon the existing condition of the land money will be saved in construction costs as opposed to trying to fit a predesigned home onto a lot that has a rocky topography or trying to build a single story home on a very steep lot which naturally calls for a two (2) story structure.

Another important element of excavation is site drainage and in the end it is the most important thing in developing a site. Careful planning and observation during the construction process should be paid attention to so that site drainage is created during the course of construction. Many times creative use of the rock that is being removed during the excavation process can be repositioned to make natural looking drainage areas.

Below are photos of the development of a lot which is currently in progress. This lot has required not only repositioning of the natural rock on the land to create drainage areas which are blending into the natural landscape but because the house has been positioned on the top of the lot blasting thru the existing granite is also required so that a proper cut and elevations can be obtained for the foundation of the home. In the end when all is said and done the home will appear as if it has naturally been dropped between the rocks at the top of the hill. This is a prime example of a homeowner who is committed to creating something unique and who was willing to expend a little more in the cost of their site development so that they will have a property with character and a one of a kind residence.

Backhoe removing dirt and rock while creating the building pad for the residence.

Talented and experienced Excavator Contractors such as Dan Eriksson of Eriksson Services have an 
art form and the expertise to know how to create natural rock walls to blend in with
the existing rock that remains untouched during the excavation process. 

This photo shows how the natural topography and existing rock is used to create
natural looking drainage for the site; some rocks were added to the existing rocks
on the right hand side and all of the rocks on the left were repositioned to create
a natural base for the driveway and also a natural site drainage ditch that is
diverted into an engineered culvert tucked under the earth at the end of the driveway.

This photos shows a Cut during the excavation process; soil is removed to create the building pad.
In creating this cut the landscape/tree is to remain and the building was planned around some of
the existing landscape.

This photo shows work in progress; leveling of the lot after the cut was made.  Rocks which were on the
property have been positioned at the outer edges of the building pad and then filled to 
create the look of a natural level building pad.

Rock which is being removed from the parcel of property as a result of the
blasting that was required in order to create the building pad.