Elevate takeoffs for faster bids and increased project success for FREE. See Details Here.

PlanHub’s Q2 Research Reveals Many Opportunities. Register for the Webinar and Learn More

Understand Construction Site Prep [+ checklist]

drone flying image

The first step in constructing a new building is site preparation. This process involves first documenting the condition of the site, determining what work needs to be completed, protecting the site and surrounding properties, and then clearing and excavating as required. Site work and excavation contractors need to understand what is involved in each step of the preparation process to provide the best services to their customers. After we look at the process and its steps, we included a checklist to help contractors make sure they haven’t missed an important aspect before work begins.

What is construction site preparation?

The construction site preparation process prepares a construction site (bare ground) for building, road, bridge,
or other construction to take place. It includes activities like surveying, ground clearing, excavation, grading, gravel placement, compaction, etc.

Why is site preparation important?

  1. It provides the structural base for the building, road, or other structure. The base of a project needs to be level, solid, compacted, and clear from debris and other natural elements to provide a good solid foundation for the project. Since a building’s foundation sits on the ground, the ground needs to be structurally sound and able
    to support the weight of the building, its systems, and occupants.
  2. Site preparation removes obstacles and debris from the site that helps improve the safety of the project. 
  3. It reduces the impact on the surrounding environment. Construction projects create a lot of disturbances to the environment. By implementing erosion and storm water runoff management techniques, contractors can help keep soil, water, and debris on site, where it won’t affect the properties around it as much.
  4. The process also involves constructing access points for people and vehicles during the project. These access roads or driveways help keep workers and machines operating smoothly and efficiently, as well as helping to reduce environmental damage.

Steps in site preparation

The construction site preparation process involves the following steps:

  1. Site evaluation, surveying, and testing. Designers, surveyors, and testing companies visit the site to document the existing conditions and size of the site, mark its borders, test soil conditions, and inspect the site for potential contamination or hazards, like buried tanks or chemical leaks. Much of this work is done during the planning and design phases of a project, as the information gathered can impact a project’s design significantly.
  2. Next, the project designers begin the process of documenting the site’s design. This will include the location of the building(s) or infrastructure, utilities, drainage, and elevations of the land that will be required for the finished project to operate correctly. This work is performed by engineers and architects who collaborate
    to determine the best design features and locations. 
  3. Once the design has been finalized and work permits have been issued, work can begin to clear the site. Contractors generally use heavy equipment, manpower, and other vehicles to remove debris from the site (including any existing buildings slated for demolition, trees, other plant material and vegetation, etc.). This debris may be reused on-site or hauled to a landfill or recycling center.
  4. As the site is being cleared, controls are established to prevent soil and water runoff from negatively affecting the surrounding properties and to stabilize the soil. These controls may involve installing silt fences, biobags to filter contaminants from water runoff, use of riprap, construction of retaining walls, and other controls to keep soil and water on-site.
  5. The contractor then adds the required gravel and sand to make the earth stable, grades and contours the soil according to the plan, and then compacts it to provide a stable base for the building, bridge, or road. At this point the site is ready for construction to begin.

Site preparation checklist

To help ensure that your site is properly prepared for construction to begin, here is a checklist:

  • Site Evaluation
    • Visual observation and/or site visit to note and document the presence of:
      • Property boundary lines
      • Overhead electrical lines or other obstacles
      • Debris
      • Site obstacles (large rocks, trash, etc.)
      • Site access challenges
    • Soils testing to determine:
      • Soil is suitable for construction
      • Soil stability
      • Liquefaction
      • Identify slopes and test stability
      • Groundwater level
      • Soil type
      • Soil bearing capacity
    • Locate and mark on-site utilities
  • Site Security
    • Proper lighting to reduce dark spots
    • Perimeter fencing with locked gates
    • Signage (“No trespassing”)
    • Security personnel, surveillance, or cameras
  • Site Boundaries
    • Property line identification and staking
    • Install temporary fencing
  • Clear Site
    • Install erosion and water runoff control measures
    • Remove debris, vegetation, buildings, etc.
    • Level and grade the site
  • Project Excavation
    • Submit plans and receive permits
    • Establish and enact trench safety plan
    • Stake building layout
    • Excavation for foundation, basement, footings
    • Add required gravel, sand, soil, soil amendments
    • Compact soil to required finish elevations
    • Soil treatment for termites, if required
    • Final site grading and contouring

Be the first to know

PlanHub insights, resources, and news, sent directly to your inbox.

    planhub
    planhub icon

    Data and Deep Insights

    We make construction smarter by connecting with the right people, at the right time, for the right project.

    With our technology and data intelligence, we empower construction professionals to easily build the right business relationships, streamline pre construction processes, and make efficient decisions.

    From competitive intelligence in each project allowing you to know how many other contractors are downloading or bidding to insights as to contractors’ performance, we provide the data you need to lead your business to success.

    By providing faster, simpler, and unmatched data insights in each step of the pre construction process, PlanHub helps your business lay a strong foundation for the success of the rest of the construction process.

    planhub icon

    Bid Leveler & Proposal builder

    Comparing bids to one another has never been easier. Users can now see bids side by side, compare bid amounts, and review subcontractors’ certifications and qualifications all in one place.

    Bid Leveler’s apples-to-apples approach allows you to easily drill down and see detailed, easy-to-scan cost breakdowns. Indicate bid preference, hide bids that don’t meet your needs, and request needed information from subs.

    planhub icon

    Full Bid Management

    From the initial decision to pursue a project to the final bid submission and follow up, bid management plays a central role in pre construction.

    Effectively managed bids during the preconstruction phase set the stage for a successful project execution and satisfied clients.

    Streamline bid management from project posting to estimating, bidding, and awarding in one place with easy project posting, project-contractor automatic matching based on trades, location, and qualification with PlanHub.

    Use bid planner, bid builder, bid leveler, and award tools to always know what’s going on with each project and bid.

    planhub icon

    Estimation and TakeOff

    Let’s face it—time is money. And the more time it takes to perform takeoffs and submit bids, the more you risk losing out on valuable revenue opportunities. Manual methods and locally installed desktop software slow your takeoff process, and many digital solutions currently on the market can be overly complex and not user-friendly. 

    Build faster takeoffs, get more bids out the door, and win more projects. Forget pen and paper, outdated desktop software, and overly complicated digital takeoff solutions. PlanHub’s easy-to-use Takeoff tool helps you and your team build accurate takeoffs faster, minimize errors and material waste, and win more projects that boost your business growth. Performing your takeoffs with PlanHub allows you to:

    • Streamline and integrate your process: Perform your takeoffs in the same platform you use to manage your network and bids.
    • Avoid costly estimating errors: Get better accuracy with digital tools instead of traditional, mistake-prone pen and paper.
    • Collaborate easily: Share and work with your team, no matter where you—or they—are located.
    • Submit more bids and win more projects: Get quality bids in front of general contractors faster and get ahead of your competition.
    planhub
    planhub icon

    Document Management

    Organize, store, and manage various documents, blueprints, drawings and other information related to projects before the actual construction phase begins.

    This phase is crucial for setting the foundation of a successful construction project, and effective document management plays a significant role in ensuring that all necessary information is accessible, accurate, and up-to-date to all interested parties.

    Access, review, work on, and share large complex documents in one platform with amazing speed. From project definition, drawing management, takeoff, estimation, bid management, and contracts, everything happens in PlanHub.

    planhub crm
    planhub icon

    CRM

    Be part of a construction professionals’ ecosystem that enhances collaboration, streamlines project management, and fosters smart relationships between companies, construction professionals, and projects.

    Enjoy seamless communication, build strong relationships, and streamlines project management. By leveraging the power of connections and collaboration, we enhance efficiency, save time and resources, and drive collective growth in the industry.

    planhub network
    planhub icon

    1M+ pre-qualified network

    PlanHub is the leading platform that connects companies, construction professionals, and projects in the pre-construction industry, focusing on building and developing meaningful relationships to enhance efficiency and productivity.

    We have integrated general contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers’ workflows in one platform to simplify the complex back and forth usually present in preconstruction. By allowing all interactions to be done through PlanHub, tracking projects and relationships is much easier, saving contractors and material suppliers time and money. Interactions in the platform are tagged and measured to provide insights to users.

    General contractors create bid packages that are shared in PlanHub as projects. They can include templatized lists of all CSI cost items as part of the new Baseline feature. Baseline allows for faster and more accurate bid requests, facilitates homogenization of subcontractors’ bids, and simplifies the comparison of incoming bids.

    Subcontractors are automatically matched with relevant projects based on their profile, preferences, and pre-qualification information saving hours of research to both sides. They can review project details, documentation, and blueprints.

    planhub icon

    High-quality projects

    Your one-stop job for qualified hard-to-find private project leads in varying stages like pre-planning, bidding, etc., and across different geographies, zip codes, or distance to your office.

    Projects include plans, specifications, bid dates, and other relevant project information.

    You can segment project leads by type of project, status, project building use, trades and sub trades, or create your own list of keywords — and be notified when one of them is found in a posted project’s documentation or plans.

    We make it simple to find projects that match your business — and make sure you are notified right away.

    				
    					<script src='https://planhub.com/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.min.js' id='jquery-core-js'></script>
    <script charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript" src="//js.hsforms.net/forms/embed/v2.js"></script>
    <script>
      hbspt.forms.create({
        region: "na1",
        portalId: "7063061",
        formId: "ced7254f-5c61-49b9-9ce0-6f870b79a958"
      });
    </script>
    				
    			

    Get the report!

    From the very beginning, PlanHub has been a place where people can do meaningful work and build strong relationships.

    Come grow with us! We’re building innovative technologies that simplify preconstruction for everyone.

    Expand your network and connect with general contractors, subcontractors, owners, architects, and suppliers – not to mention thousands of relevant projects at your fingertips.

    Generate relevant leads, faster and with precision. With access to private, hard-to-find projects, you can connect with architects and owners on projects still in the pre-design and design stages.

    PlanHub’s advanced suite of bid management tools allows you to increase productivity, identify relevant projects using data, build bids with Takeoff, and manage bids through the entire process.

    Create quicker, improved takeoffs effortlessly. PlanHub’s Takeoff Core aids your team in accurate, faster estimates, minimizing errors, and driving business growth.

    Expand your network and connect with general contractors, subcontractors, owners, architects, and suppliers – not to mention thousands of relevant projects at your fingertips.

    Generate relevant leads, faster and with precision. With access to private, hard-to-find projects, you can connect with architects and owners on projects still in the pre-design and design stages.

    PlanHub’s advanced suite of bid management tools allows you to increase productivity, identify relevant projects using data, build bids with Takeoff, and manage bids through the entire process.