posted
on Thursday, February 16, 2023
in
The Dirt
Whether you're preparing a site for a new housing development, landscaping to finish a job or prepping for a parking lot, grading is an important part of any operation. Your John Deere team is here to provide key information about the different types of grading projects. We'll give you the facts and help you choose the right tools and equipment for the job.
Before we dive into grading equipment, let's take a brief look at the work itself. Grading is part of the site preparation phase of construction projects and provides a blueprint for attaining the desired aesthetics. There are 4 main phases of site development. Here's a brief summary of each:
Plan It
This involves organizing all the key components of the site and building a plan to get the job done efficiently. Some of the planning tasks include surveying the land and soil quality, fleet prep, obstacle assessment and erosion control.
Clear It
This is when the actual construction work begins. Land clearing involves removing vegetation, topsoil and rocks, demolishing existing structures and disposing of materials. Common machinery used in this phase includes earthmoving equipment such as excavators, mini excavators, skid steers, dozers and dump trucks.
Move It
This is the mass excavation phase to shape the landscape as needed by removing material from high areas and filling low lying areas. Typical sites will use both production and support machinery.
Smooth It
It's grading time. This phase involves soil compaction, rough grading and finish grading. Equipment needs may include large or compact motor graders, depending on the size of the jobsite.
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