Set the Proper Foundation for Your Patio With Professional Excavation and Grading Services in Monona, WI
The patio is a high-activity space that should stand the test of time. As such, it should be given the same amount of care in design and construction as the foundation of your home. In fact, the more planning and preparation that takes place for your patio, the longer it will last: and it all starts with the foundation. Make sure to set the proper foundation for your patio with professional excavation and grading services in Monona, WI.
What Is Excavation?
Excavation is the process of removing soil and other materials to prepare the land for a structure, whether it’s a house, pool, or patio. Where possible, excavation involves the use of heavy machinery - and you’d be surprised at how compact and maneuverable some smaller machinery is, to access difficult landscapes. If you’re planning on building a patio, plan on excavation. If you’re lucky, your landscape is flat with deep topsoil. But most homes have uneven ground and plenty of rock beneath the surface that will need to be removed before patio installation begins.
Why is Excavation Needed for a Patio?
Excavation is necessary to provide enough vertical space beneath the surface of the ground for the materials that will ultimately support the immense weight of a natural stone or paver patio. Another component of a successful patio installation is drainage. Excavation may be needed to shape the land to divert water away from the home and outdoor living spaces to prevent structural damage.
The Process of Excavation
Professionals will begin by carefully marking each corner of the area that is to be excavated. This is to ensure that no ground is disturbed that does not need to be. The next steps are to remove the soil in the excavation area with minimal effect on the surrounding landscape features. Once the necessary depth is reached, the exposed soil will be compacted to ensure that the excavated area is stabilized.
If excavation needs to take place for drainage, this will be accomplished before compacting the soil beneath the future patio.
What Is Grading?
Grading, also known as leveling, is the process of ensuring that the excavated ground surface is as accurately level as possible. Once the majority of soil has been removed from the project site, the foundation materials are laid in layers, with each layer carefully compacted to achieve a uniform and level surface to begin installing the patio materials.
Why is Grading Needed for a Patio?
A patio needs to be level for safety and durability. The weight of a patio and its accompanying features will - if unsupported - continue to gradually sink into the ground unless the foundation prevents that movement. You can always tell a poorly built patio if you see cracks, depressions, or pavers crumbling off the edges.
The Process of Grading
Professionals will begin grading once the excavation process has been finished and all soil has been removed. The approved elevation of excavation will be used as the baseline for grading. Any low spots will be filled with the previously removed soil. The soil will then be compacted repeatedly to ensure it doesn’t shift in the future. Afterwards, the compacted soil will be carefully scraped using heavy equipment. Final steps will be ensuring that the surface is level using laser accuracy.
Although the excavation process is messy and disruptive, it is ultimately even more important than the installation of the pavers. No matter how well pavers are set together, their lifespan is limited if the ground beneath them shifts.
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About the Author
With over two decades in business and maintaining an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau the entire time, Proscapes LLC is a leading landscape company in the Madison, WI, area. As a Unilock Authorized Contractor, we are recognized as the best-of-the-best in our craft—earning numerous awards along the way.