I am going to be building a barn 44X50 on a site but the house is not built yet. I know the zone regs and will discuss all the details with the building department. Usually, the house is already there and the lot is already setup. However, since the barn is going up before the house and the lot is just “field grass” (weeds) on it now, will top soil need to be brought in for lawn grass? I do not want any surprises? Will the builder be regrading the entire lot? I am try to figure out how the barn will fit in with the landscape. The barn is going on the highest section.
What is normally involved with a lot that already has “field grass” on it? The soil is heavy with clay.
Thanks
Replies
What's normal in your part of the country? The builder will only do what is on the plans or in the contract...if it says regrade the whole lot, then he will. Otherwise he will probably grade just what is required.
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
I agree with Ed, you'd do best to work this out with the builder right now, that is, ahead of time before it becomes a problem for either of you.
DRC
A couple of things to consider:
If you want a landscaped yard, and the site is not big, you will probably end up disturbing the entire site. Whatever area is not stripped will have topsoil and excavated material piled up on it.
If it is a heavy clay site, make sure the clay "drains", either by sloping it properly of some sort of underground drain tile. If you create a "bathtub" in the clay, you will never get rid of the water.
Clay, followed by a layer of sand, then a layer of topsoil (even the material you have) will probably work fine.
Thanks for the reply. How much sand? Then how much topsoil? 4" sand? Then 4" topsoil?
Clay drains would only be needed if the house and barn were the lowest part? And the drain tile around the house should be good enough to control the water in the basement? Or would tile in the yard be needed? Thanks
He is talking about if you have a heavy clay soil, not "clay" (which is rarely used anymore) drain tile.
But right now you are asking about what kind of wine to have with your steak, but you don't know if the "steak" is a chicken fried steak, salmon steak, beef steak, or buffalo steak. Maybe even a tube steak.
Now only do you have the cart before the horse, but the cart wheel before the cart.
What you need to find out now what kind of soil (both surface and sub-soil) that you have an what kind of termain conditions. What is the land now; open paster, weeds and brush, forest?
And a lot depends on what kind of construction that you are going to do; slab, full basement? That will drastically affect the amount of dirt that is being moved. Also the termain will have a big effect.
Termain?
Thanks for catching that.
It should have been Tremain. Johnny Tremain a warning that he has to be alert for any burried Revolutionary War cannon balls.
Like Bill Hartmann said, you need to see what you are working with. Assuming you have a dense clay soil, place the depth of sand and topsoil your budget will allow. 6" and 6" is a good combination.
As far as the drainage, if your topography allows you do run water off with gravity, by all means do so. No matter what, drains or drain tile will eventually become a maintenance issue.