Step By Step Guide To Construction Site Preparation

An essential step to preparing for a construction project is to have the site in question surveyed in great detail, to outline where is safe to build and why. 

Having a professional survey is a requirement to any construction project and never an option, to ensure that all of the correct steps have been taken and the workforce are aware of the land they are working with. A site investigation survey is essentially your construction plans brought to life through the inspection of the land to determine whether the plan can go ahead or if there are any significant changes that must be made. 

There are three types of surveys that can be carried out on your site, depending on the work planned ahead: 

• Site Investigation Survey/Ground Investigation Survey – A Site Investigation survey takes place to collect information, data and potential hazards of the condition of the ground underneath a site. It is reported that 80% of problems encountered on construction sites are down to unforeseen ground conditions that could have been avoided if a Site Investigation Survey was carried out at the start.
  (*This particular survey is currently not available with Thompsons of Prudhoe and does need to be outsourced by consultants such as Wardell Armstrong or WSP)

• R&D Survey – An R&D survey is known as a Refurbishment and Demolition survey, which is necessary when an entire / or part of a building is to be refurbished, demolished, removed or dismantled. An R&D survey can be intrusive and therefore should only be carried out when demolition work is planned to go ahead. The report you will receive can detect any traces of asbestos, a full list of all areas thoroughly inspected along with plans and conclusions to ensure that the project goes ahead as streamlined and safe as possible.
• Dilapidation Survey – A Dilapidation survey is performed to assess the condition of a building, structure or property. It will indicate any damage or future concerns to the existing condition or structure of a building, structure or property. The Surveyor’s skills and knowledge will also help the Demolition Contractor to derive a method and sequence that is safe and effective to commence. 

Top Tip: If you are a new owner to a site or area of land, a Dilapidation survey can help to provide you with an insight to any maintenance work that may or may not have ever been carried out prior to you taking over the lease or ownership. 

Further Reading: To read more about the different types of essential surveys that are required prior to construction, click here to read: How To Prepare For Demolition. 

Following your initial site survey, you can then prepare any land for construction by clearing the site to a graded condition. This can involve the demolition of buildings, the removal of underground infrastructure, harmful soils, rubble and materials. Essentially this provides a blank canvas for the next phase of construction to commence safely and efficiently when the time is right. 

Site clearance and demolition works can generate a lot of waste, but in many cases, that waste can be re-used further down the line or on a different project. Here at Thompsons of Prudhoe, we are proud of our 97%+ recycle rate in being the North East’s leading construction specialists with our environmental foot forward.

Once the land is cleared and the foundations have been tested, you can begin to design your site plan from the bottom up. This is a vital step before any construction work can commence, as it is important to record exactly what is underground for future reference. This can be anything from septic tanks, to pipes and essential fixtures that set the site up for its main function. 

Your site plan will also indicate access roads for construction vehicles, temporary storage space for materials and equipment and health and safety signs.