Lawrence Kim
Whether you're pouring a new driveway or installing a pool, you need to ensure that the ground underneath is completely level. Even the slightest slope can cause concrete to shift and crack, possibly doing irreparable damage to the foundations of buildings including outdoors sheds and garages. If you're taking on a home construction project and you need to ensure the ground is level, you might want to take a few tips from the pros. Note how construction crews ensure they're working with a level surface.
1. Use an industrial laser
An industrial laser is what construction companies use to ensure that land is properly level and even. A dual laser level is usually the best; this bounces a laser off an end point so that both readings are compared, and you are ensure the land is level or properly sloped. Today's grading lasers usually come with an electronic or computerised mechanism that allows you to punch in the grade or slope you need, and it will compare it to that information, and then tell you where changes need to be made. This ensures that your ground is level or is sloped as it should be, and takes the guesswork out of knowing where changes should be made.
For more information about laser levelling, contact a company like East Coast Lasers.
2. Rent a paver
A paver is a large piece of heavy-duty equipment that looks like a rolling pin. There are different sizes of pavers, for different types of work to be done. Some are meant to be rolled manually, and these are good for using in a backyard where you want to install a pool, whereas larger pavers are actually attached to a cab that you drive. These are better for driveways, especially elongated drives that would make a manual paver too much work.
Using a paver will crush rocks and pebbles, spread the dirt evenly and also compact the ground, which is necessary for concrete pouring. A rental agency can tell you the size of paver you need for the job at hand.
3. Grade the soil
Grading the soil refers to laying down new soil in the area and going over it, typically with a bobcat. This can help you to ensure that land is even and level as it fills in sloped areas and small holes and trenches. Grading the soil can also keep it from being too moist so that it slopes even after it's been paved, and will protect against flood risk and soil runoff.