Clearing parts of a property can seem like a simple task. A property is overgrown, so you get a big machine to show up and the contractors level everything until the owner is finally able to see the open ground again. However, it’s really not so simple. For properties in Cumming, the decisions made before the machines arrive can impact on the cost of the project and how successful it is in terms of the drainage afterwards, the quality of the finished job, and how easy the land will be to use later on.
That is why any form of planning for a job like this should start with a clear idea of what the end goal of the project is. For instance, a homeowner who is clearing space in order to put in a swimming pool in their backyard has very different priorities than an owner who is clearing with the aim of laying down a new driveway. Similarly, a landowner who is looking to open up a bike trail near Sawnee Mountain has entirely different concerns from someone who is clearing a space by a lake near Buford Dam Road. The right plan always depends on what the end goal of the wider project is.
GPH Grading specializes in land clearance services of this kind for residential and commercial customers. The best way to approach any job with us is to start with a practical conversation about where machinery can enter the property, what trees are to stay and which are to be removed, what the water drainage patterns are on the site, and what construction work is intended after the land is cleared, where applicable.
Start With the Future Use of the Land
The most useful question to start with is not “How much can we clear?”, but rather “What are we planning to do after the land is cleared?” The answer to that question can drastically change a project like this. For instance, if the goal is simply a cleaner yard, then the work might focus exclusively on removing small trees and bushes and creating a cleaner look to the space overall. Conversely, if the goal is to carry out some construction work, then the clearance work has to leave room for grading work and laying down utilities later on.
In Cumming, Georgia the same property can have several possible uses. A person might want to turn a wooded strip of land into a play area or a pool site, while someone who owns a more rural bit of terrain outside the denser GA 400 corridor could want to create additional pasturage or to extend a driveway.
When the end use is unclear, clearing can unfortunately go too far or not far enough. While over-clearing can remove shade and privacy, under-clearing can leave stumps that make later construction work difficult, or overlook hidden obstacles that make the next phase of the work slower. Having a clear plan about what is going to happen after the clearance work helps the contractor to recommend the right approach.
Decide What Must Stay
Most property owners who start a land clearance project think first about what needs to go, which is a fairly natural approach to take when a lot is covered in brush, vines, saplings, unwanted trees, and so on. After all, it’s called “land clearance!” But, the “keep” list is just as important. Many homeowners will want to retain mature trees and property buffers which can provide privacy. These features need to be protected from the beginning.
This is especially important for land around Cumming because many properties sit between wooded terrain in North Georgia and suburban areas in and around Atlanta. In these cases, a property owner might want more sunlight coming through to the property while still keeping enough tree cover to shield their site from their neighbors. This needs to be planned carefully, because once a line of trees is gone, replacing the privacy they provided can take years.
The best time to mark out the areas that need to be preserved is well in advance of the machinery arriving to the property. So, for example, if there are trees, fence lines, drainage swales, septic tanks, or landscape features that need to be kept, those details should be discussed with the contractor when the site is being surveyed and estimate provided for the work.
Plan Equipment Access Before Clearing Limits
Access to the site is one of the easiest details to underestimate with a job like this. A machine may be able to clear a site, but it still has to be able to reach the area in question without damaging the driveway or destroying the land that it crosses over. Access issues like this can shape the entire job.
Good access planning is key in these cases. It helps to determine where the work should start, where the debris or mulch can be handled while the work is underway, where trucks can turn around inside the property, and whether future grading or excavation equipment will need a wider path.
Think About Utilities and Future Trenches
Land clearance work can make future work on utilities on the land easier, or it can create a lot of extra work for you if the plan ignores where the utilities should be laid down later. For instance, septic tanks and pipes will need to be laid down, as will the water supply and trenches for electrical cables. All of these things should be part of the conversation before you start clearing the land.
It’s a different story again if utilities are already in place. If a property has parts of the septic system in place, for instance, those areas obviously need to be treated carefully. Conversely, if the project is for a new build, the likely septic location should be factored in very early on.
For owners and builder this is where rough planning becomes essential, even before the final construction drawings are completed. In these cases, you may not know every detail, but you can usually identify likely access points. Sharing those details with the contractor early on helps make the process work better all around.
Read the Land Before You Remove the Cover
The vegetation on a site often hides what is going on underneath in the soil and around it. For instance, thick brush can conceal things like old ditches, mounds of roots, rocks, and particularly soft areas. The perimeter tree lines can also shape where water is moving around on the property.
Issues like this are vital in red clay country. Clay like this can hold water in an excessive manner and the land is then churned up when equipment operates on top of it. A Cumming-based property that is fine during a dry period may react very differently after a thunderstorm, especially if it has a slope or compacted areas, or even old drainage paths hidden under mounds of leaves and vines.
Before clearing the land, look for clues: are there mossy or damp spots present on the site? Are certain trees leaning or clustered along a slope? Does the ground dip near a driveway or a fence? Observations like these do not replace having a professional come to inspect the site, but they do help to frame the task in the right way.
Match the Method to the Material
Not every overgrown property needs the same tool. Land that is covered in light brush, grass, saplings and understory require a less aggressive intervention than do mature trees, stumps, rocks and heavy debris. Some projects are good candidates for forestry mulching, while others need more comprehensive clearing methods.
Forestry mulching can be especially useful when the goal is to selectively clear lighter material. Traditional clearance methods may work better when trees, stumps and obstacles need to be removed to prepare for construction work.
Planning is vital, as choosing the wrong method early on can create additional costs in the later phases of your project. For example, a site may look open after the brush has been cut away, but if hidden stumps and uneven ground are overlooked, they can make grading or leveling the site harder and more expensive later on. A mulched area may be excellent for getting better access to a fence, but it will not make a site ready for building on. The clearing method must fit the future use.
Do Not Let Acreage Be the Only Pricing Lens
Owners often ask for a cost estimate based on the acreage of the site. This is a tricky issue. While the acreage of the site is doubtlessly important, it does not tell the whole story. For example, two one-acre sites can be priced very differently if one is easy to access and is a flat space to work in, while the other has limited access, is comprised of wet clay and has a lot of thick stumps that will be difficult and time-consuming to remove.
These issues of density, tree size, slope, soil condition, disposal needs, access for equipment, and what the next phase of work might be, will all affect how much the job will cost and the estimate you will be given.
When you request an estimate for land clearance work in Cumming, Georgia, be ready to describe what part of the property you want opened up, what you want preserved, whether debris needs to be hauled away or if it can be processed on site (i.e. mulching), and what you plan to do on the property afterwards. Those details help the contractor understand the job a lot better and to give you a more accurate estimate.
Prepare the Property for the First Visit
Before getting an estimate from a contractor, you should walk around the property if it is safe to do so. Identify the main access points, what the target clearing area is, and any known hazards. If you have a survey or site plan show it to the contractor so that they know where the septic tank is and where the exact boundaries of the property are. If you do not have the survey, be clear about what is known and unknown.
Photos help too; take pictures from the road, driveway, access points, around where the slope changes, near the drainage areas, and of any other obstacles. A short video of you walking along the access routes can be really useful when the property is hard to describe over the phone. The goal is not to replace an in-person site inspection, but to make the first conversation with the contractor as useful as possible.
Also, think about timing. Wet weather can affect access to the site and how much the machinery will churn up the ground if it’s been raining. Everything from neighboring properties and HOA requirements to construction schedules and permit issues should all be taken into account as well.
FAQs About Lot Clearing
How early should I call a contractor before clearing a lot?
Call a contractor as soon as you have a rough idea of what you want to do with the property. Early conversations about the job can help you to identify issues like access and drainage before the job becomes urgent.
Do I need a full site plan before lot clearing?
Not always, but a full site plan does usually help, especially so if there is construction work planned for after the land is cleared. That being said, even a rough idea of what is intended in the future, like laying down a driveway or putting in a septic tank or fence, can help enormously.
Is it better to clear everything at once?
Not necessarily. Selective or phased clearing can reduce unnecessary disturbance and give you more time to evaluate how the work is going before committing to a final layout.
Can clearing a patch of land make drainage issues worse?
Unfortunately it can if drainage concerns are not factored in from the beginning. Removing vegetation often exposes paths that water runs off of, while also exposing clay soil that is more prone to erosion. Therefore, clearing should be planned with drainage in mind.
What should I ask when a contractor comes to carry out an evaluation?
Ask how machine access will work, what method of land clearance is optimal for the site, what will be done with stumps and debris, if the work will leave the site ready for the next phase of a construction project, and what could change the scope of the work in an unexpected manner.
A Better First Step
Planning out lot clearance work is not about slowing down the job and adding to the price, but is much more about preventing unnecessary additional work down the line. When the contractor understands the land and things like the access points and what the owner intends to do once the site is cleared, then the clearing can be done in a way that supports the wider project.
If your property in Cumming needs to be opened up for better access and safer use, or for construction work, talk with GPH Grading to get an idea of the scope of the work. Call us in Cumming today at (770) 377-1236, or find us online at https://gphgrading.com/land-clearing-cumming-ga/.
