5 Essential Things to Do Before Clearing Your Land

A custom house has several advantages; you can choose the perfect location to construct in, create the blueprints, and see your vision slowly become a reality. The ability to select a specific site and build the house plan allows you to optimize your private space while also customizing your utilities.

Many elements of the construction process are simplified when creating custom houses, but one of the specific extra responsibilities is clearing land to build a house. Enough property must be removed to accommodate your yard, home, driveway, well, and septic system. Clearing land is more than meets the eye, so keep the following suggestions in mind while preparing the property for custom house building.

1. Examine the Land
   
   Because you're clearing the land for a specific purpose—building a house—you'll almost certainly have access to construction designs. With this information, you'll be able to calculate how much clearing you'll need to accomplish. You may not want to clear all of the vegetation on a forested property; instead, you may want to keep some of it for a potential yard or woodland barrier. In any case, you'll need to mark out the area where you intend to build. Determine where roads or driveways will be installed, where the home will be connected to the electrical grid, and where gas mains and other vital utilities will be installed.
   
   A comprehensive inspection of your property can also assist you in developing a budget for the repair. You'll be able to decide more efficiently what, if any, the equipment you'll need and whether you'll need to engage contractors for the task.
   
   
2. Examine Any Potential Hazards
   
   Clearing a forested property might provide unexpected obstacles that you should be aware of before beginning the process. Because underused lots tend to become overgrown with weeds and other plants, you'll want to make sure there aren't any big rocks lurking in places where they can't be seen. If any, they might end up being a hazard to the heavy equipment you'll be using to remove the bush.
   
   You must also evaluate the area's sensitivity to environmental concerns such as floods. Clearing the lot may raise the risk of erosion and floods, for which you must plan. Consult with your contractor about the best ways to accomplish this.
   
   
3. Consult the Zoning and Building Departments.
   
   The last thing you want is to clear property only to be informed it was unlawful because you violated some zoning law you were unaware of. This would lead to a dispute with your town council and a slew of unneeded costs. To avoid this, contact your town's building and zoning authorities early on to confirm that the specific place you're clearing is within the boundaries of the town code or other rules.
   
   
4. Get the Right Tools for the Job
   
   Land clearing differs from project to project, with most individuals having a varied size of land allotment. Make a list of unique property characteristics, such as a particular tree or region, that you'd like to retain intact before investing in equipment for the operation. Then, be sure that any logger, forester, or other contractor knows and respects your wishes. It will be much easier to select the right equipment for the specific work at hand if size specifications and the homeowner's preferences are adequately conveyed.
   
   
5. Ensure Your Own Safety
   
   Removing trees from your property, both living and dead, is a different story. This is due to several factors. First, you may opt to save a few living trees on the property. If that's the case, you'll need to proceed with caution with the rest of the lot clearing to prevent jeopardizing the trees you've opted to retain. Trees that you do decide to remove will provide their own set of problems.
   
   Cutting down trees necessitates the use of safety equipment such as a helmet, eye protection, and heavy-duty gear with long legs and sleeves. A harness may also be required to climb up into a tree and remove the biggest limbs before cutting them down. Importantly, you should never do work like this alone; always have a spotter on hand to assist you in remaining safe throughout any lot clearing operations.

Conclusion

Land clearing isn't a 1-2-3 job. It takes a lot of planning and introspection on what you want your property to look like after construction. When you partner with experts, they can advise you on what trees to keep and remove. They can even help you identify trees you can sell to the nearest mill, helping your stave off costs in hiring a contractor.

If you’re looking for a tree removal service in Humble, Texas, Astros Tree Service is the perfect partner. Our services cover anywhere from simple tree trimming to full-scale land clearing. Get in touch with us today for a free quote at 832-843-9668.