Site Prep

For virtually any type of construction project, site prep is going to be required. Getting the area ready for the next stages of the job is critical, yet it’s easy for some people to overlook the value of this process because it doesn’t seem like much is happening. Site prep is hard work that doesn’t tend to yield anything in the way of visual progress – it’s not nearly as satisfying as when you see the actual project start to take shape.

Let’s take a moment in this article to go over the importance of site prep and why it would be a serious mistake to shortcut this part of any job. Getting site prep right can set you up for excellent results in your next project, whether it’s a DIY job or something you trust to a contractor. Of course, we take site prep very seriously here at North Idaho Pavers, so you can be sure any project trusted to us is going to start the right way.

Clear the Way

At the very least, site prep is going to be important for your project because it will make way for the work that is to come next. If the site hasn’t been prepared, it will be hard to get people and equipment to the work area properly, and the time it takes to complete the project may be increased. In some cases, it simply won’t be possible to get a project started without thorough site prep, since the materials and equipment used wouldn’t be able to get into the right position.

Building projects are hard enough without adding unnecessary obstacles or challenges to the process. That’s exactly what you would be doing if you failed to have site prep work done. Adding to the degree of difficulty of your project is just opening up opportunities for mistakes to happen and issues to come up later on down the line.

Improve Longevity

Speaking of later on down the line, that’s another big reason to care about site prep. When the ground is prepared in a way that will support the coming project, that project is likely to last far longer than it would have otherwise. And, since you are investing your hard-earned money into this project, longevity is a topic that should always be close to the top of your priority list. It’s easy to be distracted by flashy designs or to be intrigued by extremely low prices, but make sure your chosen partner respects the fundamentals of construction and won’t skip out on good site prep.

You can think about a standard paver patio as a good example of this concept. When the site prep is done right, those pavers will have a solid, flat, well-draining foundation on which to rest, and the patio should be useful and enjoyable for years to come. Lackluster site prep, on the other hand, is a recipe for disaster sooner than later. Sure, the patio might look okay immediately after it is finished, but it won’t take long for problems to arise as the earth shifts and rain falls. If you want to get the longest useful life out of your patio or any other type of landscaping project, make sure your contractor is committed to doing excellent site prep work.

Avoid or Limit Future Repairs

Not only do you want your projects to last for a long time after they are completed, but you don’t want to have to go back and frequently perform repairs to keep them looking good and functioning properly. Again, this is where site work comes into play. With the ground prepared and the contractor able to work properly, the project should be solid and avoid anything but the most basic maintenance needs for a long time to come. That way, you can simply enjoy your property without stressing about the time and money that will be required to keep up with all of these repair tasks.

The paver patio we talked about above can be a great example here, as well. Without good site prep, the pavers are going to move and shift, and you’ll end up with wide cracks or uneven spots in your patio. Going back to do maintenance on those points to get everything to line up again is a hassle and the problems are only going to get worse as the years pass. It’s far better to get ahead of the game and have the work done right the first time. In addition to paver patios, this same concept can apply to many of the other types of work we do, including walkways, retaining walls, driveways, and more.

A Better Finished Product

Ultimately, what you want at the end of the construction process is a project that you can be proud of and that serves your needs. And that outcome is more likely to be reached when you are dealing with a contractor that puts just as much time and effort into site prep as the rest of the project. Cutting corners at the start of a job is a bad way to get going, and it is certain to lead to issues later on. Whether those issues are major or minor is yet to be seen, but what is known is that the project would have been much better off if the site prep had been handled correctly.

To make sure no corners are cut during the early stages of your next project, turn to the team at North Idaho Pavers for help. We take pride in doing site prep right, and that commitment shows in both the quality and durability of our work. You can be sure that the projects we complete for you are going to last for years to come, and that is largely thanks to the efforts invested in the site prep process. Thank you for stopping by and we are excited to serve you!