Leveling a Plot of Land Yourself: Features and Expert Advice

It is quite difficult to make the terrain perfectly flat for the construction of a solid private house. Therefore, those wishing to properly level a site should study the methods and specifics of the entire process. This affects the quality of the work performed and the overall result. Terrain leveling is divided into two components: preparatory and final (i.e., the actual leveling).

Preparing the area

1. Dividing the territory into zones: for the house, utility block, lawn, garden and other structures. In this case, it is necessary take into account the location of the site and specific features of its relief (in relation to north, south, west and east), the degree of soil fertility, groundwater.
2. Drainage equipment (for low groundwater infiltration). Pipe placement and installation costs must be determined before work begins.
3. Immediately remove the north-facing slope (if present). This is necessary because such a slope cannot warm up quickly in the spring (which makes it difficult for crops to grow).
4. Removing hummocks and rises on the site (maximum elevation difference is 0.5 meters).

Assessment of the feasibility of carrying out work

To understand whether leveling the area is feasible and even necessary, you need to look at the site from different angles. Sometimes you can use simple homemade ones. decorative plant compositionsTo conceal terrain imperfections. In areas with slopes greater than five degrees, terraces of varying widths and shapes can be created. Leveling a site is necessary when there's insufficient space to build a house or other outbuildings, or when a beautiful lawn is desired.

Determination of soil mass balance

To determine how much soil needs to be moved, you need to determine the balance of the existing soil (its mass). Cubic meters or kilograms can be used as units. This procedure will also help determine the necessary costs. It may be impossible to level a plot of land at your dacha. The volume of soil depends on its density, but the following unit is commonly used: 1 cubic decimeter equals 1 kilogram.

Alignment

Unevenness of a site may not seem like a major problem. However, when planting trees and building a house, any imperfections will become a major nuisance. The levelness of the site affects aspects such as the foundation, the presence of a lawn, and the uneven distribution of the building's weight. To ensure everything is in order, leveling is a good idea from the start.

Leveling a dacha plot yourself

A plot of land between four and six hundred square meters (400 and 600 square meters) can be leveled by hand (using a rake). However, if the plot size is between six and twelve hundred square meters (600 and 1200 square meters), leveling it will take a long time without specialized equipment (such as a cultivator). For plots of twelve hundred square meters or more, it's best to use a mini-bulldozer or tractor.

Necessary tools and construction of fixtures

To level the area yourself, a summer resident will need the following items:

• bayonet shovel;
• garden rake;
• hoe;
• fan rake;
• wheelbarrow;
• wooden blocks (boards longer than two meters);
• level;
• hammer;
• cord;
• scoop shovel;
• pegs made of timber (2.5 x 2.5 cm);
• roulette.

A wooden ladder dragged across the entire area with ropes is ideal for leveling the soil. To compact the soil, use a roller made from a small iron barrel and pipes of various diameters.

How to make a device for compacting soil on a site:

• holes need to be cut in the middle of the barrel lid and at the bottom;
• drive a tube into the bottom so that the edge of the tube protrudes slightly;
• seal the area where the parts come into contact;
• pour a sufficient amount of crushed stone into the barrel and add water or cement mortar;
• you need to place the lid on the tube and seal the joint;
• the lid must be welded to the container;
• Using a welding machine and a hacksaw, you need to make a frame and a handle from rebar.

Sequence of actions when leveling a site

If there are minor irregularities, dig up the top layer of soil, removing any plant roots. The soil must be distributed evenly (marked with pegs, spaced ten centimeters apart from the top edge). The first peg should be placed three centimeters from the ground. The remaining pegs are driven in two meters apart (check their alignment with a spirit level).

If the terrain is significantly uneven, the sod must first be removed. If a drainage system is required, all topsoil must be removed and the surface covered with broken brick and gravel (10 centimeters thick). If a drainage system with pipes is required, trenches with compacted crushed stone and sand bottoms must be dug under the topsoil. Perforated polymer pipes with filters must be laid in these trenches.

Now you can begin leveling the loosened soil. Once everything is marked, you need to spread the soil over the area to achieve a level surface. Next, remove the stakes and begin leveling the soil using a rake, cultivator, or ladder.

Now compact the soil using a homemade roller made from a barrel. Alternatively, water the area for fourteen days to allow the soil to settle naturally. Fill any resulting depressions with soil. You can evenly compact the soil by moving wide boards across the area.

Level the area by bringing in soil

This method is advisable if the site has numerous potholes and a slight slope, as well as a fence (or other support for imported soil). Leveling this type of soil requires careful attention and meticulous work, as spring runoff will damage the fence. Ready-mixed peat-humus soil is typically used for this purpose, as well as leaf mold (this should be purchased if the volume of imported soil is small).

Non-standard situations

If the site is located at a steep angle, it's possible to create a multi-tiered layout. Zoning should be done both in the standard way—by squares and by levels. Tiers are leveled separately, ensuring that they remain parallel. The space between tiers should be equal to the vertical distance between the lowest and highest points of the site. The number of tiers also depends on this distance.

This can be explained: with a slope height of eighty centimeters, it's entirely possible to create two tiers. They would then be spaced forty centimeters apart. In this case, three tiers could be placed twenty-five centimeters apart.

Leveling the site for construction

Pile or strip foundations are typically placed on leveled areas, ensuring uniform load distribution. Monolithic foundations are designed to support heavier loads, so a perfectly level surface isn't required.

Level the area of ​​land for a lawn

If the area needs to be leveled for subsequent lawn planting, it should be cultivated three times with a cultivator and then leveled with a rake. The top layer should be made of sand for better grass growthThe bottom layer has greater water-holding capacity, so the sprouted seeds develop a deep root system. The sand can be leveled with a plank.

Cost and terms of work

The average prices for services are as follows:

Duration of work: from 1 month.

In conclusion

The leveling process involves zoning, assessing the feasibility of leveling measures, determining the soil mass balance, choosing a method for performing the work, and calculating costs. Leveling methods vary, including manual methods, the use of specialized tools and equipment, delivery of new high-quality soil to get a good harvest.

These aspects and stages of work will lead you to the desired result—a level surface on your property. The most important thing to remember is to carefully consider all the details. This is important because goals can vary—some people need a level site for planting a lawn, while others need it for building a private home.