I'm aware they currently can't do the yard since the ground is frozen. But it irks me that they say a rough grade is done but it's so rocky, and has building garbage everywhere. What are your thoughts? It's this a typical rough grade?
by PatronusSlay
26 Comments
No sense in clearing and grading and bringing in top soil for final landscaping if the temperatures are not ready for it yet.
Note to self:
Add Oreo Cookie Ice Cream to the grocery list.
No, that’s pre-rough grade with lots of rocks.
I’d consider that cobblestone with a touch of dirt I’d be calling for some real fine grade after clearing some of that out
I call that a weather/seasonal deficiency, which would lead to a % holdback until rectified after spring thaw.
I’d say yes, but what do the specifications say?
I’ve always understood the grade of a lot to mean the slope, not the size of stones or makeup of the soil. I would say the grade is fairly even here by my definition. Others may disagree.
Yea, the more you mess with dirt this time of the year the more of a mess you make. I do residential yards for a living, its not pretty but ina couple years youll forget it ever looked like that
No. Plus or minus 2” w no stones larger than a marble
The grade looks ok but those rocks are wrong.
I’m a landscaper and would not consider that ready for fine soil and grading
For me no I would have them remove any clumps or anything and roughly have it smooth not choppy
Clay chunks not rocks. What area are you located. Biggest factor when rough grading a yard is making sure the water flows away from the house. If water flows towards your house or sits in the yard the grade is wrong. Make sure grade is correct down at the property lines so you don’t have water pooling back there. Grade stakes are required in most cities by me. I’m a landscaper in Fargo, ND. Our soil looks like this when cold. Zero rocks found naturally.
At least no drainage problem for your lawn.
Absolutely not. As someone else here said rough grade should remove all chunks over 2”. Did they come in with a skid steer with a rake attachment?
Don’t get no rougher.
Yes, but I do see some oversized rocks. We have a clause that we assume job will be given with no stones bigger than 1.5″. If there are, an extra cost will be coming.
I was living in my home before they started grading. I was also off for a few months during the spring/summer and spent a lot of time going through my property and piled up stones, bricks, wood, etc at the front of my driveway area. The build got rid of it all. Each day they came to grade I would go out and clear as many stones as possible. When I put my fence in it was easy digging but all the neighbours had a hell of a time.
I don’t know anything about frozen ground but I do know if I saw roofing nails getting buried in my front yard like that I would lose my shit.
It’s rough alright
It looks rough that’s for sure
OP, I own a landscape/excavating company that does this work daily. Anyone saying that’s frozen clay lacks experience, they are clearly rocks.
To answer your question, I would not consider that rough grade as it’s not graded. When we rough grade we get it smooth, in roughly the same grade that finish grade will be with some exceptions. Weather may have held them up and often after we rough grade a subcontractor will drive a lift/trucks on it creating ruts so keep that in mind too.
Another difference is we often work on custom builds and not developments. In developments like this the work tends to happen faster and a bit sloppier as the builder usually takes the low bid. Overall this looks horrible but if they do the right thing when they finish grade you shouldn’t have a problem.
Id be concerned about the grade on the left side of the first picture.. all the water in a rain is coming right at you
It depends, ask the builder/sub what the next steps are going to be as far as a final grading plan and voice your concern now. Obviously there are extenuating factors like weather. Doesn’t have to be contentious, just a conversation about your expectations.
I had a new construction house years ago and their rough grade was slightly better than this, it just didn’t have ruts and piles in it. There were softball sized rocks in it, lumber scraps, trash, etc. They laid sod right over the top and called it good. My breaking point was when I rolled my ankle mowing on the rocks the yard.
They came back and took care of it right but it was a hassle and huge mess that I (and possibly you in this situation) shouldn’t have to deal with once you have moved it.
Because they still have spoil piles or just mounds of dirt, I would assume they are waiting until spring to roll and compact the subgrade in the spring. Do it in the winter and you just make a mess and lock in the water/ice moister underneath. Makes for great pond formations when it warms up and the “rock” thaws. There is a lot of rock and concrete in that dirt(edit: not soil) though
It would take a Skiploader for about an hour and it’ll be rough grade.
Thats what I usually do for clients…
But my favorite thing is driving around the skiploader. 😏
Hang on, I’ll be over in a few to do some burnouts in my Subaru. This is rough af
Tennessee?