Grading Lot--Is Builder Being Truthful?

12 years ago

Hi--I just joined gardenweb but have been consulting it for helpful posts for a very long time. Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.

I'm buying a new house that is being built by a reputable developer/builder in a new subdivision. My lot backs onto woods and conservation land. There is quite a bit of ledge on the edges of the development and the builder finished blasting a few weeks ago.

Here's my question: the builder has cleared my lot and put in the foundation footings. In my backyard, the lot stretches back evenly, then slopes slightly downward into the conservation area. The area where the ledge had been the builder has filled with large stones and boulders of various sizes (in other words, he had "built up" the area that had been ledge to make it even with the back of the house).

I was concerned about this, not knowing anything about grading. The builder told me that the stones would be compacted and backfilling along with the addition of soil and loam, would be completed.

I think the builder is trustworthy, but I don't quite understand his explanation and couldn't elicit anything clearer. Is this the proper way to build up and grade a backyard or should I be concerned about the pile-up of rocks behind the house? (I do know he'll do a final grade).

Hope this was clear enough and many thanks.

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Comments (3)

PRO
Yardvaark
12 years ago
There is quite a bit of ledge on the edges of the development and the builder finished blasting a few weeks ago. This terminology sounds regional. Please explain in plain English what this means. It never hurts to include a picture that shows the context. (paste the picture html code from your photo-hosting site into the message to post.)
whaas_5a
12 years ago
I second the picture...I started reading the post and had no idea what you where talking about.
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nandina
12 years ago
The user name here suggests to me that this OP may be building in that area south of Boston where builders have worked miracles constructing/blasting housing developments on ledge rock and granite. Wherever it is located if the builder has had extensive experience building in this type of situation and is using backhoe operators familiar and skilled in this type project....that's the critical answer to this question. You want to meet, talk with and have the final grading project explained to you by the person who will do the actual work. If your builder will not arrange this then you should feel uncomfortable and arrange a consultation with an area Landscape Architect for guidance. Use a LA in this situation. Question how the back of your property will join the conservation land. If there is a drop between the two should a retaining wall be installed?

Here on this Forum we have really not given credit to those heavy machine operators who often are the backbone of our planning. But, that's a subject for another discussion.