Everything You Need To Know About Leveling the Land for Metal Building Installation
Like other types of buildings, metal structures must follow the rules and regulations before installation can begin. You can’t wake up one day and start developing a two-story building on unprepared land. The same goes for metal structures of any kind.
Before installing a metal garage, carport, or barn on your land, you first have to check if your location’s building codes allow for the construction. You also need to get all the necessary permits and documents vital to a seamless metal building installation. Mr. Carports can assist you in facilitating all these and more. The trained professionals with over 35 years of combined experience can take care of the installation for you.
However, it would help if you still had level land available for your structure. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about leveling the ground for your metal building installation.
Why is Leveling Your Site Important?
Site preparation is an essential aspect of the installation process. That is because installing a metal building on an unprepared site is not only dangerous but also irresponsible. Neglecting to prepare a site might lead to the demolition of your metal building.
One crucial step of pre-installation site preparation is ground leveling. How do you level the ground, and why is ground leveling important?
It is important to note that no building anywhere can be built or can stand on an unleveled – and even land. The risks to you, the building, and your surroundings are all too dire to ignore, so the first thing you do before installing a steel structure on a site is ground leveling.
Additionally, the reason why site leveling is so essential is that it ensures structural integrity. An unleveled site makes the building unbalanced and leaves spaces for critters and snakes to explore. Also, an unstable site is very vulnerable to severe windstorms. Harsh weather can pull up an anchor, leading to building collapse and destroying contents in the building.
Having a four-inch leveled land is imperative; anything less than four inches poses a severe risk to you, your building, and your investments.
Site Preparation – How to Level Your Land
Site or land leveling is necessary for the installation of a metal building. If you have decided on the installation schedule that suits you, you should look towards preparing the site for the installation process.
If you want to know what land leveling entails, the following are the steps involved:
- Check for utility lines: before embarking on land leveling and clearing, you should first check with appropriate authorities to ensure no gas or water lines is in your target area. You can begin clearing when you receive the all-clear.
- Measure the area: another critical step is measuring and marking the site. It is vital that you accurately measure and indicate the place where you’ll be setting up your metal building. Measure with a measuring tape and ensure that the measuring is larger than your metal building size.
- Use stakes on all four corners: after measurements, you then use stakes to mark the site’s four corners. Make sure you measure again while marking the four corners.
- Level with string or twine: after marking the four corners, the next step is leveling the site. Pick a stake, measure a set of inches from the ground up and tie a string there. Repeat this action on all four corners until you seal the entire site off with a line or twine barrier.
- Measuring the highs and lows: once your string is tied, measure the high and low points and figure out the difference. The reason for the measurements is to determine if the site area is sloppy. After measuring, if you discover a slope or contrast, you can then add dirt to the low point or remove dirt from the high point to make it level.
Metal Building Base Options
Are you ready to install your metal building, but you’re wondering what kind of foundation is best for you? Well, you’re at the right place for the question.
After leveling your site and getting all necessary approval for installing your metal building, the next step is deciding on a foundation base. There’s a belief that you can put metal buildings on only two types of foundation. Well, that is a big untruth. There are four metal building base options, and it is entirely up to you which one you choose. The only thing that is necessary for metal building installation is site clearing and leveling. It is on this basis that every other operation is carried out.
The following are the metal building base options:
- Concrete: the concrete foundation is the best type of base you can give any building. If what you want is a perfect base that is extremely unlikely to cause your problems and could also give your properties the best protection available – then a concrete foundation is the thing for you.
When installing, it is probably best that you have a team of professionals set your concrete foundation for you. A poorly-developed concrete foundation could destabilize or crack beneath your metal building.
- Gravel: this foundation is a popular choice for a metal building base. That is mainly because it is relatively cheaper and offers stability to your structure. The important thing is to ensure that your site is well cleared and leveled before pouring gravel and stones for the foundation. Additionally, gravel and stones might shift over time, so it requires regular maintenance. However, you need not worry; gravel is easy to re-level.
- Ground: ground foundation, also known as dirt foundation, is the sort of foundation that is placed on the soil. After you have leveled the site and completed all pre-installation requirements, you can call specialists at Mr. Carports to install your metal building. It is important to note that experts do not recommend it for all metal building designs, while the ground foundation is the cheapest option. If your metal building is a lawn or backyard shed, then a ground foundation could be ideal for you, but you should not use this type of foundation with carports, garages, workshops, and so on.
- Asphalt: asphalt foundation is an excellent choice to base your metal building. This type of foundation is much stronger and more stable compared to the ground foundation and gravel foundation. It is also relatively cheaper compared to a concrete foundation. Asphalt foundation won’t move over time. Mr. Carports recommends this type of foundation for people that live in areas with heavy showers of rain and heavy winds.
For a consultation on a metal building base, call at (877) 350-5464 to speak to a specialist at Mr. Carports.
Can Mr. Carports Level the Land for You?
The short answer is no. First of all, when it comes to land leveling, it is better that you use a local contractor that is familiar with your area. Also, Mr. Carports can’t level the land for you because the services would throw a wrench in their delivery capacity and even destabilize the installation team’s already tight schedule. However, if you want advice on on-site clearing and metal building installation services, call Mr. Carports at (877) 350-5464.
Can I Build a Platform Above My Uneven Land to Support My New Metal Building?
Of course, you definitely can. If, for whatever reason, you are unable to dig into the ground to level your site, then this can be an alternative for you. However, always consult with a specialist before making this decision.
Why Choose Mr. Carports for Your Metal Structure?
There are few metal building companies in the industry that can match Mr. Carports’ reputation and reliability; you can trust over 35 years of professional experience.
Mr. Carports is the top metal building dealer in the country. You can take advantage of manufacturer-direct pricing on metal buildings as well as free delivery and installation. The helpful team provides quality metal buildings for residential, commercial, agricultural, and semi-industrial needs at affordable prices. Call now at (877) 350-5464 to ask the friendly staff any questions about leveling the ground for your metal structure.