When building your own home, you will want to perform the tractor rough grade immediately after the slab is poured and the form boards are removed. The purpose of the lot scrape is to provide adequate drainage of surface water away from the slab (Make sure the sewer and water tap have already been completed) The general standards for drainage is set by the Residential Code for One & Two Family Dwellings and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). Proper lot drainage established now will prevent delays when the final grade is performed later in the process of building your own home.
When you schedule this work during your homes construction, ensure that enough sand is delivered to allow for the job to be completed. At this stage, all swales are cut, the grade is leveled and sloped uniformly over the entire lot. Dirt is leveled to the top of all flat work (if applicable), so the lot drains without holding water. Check slope of swales using a grading tool before the tractor man leaves the job site. After the rough grade is complete, have silt control installed to prohibit erosion from entering the street and sandbags placed on the up slope side of affected storm drains.
Building Your Own Home
Checklist for Tractor Rough Grade
- Before the rough grade, inspect lot condition for prior damage at all flatwork, slab corners, water meter boxes, t-poles, and sewer cleanout(s).
- Swales cut around house & between lots
- 2% swale gradient (Note: May be reduced to 1% if house will have full gutter installation discharging 3 feet from the slab)
- Must fall away from front, rear & sides of exposed slab to a minimum of 6 inches within the first 10 feet. Confirm swale depth and placement by using a grading tool (If property line is less than 10 feet, still comply with the 6″ rule)
- Bottom of swale a minimum of 14 inches above finished slab height (FSH) at rear of slab
- Grade is even and smooth, having no low spots to hold water
- Ensure grade at patio slopes away from top of concrete surface toward swale (if applicable)
- Curb clean accomplished prior to tractor man completing job
- After the rough grade, re-inspect the lot for tractor damage at all flatwork, slab corners, water meter boxes, t-poles, and sewer cleanouts.
- Install silt fencing, or other approved methods (check with city ordinances)
