Before we dive into grading equipment, let’s take a brief look at the work itself. Grading is part of the site preparation phase of construction projects and provides a blueprint for attaining the desired aesthetics. There are 4 main phases of site development. Here’s a brief summary of each:

Plan It

This involves organizing all the key components of the site and building a plan to get the job done efficiently. Some of the planning tasks include surveying the land and soil quality, fleet prep, obstacle assessment and erosion control.

Clear It

This is when the actual construction work begins. Land clearing involves removing vegetation, topsoil and rocks, demolishing existing structures and disposing of materials. Common machinery used in this phase includes earthmoving equipment such as excavators, mini excavators, skid steers, dozers and dump trucks.

Move It

This is the mass excavation phase to shape the landscape as needed by removing material from high areas and filling low lying areas. Typical sites will use both production and support machinery.

Smooth It

It’s grading time. This phase involves soil compaction, rough grading and finish grading. Equipment needs may include large or compact motor graders, depending on the size of the jobsite.

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