S I T E P R E PA R AT I O N G U I D E
Site Preparation: The Foundation to Your Building’s Strength and Durability.
THE FOUNDATION TO YOUR BUILDING’S STRENGTH AND DURABILITY Whether your site is prepared by Morton, or you are handling it yourself, a high-quality site is the most important component of a successful building project and key to the proper setting of your building’s foundation. No matter your choice of foundation type, it will require a correctly compacted, smooth and level site. Planning for Safety and Success As every Morton building is distinctive, every site is also unique. A high-quality site means it has the proper grading and perimeter spaces. This provides the best construction conditions to support your new building
to endure the test of time, as well as provide safe and accessible conditions for our crews during all weather conditions. Thoughtful planning is non-negotiable for effective site preparation. One must take into consideration the specific building’s plans, the soil composition and slope of the land, the accessibility to the jobsite, and more. The following are a few key elements in jobsite preparation to ensure your Morton building is built stronger, lasts longer, and looks better today and in the years to come.
Equipment Access and Construction A successful build begins with clear and direct access to your site. It is imperative that our drivers have a wide and unobstructed driveway to your building site that will support heavy construction equipment and supplies. This includes a roadway clear of tree branches that would block or impair access to the site and should not be a path across a lawn. In addition, the driveway will also need to connect to a sufficient area to stage and unload building materials in a location away from the building pad itself. Once construction begins, our trucks and heavy equipment, which includes concrete trucks, lifts, telehandlers, and potentially large cranes need ample space to maneuver in the perimeter around the building pad without any obstructions or obstacles and avoiding the need to work in muddy conditions around the building pad. Clear access keeps the construction process moving forward reducing delays, added time or additional costs. SUFFICIENT STAGING AREA
DIRECT DRIVEWAY ACCESS
AMPLE SPACE FOR HEAVY MACHINERY
STONE OR GRAVEL BED
10'-12' CONSTRUCTION PERIMETER
BUILDING FOOTPRINT
ROAD ACCESS
Site Pad & Perimeter AMPLE PERIMETER SPACE
Ideally your site presents a level grade, is free of obstructions, and includes a minimum of a 10-12 foot perimeter around all sides from the drip edge, which would start at the edge of the overhangs and any porches on the building. An appropriate perimeter allows for the safe and efficient movement of the crew and equipment that construct your building, along with access to set the foundation columns during the construction phase. A safe high-quality site is also free of organic and loose matter and includes a base of approved structural fill on the construction pad to ensure clean, easy, and consistent access to the site in all weather conditions.
10'-12'
REQUIRED PERIMETER SHOULD BE 10'-12'
Obstructions The site must also be free from any above-grade obstructions, including trees, rocks, power lines, stumps, and anything that will interfere with drainage or construction. It’s also important to remove or avoid below-grade obstructions, such as utility lines or old foundations. Below-grade obstructions discovered during the construction process may require additional time, materials, or cost.
Grading & Drainage REMOVE OBSTRUCTIONS
Correct grading assures proper water drainage on your site and around your new building. Improper grading can affect the long-term performance of the building and the concrete slab-and can also cause frost heaving, which can result in serious long-term damage. A site is considered level when rough grade is within 1 inch of the agreed elevation.
CUTTING & FILLING
Cutting and filling is the process of removing existing soil and top-level site material from high areas and filling in low areas with well-graded fill that is compacted in 6”-8” layers. Compacting in layers ensures the longevity and integrity of your building foundation. For proper drainage, the site should be graded to slope a minimum of 5% (6” in 10 ft.) and up to 10% slope (12” in 10 ft.) away from the building. A swale may be suggested or needed depending on the specific site.
STRUCTURAL FILL
5% SLOPE (6" IN 10')
CORRECT GRADING & DRAINAGE
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PAD PREPARATION | COMPACTING IN LAYERS
x Benchmark x Stripping the Jobsite x Site pad & Perimeter x Material Delivery
Site Prep Checklist o Driveway access to the site clear of obstructions and prepared for heavy machinery o Material staging area accessible from driveway access o Removal of organic matter and loose topsoil o Site graded, compacted and level within 1” o 10-foot cleared and prepared perimeter for equipment movement o Approved structural fill base on sites subject to wide-ranging weather conditions o Proper drainage o Corners flagged and benchmark set
We are Here to Help The strength and durability of your Morton building is dependent on preparing a high-quality building site specific to your unique building needs and building location. At Morton, we prepare thousands of sites each year and are here to help. Leave this heavy lifting to your Morton Team! Contact your local construction center for more information.
Building Across The Nation With company-owned construction centers strategically located throughout the United States, there’s a Morton Buildings sales consultant nearby to serve you. Find your local Morton Buildings construction center at mortonbuildings.com/locations, for pricing information and to receive additional detailed information about our buildings.
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