Excavating
Each property must be considered individually so that key trees are protected, land contours are enhanced and views are maximized. The house site is chosen, in discussion with the owners, and the open areas and paths through forested areas are agreed upon. Trees and stumps are removed, with the stumps either burned or trucked to the burn pit and logs set aside for milling.
The trees that are to be kept standing have delicate root systems so care must be taken when using heavy equipment around them. The area around some trees can be reached with the excavator shovel, while other areas are worked using a chainsaw and then an ATV towed rake for grooming. Low areas are filled with chips, raked level and supplemented with nitrogen to help with decomposition and to give the trees a boost.
The house site and septic system must be in harmony, with the tank located close to the house and the septic field down hill to create as much pressure as possible. Terracing with logs or rocks can create levelled areas for lawns and gardens and contours to prevent excess rain water drain off.
All waterfront lots are prone to erosion and this increases when root masses are removed or disturbed in the soil. Some lots may require a drain trench to be installed above the septic field or house to drain excess rain water away from these areas and to direct the water to a drain pipe down to the ocean.