All about filling the site

Over time, the soil can settle due to increased moisture, which will lead to general deformation of buildings. Therefore, land plots are often subjected to such a "procedure" as filling.

Filling of the site is carried out to level the relief. This will prevent waterlogging in the area, and will also prevent earth shifts. Backfilling is often carried out when the site is located below sea level. Also, a similar "procedure" is carried out before the start of construction, before landscaping areas. It happens that the breakdown of a garden or vegetable garden may also require dumping.

To determine whether filling is needed and what materials it is best to carry out, they turn to surveyors for help. They take the necessary measurements and take the right samples to determine when to start filling.

Any bulk materials are suitable for filling the site. When choosing a base for leveling, you need to take into account not only the cost of raw materials, but also the needs of the soil. When it comes to waterproofing, it is best to use clay. This method of filling is perfect when building a well in a garden or vegetable garden. Covering with clay will prevent moisture from entering the soil.

The cheapest raw material for raising the level of the earth is the so-called slag. These are the remains of wood and coal ash. Their use in the backfill is justified if the purpose is not to landscaping the site. Also, do not use slag if you have a garden or vegetable garden. Such raw materials are harmful to trees and other crops. Slag can be used to fill roads, as there are no plants on them.

The sand is combined with other raw materials, which improves the quality of the filling. If the site is subject to landslides, coarse particulate materials are added to the site. It is possible to break up a garden or vegetable garden on an area covered with sand only after a year. Pre-fertilized soil is laid on top of the sand. Fine sand is used in decoration, since such a base is expensive. The advantages of sanding include:

• dumping price is relatively low;
• soil acidification is unlikely;
• sand completely fills all microvoids;
• the sand dump does not interfere with moisture exchange, which excludes root rot, the moist environment does not crumple sand;
• such raw material contributes to a uniform drainage and distribution of liquid, which prevents swamping of the area;
• sand can also absorb bad odors;
• this base eliminates the need for additional filling with a drainage layer.

Among the disadvantages are the following:

• sand must be poured in a thick layer, otherwise the soil will creep;
• there is a risk of absorption of liquid from plants during dry seasons;
• the area covered with sand will not withstand huge structures - the constructed building may settle or warp;
• the use of a sand embankment is not recommended for hilly areas;
• when using sand, the amount of plant food is doubled.

The material is extracted by crushing rocks. Crushed stone is used not only to level the landscape, but also to create a drainage layer. Also, this raw material is used to protect sites from groundwater. In addition, crushed stone is widely used in decorating flower beds, paths in gardens and parks.

Most often, crushed gravel is used with abundant flooding of areas. The positive aspects of rubble include:

• high strength - thanks to this, the area covered with gravel will withstand serious loads;
• resistance to weathering;
• variety of species - this allows you to find an option that is acceptable on a budget;
• natural origin - this factor makes it possible to use crushed stone everywhere, since this raw material does not emit harmful substances into the atmosphere, therefore, it is not dangerous for the health of people and animals.

There are also negative aspects of using crushed stone:

• uneven, rough surface makes movement difficult;
• using large sharp particles when dumping - this can lead to damage to vehicles when it comes to parking;
• trauma - despite the decorative appearance, this basis is not the best for playgrounds.

Backfilling with fertile soil is the most beneficial for the soil, but at the same time an expensive "procedure". Most often, the territory is raised in this way when the site is used for orchards and vegetable gardens, less often for parks. Depending on the parameters, the soil has different characteristics. The use of such material is unjustified in wetlands, since the soil is not able to cope with so much moisture. The advantages of using soil include:

• ecological purity - raw materials do not contain harmful elements that can harm the environment;
• increasing fertility is a very important factor in horticulture.

The disadvantages include the following indicators:

• high cost - due to the high price, it is advisable to use soil only for the upper layers of the dump;
• the appearance of sediment - it is best to cover small areas with soil, since the use of such a fragile material in large areas can lead to landslides.

Using construction waste to level the terrain is the cheapest way. And if there is access to the site where construction is underway, then the material can be obtained for free. Cheapness is the only advantage of such raw materials. This type of dumping material is very harmful to soils: garbage decomposes for a long time, giving off toxic substances to the earth. Of course, there can be no question of the development of a garden, vegetable garden or green area on the territory covered with construction waste. Such raw materials can be used to create roads.

However, the use of this material has been officially banned since 1998. This is stated in Article 12 of Federal Law No. 89-FZ "On Production and Consumption Waste". Violation results in a fine of RUB 100,000. Added to this is the damage done to the soil.

Most often, the landscape is leveled with pine bark, since it is the most resistant to weathering and has high strength. This raw material is not used in the most problematic situations. It will not work to raise the relief in this way, for example, in a swampy area. In addition, when it is necessary to level large areas, there can be no talk of economy. Basically, the bark is used to fill in small irregularities or to decorate an area.

The benefits of pine bark are as follows:

• environmental friendliness - the absence of harmful substances makes this raw material suitable for gardening areas;
• resistance to sunlight - pine bark will not lose color even with prolonged exposure to the sun;
• resistance to decay - the bark is capable of passing moisture, which is why it does not rot and does not turn into simple humus.

There are also disadvantages:

• narrow focus - pine bark cannot be used everywhere, this makes it a narrow-profile material;
• lack of aesthetics - the appearance of the bark is not the most attractive, therefore it is often mixed with other decorative materials.

Before carrying out measures to raise the relief, you need to make sure that it is necessary. Dumping is carried out:

• if the land plot is below sea level - in this case, during the melting of snow, as well as in the season of heavy rains, the territory will be flooded due to an increase in the groundwater level;
• if, in addition to depressions and lowlands, there are hills in the landscape that interfere with the construction or development of the garden;
• in wetlands;
• when the main road is higher than other buildings;
• when the area around the house or in the summer cottage is littered with construction or household waste;
• when the area has a large slope.

It is much easier to lift the landscape in areas allocated for construction, because the buildings present, for example, in summer cottages, make it difficult to backfill. They begin to lift the relief only after thorough preparation. First, they destroy old buildings, if any. Then the site is cleared. You can do it yourself or contact a specialist. In the case of self-cleaning, you will need an ax, a shovel, a crowbar, a chainsaw, an electric scythe. First, get rid of tall grass and bushes. After that, they start cutting down trees. Cleaning with a special technique has several advantages over manual cleaning.

Of course, this is a big time-saver. Also, a plus is that the technique, after uprooting the trees, immediately levels the holes that have appeared. After clearing, the next stage comes - planning. You can't do it yourself - you need to contact the surveyors. They will drill a well, measure the water table and analyze the composition of the soil. Measurement of the groundwater level is necessary to find out how much the relief will be raised, and also whether drainage is needed.

In addition, surveyors determine the thickness of the layer under the fertile soil. This helps to find out the condition of the soil and select the materials for the backfill. For example, swampy soil is most often caused by the presence of clay. If the clay layer is thin, it is removed. In the case where clay makes up most of the soil, a powerful drainage system is built. Also, experts will help determine the exact dimensions of the depressions and hills. This is done to find out the thickness of the fill layer. In areas with high relief drops, it is necessary to use a special technique to level it. With a slight slope, filling can also be carried out manually.

The layout includes a plot arrangement scheme. It is necessary to decide in advance what and where will be. It should be noted where the house will be located, whether extensions will be built. If this is a parking lot, then where will the entrance be. You need to mark areas for landscaping. These parameters are needed to select suitable materials for filling. The dump itself is divided into several types. The first one is superficial, it is the delivery of raw materials and leveling along the perimeter. This type is suitable if the filling has already been carried out, or in the case of small relief drops. The second type - deep, includes the removal of the top layer, filling and leveling. This type of bedding is used for areas located in lowlands.

When the preparatory work is completed, they proceed to the filling itself. The execution technology is as follows:

• the raw materials selected for backfilling are laid in layers, the thickness of the layers varies from 10 to 15 cm;
• after tamping, the earth is left for several days to allow the laid materials to settle slightly;
• when the top layer is laid, the filling is considered complete.

After the completion of the bedding, it is undesirable to engage in construction for a year. If landscaping works are planned, waiting is not required.

No material can hold back water forever. Over time, it will seep through the layers of dumping and drown the earth. To prevent the soil from flooding, an additional drainage system is being built. Firstly, not a single dump is complete without drainage, which is used as crushed stone or gravel. Secondly, you can build a drainage system with drainage systems. For orchards and vegetable gardens, a drainage well will be the best solution. It not only collects excess water, but also accumulates it, allowing it to be used for further irrigation. The well is located at the lowest point of the site. It is dug 2-3 meters deep, and the diameter must be at least 1 meter.

To add beauty to the appearance of the well, its walls are laid out with stone or coated with clay. The drainage system should be constructed at a slope of 2-3 degrees. If there are no plants on the site and there is no need to store water, a public drainage system will do. It consists of ditches dug along roads and sections. It is important to ensure that such a system is constantly cleaned. Otherwise, the construction of the drainage system will come to naught.

For information on how to fill up a wetland, see the next video.