Logan Voss
When you have a hilly property, it can prevent you from using your land as you’d like. Lower areas tend to get more standing water, while higher plots bake in the sun. Additionally, it’s much harder to add amenities to your backyard, such as patio or deck spaces. Fortunately, you don’t have to accept this rougher terrain, and there’s plenty you can do to correct it. These are our tips for leveling your sloped backyard and getting it ready for additional projects or activities.
Measure and Mark Your Yard’s Slope
If you’re planning to level out your property, one of the first things you should do is measure and mark your yard’s slope. Depending on the angle of the land, you may find there’s more work cut out for you than you initially thought. Taking these measurements also allows you to create a more detailed plan for approaching the project. Then, marking where you want to dig will ensure you know exactly where to break ground.
Check Local Building Codes
Before you begin excavating, it’s also crucial that you check the local building codes with your township. Every town has certain regulations to abide by when it comes to extensive property work, and this project could infringe on some of those rules if you aren’t careful, resulting in hefty fines. So, you’ll want to double-check with the township that what you’re authorized to move forwards. You make even need to receive a written permit.
Water the Land You Want To Level
Just because you’ve gotten permission doesn’t mean you should start digging right away. In fact, it’s recommended that you wait a couple days and increase the frequency that you water that area of your yard. Digging straight into hard, dry land is both additional labor for you and much harder on your equipment. So, if you want to save time and effort, soften the slope for a couple of days with water before you start.
Use the Right Heavy Equipment
Another essential tip for effectively leveling your sloped backyard is to use the proper equipment. In the case of smaller projects, this means durable shovels, trowels, and wheelbarrows for transporting dirt. However, if you’re working with a larger hill, consider investing in a skid steer loader with a 6-way dozer blade attachment. These devices allow you to push large quantities of dirt out of the way and respread it wherever you’d like. As such, they’re perfect for redistributing and leveling out your property.
Leveling out your yard is a great way to make better use of the space and increase your home value while you’re at it. Just make sure you use these tips and tricks to get the most out of your effort.
