Substrate preparation

Preparing the base layer through earthworks covers various kinds of construction work. It mainly involves demolition, excavation, backfilling, and hauling. Carrying out work on this scale requires excavators, graders, bulldozers, front loaders, plate/vibratory compactors, and transport vehicles, as well as hand tools: pickaxes, shovels, spades. This work reshapes the existing terrain to bring it in line with a project’s requirements.

Broadly, the work follows these steps. It starts with demolishing any existing structure. Measurements are then taken to mark out the areas. Areas are then marked with stakes and string, as shown in the project plan. Next, plants and trees are removed from the ground (where applicable), along with organic debris, clearing the whole surface. Excavation of the soil then follows, along with all the steps needed to remove it. If stone or concrete pavers will be installed on the surface, excavation goes down to a maximum depth of 30 cm. The base layer is built by compacting a gravel layer with a plate compactor. A sand layer follows, which is also compacted, after which the stone is installed.