Even though the A.O. Wagner Construction crew is still in the early stages of the new CWI Industrial Services facility in Lakeland, it is steadily progressing. We poured the concrete slab three weeks ago, and the crew is now focused on final grading of the site ahead of lime rock base installation and concrete curbing. The Whirlwind Steel pre-engineered metal building is scheduled for delivery July 24. We have covered a lot of ground on this project already, from the initial site work and underground drainage to the concrete slab pour, and there is plenty more to come.
From the outside, a grading site looks like a whole lot of dirt and not much else. But what is happening beneath the surface sets the stage for the next step in a construction project. We want to take some time to talk about what grading is and why it matters in a quality build.
What Is Site Grading?
Grading is the process of reshaping land. This can include raising or lowering ground levels, adding or removing slopes, or leveling the ground surface completely. Grading a site creates proper drainage and prepares the land to bear weight.
But it is not simply pushing dirt around. Everything is calculated to achieve a specific finished grade that matches the site’s civil engineering plans, which are typically reviewed and approved by local zoning jurisdictions before the work even begins.
The Types of Grading Involved
Rough grading comes first, which establishes the basic shapes and elevations of the site using heavy equipment to remove or redistribute large portions of material. You may see something like this in new housing developments where you can see the neighborhood start to take shape as mounds of lot-sized and -shaped dirt.
After that, finished grading refines the surface by removing rocks and debris and smoothing the ground to prepare for the next layer of material. For CWI Industrial this will be a lime rock base. The final grade ensures everything is at the precise elevation specified in the plans before paving or building begins.
Why Does Grading Matter?
Grading is one of those phases that nobody notices when it is done correctly, and everybody notices when it is not. Proper grading prevents water from pooling on or near the building and protects neighboring properties from runoff. Slopes that are not properly addressed can render large portions of a site unusable and cause pavement and foundation problems down the road.
What Comes Next
Once final grading is complete, the crew will move on to lime rock base installation. Lime rock is a compacted base material used throughout Florida as a stable, load-bearing sub-base beneath concrete and asphalt surfaces. It provides the structure and stability that finished surfaces need to hold up under vehicle and foot traffic.
Concrete curbing follows, which will define the edges of paved areas and keep the base material from shifting outward. After that, the site will be ready to receive the Whirlwind Steel pre-engineered metal building, which is scheduled to arrive on July 24.
Grading Done Right
If you have a ground-up commercial or industrial build on the horizon, A.O. Wagner Construction is ready to help you plan every phase. Reach out today to get started.
A.O. Wagner Construction provides full-service general contracting, management services, and design/build construction throughout Central Florida. We love serving Winter Haven, Lakeland, Davenport, Haines City, Auburndale, Avon Park, and neighboring areas! Follow our Project Build Blog to see more of our past projects. For more information, please email us at info@aowagnerfl.com or call 863-299-4444.