Cleared, graded, ready to build.

Soil Erosion and Sediment Control, known as SESC, is a Michigan permit required for any earth-moving activity over 1 acre or within 500 feet of a lake, stream, or wetland. Permits are administered at the county level through Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb county departments or through delegated municipalities. A SESC plan identifies erosion control measures including silt fence, inlet protection, stabilized construction entrances, and stabilization schedules. Permits typically take 2 to 4 weeks to issue and require periodic inspection during active earthwork. Liora Works prepares SESC plans and coordinates permits as part of standard site prep scope.

Rough grading shapes the site to approximate final contours, removing high spots and filling low ones to within 6 inches of final grade. This is typically done before foundation work, paving, or major construction. Finish grading refines the surface to the exact engineered elevations required for drainage, foundation bearing, or paving base, typically within 0.1 feet of design grade. Rough grading uses dozers and motor graders; finish grading uses motor graders with grade-control technology or skilled operators working to survey stakes. Most projects need both, and Liora Works handles both phases.

Cut and fill balance is the calculation of soil that needs to be excavated (cut) versus imported or placed (fill) to bring the site to design grade. A balanced site means cut volume approximately equals fill volume, eliminating the cost of hauling soil off-site or importing fill material. Unbalanced sites require either exporting excess soil (typically $300 to $800 per truckload of disposal and hauling) or importing fill ($200 to $500 per truckload delivered). Site engineers design grading plans to approach balance when possible, but natural topography often requires one or the other. Engineering estimates are reviewed with the GC during quote to confirm budget for soil movement.

Compaction testing is required on any fill area that will support structural load, including foundation pads, parking lots, driveways, and utility backfill under hardscape. Testing is typically performed by a third-party geotechnical consultant using nuclear density gauges or sand cone tests to verify that fill has been compacted to the specified percentage of modified Proctor density, typically 95 percent for structural fill and 90 percent for non-structural. The general contractor or developer typically arranges testing; Liora Works coordinates lift placement and schedule to support testing requirements. Failed tests require re-compaction or soil replacement.

Site prep on larger development projects is typically phased to match construction sequence. Mass grading to rough contours happens early, before any vertical work begins. Building pads are fine-graded as each building's foundation work approaches. Parking lot and driveway grading happens after underground utilities are complete. Final landscape grading and topsoil placement is typically the last earthwork phase, coordinated with the landscape contractor. Phased grading on multi-building or subdivision development spans weeks to months, with ongoing coordination between the grading crew and the project schedule.

Topsoil is typically stripped and stockpiled on-site before mass grading begins, then replaced as part of final grading. Most Metro Detroit municipalities require topsoil preservation and reuse per SESC permit conditions. Stockpile locations are identified on the grading plan and protected with perimeter silt fence during the project. Typical strip depth is 4 to 8 inches depending on site conditions. If existing topsoil is contaminated or insufficient for final grade, additional topsoil is imported from approved sources. Topsoil preservation is usually a cost-saving measure versus purchasing replacement topsoil at completion.