No construction project, residential or commercial, is possible without preparing the territory. Site preparation helps make the land accessible, and the whole construction work becomes easy.
All these require finances, which you need to prepare for, and know the costs beforehand. Learn how much does it cost to clear land for construction here.
Land Clearing Factors
Before knowing the cost to clear land, you need to understand several things that will contribute to these cost factors. Land clearing involves a lot of things—you may need to remove tree roots, move rocks, demolish existing structures, etc.
Here are important things that contribute to the cost.
Equipment
Mostly, less wooded land will not need any special equipment use; hence, you will be safe on the cost of equipment. Things are not the same if the land is extra wooded as you will need to pay extra for the use of special equipment.
Special land clearing equipment includes bulldozers, excavators, dump trucks, and drilling machines if dealing with rocks. All these heavy duty machines are not cheap to rent.
Accessibility
The accessibility of your construction site is also an important factor to consider when computing the costs. Areas that are close to pipes or electrical work are also likely to cost you more.
Size
The size of the land is a big determiner of cost. The bigger the land, the more you will spend, and vice versa. However, the land may be big but less wooded or small but has thick shrubs and wood.
Permits
Before starting the work, you will also need to pay for permits or get HOA approval. Make sure you consider these when computing the costs.
Other things that contribute to the price factor include asbestos removal, soil erosion, etc. Ensure you call an expert to survey the land and help you determine the magnitude of the task that the land will attract.
How Much Does It Cost To Clear Land Per Acre?
Land clearing cost per acre varies with many factors. This cost also puts in mind the condition of the land at the time when clearing is done. How wooded the land is will determine how much you will spend.
The average cost of clearing a lightly wooded land per acre takes a range of $1500 to $3000. On a heavily wooded land, you should expect to spend about $3000 to $7000.
This depends on several factors, such as the contractor, accessibility, and area of residence. The cost may be more or less than that range putting the above factors in mind.
Brush Removal
Clearing a bushy land is cheaper than clearing a wooded land regardless of the thickness of the bush. This is because brush takes less labor to remove and do not require heavy equipment.
Because these are just overgrowth, grass, shrubs, and some small trees, you should expect to spend as little as $200 per acre on the higher side.
Tree Clearing
Trees removal will cost you a lot of money. The cost can even be computed per tree where a single tree can cost between $200 and $400, sometimes less or more of this amount. Fallen trees will cost less, but you may have to spend more if you need to remove the roots.
If the land is heavily forested, you can spend between $3000 to $7000 per acre and $1500 and $3000 per acre for lightly forested land.
Clearing Rocks
Sometimes the land may have rocks making it hard to do some construction work. In this case, land clearing will involve the removal of these rocks, which are likely to cost $5.50 to $10.00 per linear foot.
The amount will depend on the soil and the hardness of the rock. Sometimes you may need to spend additional costs to higher drilling equipment.
Land Grading
When the land you plan to build on is not flat, you need to prepare to spend some money on grading. The cost may range between $100 to around $200 per cubic yard. The cost factors will consider the terrain and the level of erosion control required on the land.
Land grading is done to stabilize the soil as well as making the weak areas stronger. This can also involve mixing the soil from different places. Take your time to learn about soil stabilization before you proceed.
On the Cheaper Side
Land clearing is not cheap, and you need to prepare in advance. But then before you decide to spend, you can look for ways to reduce these costs. Here are ways to make it cheaper.
DIY Clearing
When the amount of work to be done on the land is small, you can consider clearing it yourself. All you need is the right equipment and manpower. You can buy yourself some of the clearing equipment or rent the bigger ones if you can use them appropriately.
Selling Trees
Another way to make land clearing cost manageable is by selling some of the trees in the land. You can get lumber companies that will be willing to clear them for free after buying. This is only useful if the trees have value, i.e., they can be used for furniture or firewood.
Hiring Land Clearing Professionals
Preparing land for construction isn’t easy, and as far as you’d like to save the costs, hiring a professional to clear the land is always the right thing to do. Sometimes you won’t be able to access the equipment and the expertise required, but professionals will.
Check different quotes from different land clearing contractors in your area and make sure you only settle for the best cost to clear an acre of land. A good professional land clearer should be able to access your land several times before giving you a quote.
Be On the Know
Before you start working on your land, understanding all the requirements so that you don’t meet any uncertainties along the way. Ask yourself how much does it cost to clear land and find the answer before committing yourself.
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