The past few years have seen some fairly significant weather events hit New Zealand, and one of the things these events have highlighted is the importance of good infrastructure – and the ability to quickly rebuild that infrastructure should the need arise.
As Auckland looks at what could have been done better to offset the negative effects of weather events, it is useful to take a moment to understand the role of civil construction in infrastructure development – especially if you have a project in the works.Â
Ensuring you are connected to an expert builder with civil construction capabilities will give you an edge that will contribute to the long-term stability of your property.Â
When we discuss the role of infrastructure development within the context of residential and commercial construction projects, we talk about the civil works required to prepare a site before the foundation is laid, and we discuss some other key features required to ensure that your property is properly taken care of in terms of its ability to withstand whatever the climate and time throws at it.
Read on to discover some of the ways a good civil construction crew can enable your project to go more smoothly and explore ways you can save money and time if you choose the right construction company straight out of the gate.
Foundations & Essential Site Works
Your foundation is the cornerstone of your structure, and as such, it dictates the stability of the entire structure. If your foundation is not laid properly, eventually, it will compromise the integrity of whatever has been built on top of it. Your civil construction crew should be able to lay your foundation level to the depth specified by the NZ building code requirements, which currently specifies your foundation reaches good ground with a minimum depth of 450mm.
Prepping the Site
Before your crew lays the foundation, you will need civil construction equipment brought to your site by a qualified operator. Your site will need to be thoroughly and professionally prepped. This includes the removal of any detritus, trash, and organic matter. Your property’s foundation needs to be laid on level ground, which may require substantial excavation and removal of soil, rocks, clay and anything else uncovered during this process.Â
Professional Civil Construction
It’s important that the civil construction team you choose have all the required knowledge, as this type of project can often throw up variables that must be addressed per the relevant sections and subsections of the building code. Make sure that you are dealing with a team that owns their equipment and tools and that everyone operating the equipment has been properly trained to do so.
Earthworks & Drainage
Another important aspect of the role of civil construction in infrastructure development for your commercial or residential build is earthworks and drainage. Creating the appropriate drainage on your property is one of the most important elements contributing to a site that is up to code and is going to be able to withstand the increasingly wild weather we have been dealing with in recent times.
Hard Landscaping
In addition to site clearing and prepping, laying your foundation and ensuring your property is correctly set up for drainage, a good civil construction crew will be able to integrate hard landscaping features that look good and provide protection from stormwater damage, soil erosion and slips. You can utilise paving, decks, retaining walls and a number of other hardscaping features to ensure you have covered all the bases when it comes to developing a smart infrastructure to protect your property.
Competitive Pricing
Launching a big commercial project or a residential building can be a little daunting when it comes to budgeting for all the different aspects of the construction process. One way to keep your budget under control is to find a construction company that consolidates all the moving parts into one streamlined package.
Accessing competitive pricing for the civil construction components of your build begins with finding a company that owns the equipment that you need to get things moving in the right direction.Â
Get in Touch
If you want the infrastructure development on your site to go smoothly, to come in on budget and to hit all the milestones on your timeline, we can help.
Stehr Brothers is uniquely positioned because we own our own excavators, rollers, large trucks, and bobcats, and we already have experienced operators on staff. This allows us to offer competitive pricing – because we don’t need to subcontract your civil construction out.
We are qualified, experienced and versatile, and we can guide you through the process of preparing your site professionally without breaking the bank or subjecting you to lengthy delays while equipment gets sourced.
Get in touch now to talk to the Auckland civil construction experts.
