Sitework contractor Palm Beach Florida

SMC Contracting is a Sitework Contractor based in West Palm Beach Florida. We are specialist on the island of Palm Beach, and are familiar with the earth conditions near water, and earthwork code enforcement for the Town of Palm Beach

What is a site work contractor?

Site work contractors are professionals who specialize in the preparation and construction of sites for buildings, roads, and other infrastructure projects. Building Sitework includes earthwork, clearing, demolition, preparation, drainage, sewer and stormwater, trenching for utilities.

One of the main responsibilities of site work contractors is to clear and grade the land to ensure that it is level and stable. This can involve removing debris, trees, and other obstacles, as well as filling in low-lying areas and compacting the soil. Site work contractors may also be responsible for installing drainage systems, such as culverts and catch basins, to prevent water from accumulating on the site.

In addition to preparing the site, site work contractors may also be responsible for installing utilities, such as water and sewage lines, as well as electrical and telecommunications systems. These contractors must ensure that all utilities are properly installed and connected to the appropriate sources, so that they are ready for use by the building or other structure that will be constructed on the site.

Another important aspect of site work is environmental considerations. Site work contractors must ensure that they are in compliance with all local, state, and federal environmental regulations, and may need to obtain permits for certain activities. They may also be responsible for managing hazardous materials and waste, and for implementing measures to minimize the impact of construction on the surrounding ecosystem.

Site work contractors are typically hired by general contractors or developers, and may work on a variety of projects, including commercial, residential, and industrial developments. These professionals must be skilled in a range of activities, including excavation, grading, and utility installation, and must be able to work safely and efficiently to complete projects on time and within budget.

Overall, site work contractors are essential to the construction industry, as they play a key role in preparing sites for the next phase of development. By ensuring that sites are properly cleared, graded, and equipped with the necessary utilities, site work contractors help to lay the foundation for successful construction projects.

Here at SMC contracting there are 8 main categories within sitework.

1. Site Preparation
2. Clearing / Demolition
3. Grading
4. Drainage
5. Sewer / Septic
6. Underground Utilities
7. Aggregates / Fill
8. Hauling

1. Site Preparation

Preparing the work site for construction consists of the following.

• Calling in for utility locates
• Right of Way Permitting
• Specialist Permitting (dewater, sewer and water taps etc...)
• Soil report actions - If the soil report is poor, then soil improvement, pot holing to test for rock, rock removal may be required
• Municipality required actions - The city may require items such as
  • construction fence
  • erosion control
  • silt fencing

2. Clearing and Demolition

Site clearing to removing vegetation , scalping grass as well as Demolition of buildings and structures (sometimes underground structures).

Clearing work can range from scraping low grass and shrubs, removing trees or rubble, or demolishing entire buildings. It can also be moving large amounts of earth around the building site.

We work on New Construction as well as Demolition tear-downs and new or reconstruction projects. We are experienced in the Palm Beach areas and have experience with all the main construction contractors in the area.

Scalping and clearing vegetation with a loader ang grapple, loading into dumpster

3. Sitework grading and Excavation

Proper grading is important for a number of reasons. First, it helps to ensure the stability of the site, which is essential for the safety of workers and the integrity of the structure that will be built on the site. Grading can also help to prevent erosion, which can cause soil to wash away or become unstable over time. In addition, proper grading can help to prevent water damage by directing water away from buildings or other structures. The grading phase involves trucking in or out many loads of material. Grading actions can be complex when the site has a drainage problem.

Landscape grading for green areas is also important, for a well engineered green area there is also drainage for gardens.

Grading and compacting for the building pad is also an important part of the earthwork phase of the project. Normally the building pad, or grade beams are excavated deeper, and as far as a pad is concerned soil compaction is performed in one foot lifts, and soil density testing is done.

Excavating is always required on our jobs, often to allow other structures to be installed such as excavating footers, basements, pools or tanks

4. Drainage

To handle proper run off of excess water without erosion. An engineer will factor in grading , roof runoff, city stormwater systems, soil types, soil quality, hardscapes, water table level and more. Your engineer will provide us with the design of your drainage system on plans. This should be based on an accurate assessment of the slope and elevation of your construction site, as well as the amount of water that is likely to be generated by rain and other sources. Proper design is essential to ensure that your drainage system is effective and efficient, and it is worth consulting with a professional engineer to get this right.

Once you have a designed drainage system, the next step is to properly install it. This will typically involve excavating trenches, laying pipes, and backfilling with soil and other materials. It is important to follow best practices and use the proper equipment to ensure that your drainage system is installed correctly and functions as intended. Your engineer will have all the pipe elevations specified on the plans for proper drainage for both sewer/septic drainage and stormwater drains.

Finally, it is important to maintain your drainage system over time to ensure that it continues to function effectively. This may involve cleaning out debris from pipes and outlets, repairing any damage, and keeping an eye out for any potential problems. By investing in high-quality sitework and properly maintaining your drainage system, you can ensure that your construction project has the proper drainage it needs to stay safe and stable. SMC can run cameras in storm drains and sewage systems to make sure there are no blockages. If there are pipe blockages we also have everything needed for repairs and replacement

5. Sitework for Sewer and Septic

On Palm Beach island there is city sewer, however many homes are on a septic system. If there is room then a normal septic system is installed, if there is limited room other more complex systems may be installed such as a hoot system. Also some areas are required to have special low nitrogen septic systems installed.

6. Underground utilites

may include trenching for electricity, irrigation, gas, generators, wells, hardscape features, pool piping and more.

Water service - SMC is licensed and certified to perform water taps from the water main. We can tap, run the lateral as well as install meter boxes, or run right up to where your plumber can take over.

Sometimes the ground we are working with is very close to the water table, and when we dig it just fills with water. At these times we use various techniques to dewater the soil to allow safe excavation and installation of utilities.

7. Aggregates & Fill

SMC generates and stockpiles it's own aggregates at the SMC main facility on Tuxedo Ave in West Palm Beach

Visit our page that lists our aggregates and fill

Most sites will require clean compactable soil to create a good foundation for building and landscaping. We also often need stone and rock for exfiltration or septic areas. Below is a list of the most commonly used aggregates that we use on a daily basis, as well as the reason we use them

1. Fill - add to or replace unsuitable soil that is removed
2. Septic sand - this sand is better for filtration
3. Washed #4 Rock - used in exfiltration pits - allows water to fill in a catchment area
4. Washed #57 stone - a finer version for exfiltration
5. #57 or #4 unwashed - used for temporary erosion control
6. Roadbase aka Crushed concrete - this compacts well and is used as a base for driveways, paths and hardscape areas
7. DEP sand - special sand needed for coastal areas
8. Top dressing soil/sand
9. Chattahoochee - driveway stone

8. Hauling

SMC uses it's own dump trucks and dumpster cans for it's jobs allowing a fast turnaround and not having to rely on other trucking companies.

Our project GC's appreciate the fast and convenient dumpster service, we can usually respond to a same day call for dumping.

We also offer hourly rental for a truck and driver if you need just the hauling service.

Dump trucks and rolloff can trucks for hauling fill and aggregates