March 2022 | Total Quality Home Builders & Waterfront Properties

Part 8: Land Clearing and Underbrushing

Land Clearing

Land clearing to prepare for construction is a big job. As we learned in Part 4: Land Survey, prior to building on any property, a current land survey is required before pouring the concrete slab for the foundation, and the ground must be prepped to make room and accommodate the weight of the house. After the property is cleared, preparations can be made for your new home to be built.

An experienced land clearing company, one with professional-grade equipment, is hired to perform this task. Mowers, mulchers, stump grinders, and chainsaws are needed to clear and break down trees, underbrush, saplings, and overgrowth. Bulldozers are used to even out the soil for the foundation of your home. Excavators are used to remove large rocks and dig trenches, and dump trucks are needed to haul the debris away from the land.

Underbrushing

Bushes, shrubs, or small trees found underneath larger trees are considered underbrush. This growth is usually undesirable and invasive to the surrounding area. In fact, certain types of underbrush are poisonous, and others can be a fire hazard. Underbrush also makes the lot look run down and not well kept. Underbrushing will make your property look more desirable and safer for you, your family, and your pets.

More reasons why underbrushing and land clearing are a good idea

Better property access. Underbrush can quickly take over your property and make it difficult for you, your family, and your guests to access it. When it’s covered with overgrown bushes, shrubs, and other types of unwanted vegetation, portions of your lot may be cut off from your home. By performing initial and regular underbrushing, you’ll have a more visible path that leads to your property.

Improved aesthetic. Allowing underbrush to grow will make your property look unkempt and undesirable, making the outside of your home feel cluttered and untidy. Underbrushing on a regular basis will make your property look more aesthetically pleasing.

Makes your property more usable. Underbrushing and land clearing will make your lot more accessible, as well as make it more usable. Whether it’s a lawn, a backyard deck, or a boat dock area, an excessive amount of underbrush will make these areas impossible to use. Take advantage of all your property has to offer by performing regular underbrush removal.

Improves the health of vegetation. Underbrushing improves the health of the trees and grasses by letting the mulch break down and return the nutrients back into the ground. This will also enhance the aesthetics and value of the property.

Utility and septic installation. Underground utilities, like gas lines, the waterline, underground electric lines, and the septic system, need to be set up before laying down the groundwork for the house. Land clearing and underbrushing is an essential step in utility installation.

Next up – Part 9: Septic Permit. We’ll discuss the process of applying for a DHEC Septic Tank Permit as required by South Carolina state government.

March 22, 2022/by Team TQ

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Part 7: Master Site Plan

The master site plan, sometimes referred to as a plot plan, is a diagram that shows planned improvements to the lot on which you are building a custom home. A site plan typically begins with a field survey to define property lines and to map out the topography of your lot. This plan will be used for staking the foundation footprint of your new home with offsets for excavation. The site plan will include:

Property lines
Setbacks
Easements
Grading
Existing natural elements
Landscaping features
Structures
Driveways
Fencing
Utilities

Master site plans may be required by county governments

The relationship between what exists on the land and improvements to a piece of property is one of the most important aspects of a well-planned master site plan. Because different building authorities have different requirements depending on local laws, not all site plans are created equal. Some permits may require your builder to hire a land surveyor, which is standard procedure for all custom home construction at Total Quality Home Builders. An experienced builder will verify with the county permitting department for clarification prior to proceeding.

County governments require master site plans to confirm that local and state building codes are followed when making major changes to a property. Site plans are typically retained by your county government as a historical record of the property, especially when significant changes, like building a home, are made to the lot. In general, the master site plan shows the details of all proposed improvements or additions to a specific plot of land.

Floor plan and topographical survey

As we learned in Part 5: Architectural Design & Floor Plan, Total Quality will request the surveyor to overlay the proposed footprint of the house floor plan over the topographical survey. We’ll discuss with you the ideal placement of the home to take advantage of the views and natural beauty of the property and mark locations for the septic tank, driveway, landscaping, and any other improvements included in the design of your new home. As part of our complete transparent process, we won’t stake the home until you’ve approved the plan.

In some instances, your HOA may require approval of the master site plan before construction can begin. Total Quality will work with your HOA to ensure that all required documents are submitted and approved.

Next up, in Part 8: Land Clearing and Underbrushing, we’ll review the process of getting your lot ready for construction.

March 11, 2022/by Team TQ

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Part 6: New Home Interior Selections for Your Custom Build

Choosing new home interior selections is an important strategic step in our design-build process and will define your unique tastes and style. The selection process involves mindful and artistic conception of the details for your new home. It brings together the balance of scale, style, texture, and layout of all the items you select that reflect your vision and desired style.

New home interior selections include countertops, flooring, electrical and plumbing fixtures, fabrics, tile, and paint color, as well as the re-purposing of any existing accessory and décor items that you may want to incorporate into your new build.

Meeting with your selections coordinator

Our selection coordinator will meet with you to review interior selections for your home. This process is a proven step that optimizes the timeline of the build process, allows for more accurate costs, minimizes your stress, and maximizes the quality of your home. When most of your choices are made upfront, they are compiled in real-time to ensure we’re sticking to our Good Faith Estimate. We ensure our vendors work with complete transparency, so you’re never met with unexpected costs.

Interior selections

New home interior selections include all the items that make your home functional and define the style of your living space:

Kitchen appliances
Countertops in the kitchen and bath
Tile and stonework
Plumbing fixtures throughout the home
Cabinetry design and layout
Flooring type – color, style, grade, and brand
Fireplace type and finish
Bathroom vanity, sinks, faucets, and toilet material, color, style, and brand
Light fixtures and ceiling fans
Paint colors and trim for the walls and ceiling
Decorative mirrors
Window treatments such as shades and blinds
Upholstery and fabric for built-ins such as a dining bench or window seat
Interior and exterior doors
Stair style, shape, banisters, balusters, and treads
Closet organization – cabinets, rods, and shelves

The uncertainty and stress of the new home interior selections process are reduced when you can see all your selections in one place and measure the costs against your budget – all in real-time. Keeping track of the numerous interior selections allows us to build your new home with your aesthetic preferences, your budget, and free of last-minute issues.

New home interior selections schedule

The selection process is organized by your selections coordinator, keeping track of the item numbers, sizes, profiles, finishes, quantities, discounts, pricing, sourcing, and product lead times. This also helps builders better estimate your project and, ultimately, guide installers on what items to order and where to install them.

Next up in Part 7: Master Site Plan, we’ll review the process of overlaying the proposed footprint of the floor plan on the topographical survey.

March 7, 2022/by Team TQ