CONSTRUCTION DETAILS 



Grading 



THE next step is to study and work out on paper the changes in 

 grades, if any are necessary, and to designate the planting areas, 

 walks, drives, house outline, division of property, lines of tile that may 

 be necessary for drainage, and all such features, as well as existing 

 trees, etc. After the problems are worked out satisfactorily on paper, 

 the actual work can be done by following the plan. Terracing and 

 the building of permanent features such as retaining walls, pools, and 

 garden steps should be done at this time. Their actual construction 

 will be described later. 



Where there is any cut or fill to be made the topsoil should first 

 be stripped off and piled in a convenient place. If it is found that 

 under-draining is necessary, the tile can be laid at this time. (For 

 methods of drainage see under lawn making, page 15). The stripping 

 can be done with a scoop on larger places, or with a wheelbarrow, 

 where but little is necessary. We are now deaUng with the subsoil 

 which must be graded just as carefully as the finished surface (Fig. 3). 

 The purpose of grading is to insure proper drainage, improve the 

 contour of the land surface, and give a good setting to the house. 

 If the house is set lower than the street level, the drop from the street 

 might be shghtly emphasized for a distance and then the ground 



Fig. 8.— Simplifying the grading of the average suburban lot in which the ground slopes 



from the house down to the sidewalk. A combination of gentle grades is easier to care for 



and looks better than abrupt changes crowded into a small space (see page 13) 



