ELON / HAWK RIDGE/ POLO RELIEF SCHOOL

FROM HOME TO SCHOOL

The chosen lot for the Elon/Hawk Ridge/Polo Relief School was a two house dwelling sitting on a idealic ranch lot. Being a home that had some existing grading done meant that less habitat change was required for land grading and site development. When developing land that was previously graded it can be a mixed bag. On one hand you have less to clear but on the other hand the existing grading can be all wrong for the coming construction. This particular site gave no problems for land development for the coming school.

KEEPING THE RUNOFF FROM RUNNING OFF

The detention pond was created in the corner of the lot to keep the erosion of the lot to a minimum. The pond contains baffles that filter the silt and make it settle on the bottom of the pond so that the only thing that comes out of the pond is clean water. This is beneficial for the health of the surrounding habitats of the lot which include a small forest, a residential neighborhood, and a busy highway.  

LAYING THE PIPES

The work being down on the school site at the time of this update included the grading for the foundation slab for the school as well as the parking areas. After the land devolping is done for this next would be the installation of the underground pipes for sewage and fire systems.

RECYCLING THE TOPSOIL

Being a full service grading and land deelopment company means that we have the ability to plan ahead when it comes to material like topsoil Not only are we clearning and excavating the land on this project, but we are also doing the curbing and landscaping. So instead of wasting money on removing topsoil and then paying to bring more topsoil back in we have stored the topsoil onsite in order to reuse it on the areas where landscaping and curbing will be needed to beautify the site after all the grading has been done. This saves money for the client and it is way better for the environment.

INSTALLING UTILITY

An ofter overlooked aspect of any grading or site development is the installation of utility pipe in order to facilitate proper water and sewage movement underground. Laying these pipes isn’t something that just any company can do. All pipe laying must be completed by a pipe specialist that knows slope percentages to make sure whatever liquid inside the pipe flows in the right direction and at the right flow. JL Raper is a Public Utility Contractor and we do all utility connections and installs on our grading projects.

NAVIGATING THE CROWD

One of the things that a lot of grading companies (and any construction company) has to learn is how to do what they need to do on the jobsite while the jobsite is littered with other companies doing lots of different things. Its all too easy to get frustrated and stop or slow down what you are doing because you have to work around the crowd. Here at JL Raper we know how to work well with others. Our staff have been trained on how to get the land development work done when fully surrounded by other contractors and, most importantly, how to do it safely. It simply requires a high level of alertness, patience, and communication with others. Our process keeps the work going and any negative incidents from happening.

PARKING FOR ALL

A large part of the grading and development of the parking lot has already been completed. We did this in order to make it easier for construction crews to park their personal vehicles. This gets the personal vehicles out of the way so that they do not interfere with construction on the site. Usually, this is done at a later stage but we have experience with how disruptive personal vehicles can be on a construction site so we do this in order to make the efficiency of the grading and construction as high as possible. 

IN THE SEWER

At the time of this update there isn’t a lot going on as far as grading and land development. Most of the focus is on the construction of the buildings. During these times we stay focused while waiting on other contractors to finish their projects by getting ahead of the game with seweage pipe laying and installation.

PREPARING FOR FINALS

The main building and surrounding buildings are going up and going up fast. We are preparing for the finalization of the project but still cutting out roads and curbing, getting the project ready for finishing. 

IN THE ROAD

JL Raper is finishing and connecting the main road going in to the school to the highway and to the adjacent housing community. Being able to work on this road while it is being used by all construction crews is a bit of a game of chess that takes a company with experience to be able manage.

THE ROADS NEVER STOP

Work still continues on grading the roads for the school and then curbing around the roads. With large projects like this roads can sometimes be overlooked but their importance should not be understated! Correctly graded and curbed roads can make a lot accessible or a nightmare if done incorrectly. Here at JL Raper we ensure that all roads are correctly graded and curbed to provide proper access to the site for years in the future. 

AVOIDING DELAYS

Delays are a sometime unfortunate reality when it comes to large construction project like this but that doesn’t mean they have to be. We take a meticulouos pre-planning approach in order to account for anything that may cause delays. Of course when working with other crews sometimes things are out of our control. If this unfortunate situation arises we always make sure that we are actively completing all required items in order to gurantee that JL Raper is never a cause for any delay. 

DETAILS BEING ADDED

At this point in the project the majority of the grading has been finished and small details are being added to the school construction site. One thing being added is the playground pads, finishing touches on the side road that connects the front school parking lot to the main road, and site work is being completed on the land beside the roadway.   At this stage in the development of the job site the detail work of playgrounds, curbing for roads, grading for walkways, and more can require very meticulous planning and execution. Its best to have a professional company like JL Raper that can handle such fine detailed work. 

FINISHING STRONG

JL Raper stands as a paragon of precision and diligence in the grading and site development industry, especially as projects approach their culmination. This critical juncture is recognized by JL Raper as a moment requiring heightened meticulousness, a time when the potential for oversight is at its peak, and the inclination towards relaxation can jeopardize the integrity of the work. With an unwavering commitment to detail, JL Raper proactively addresses this challenge by reinforcing its standards of excellence, ensuring that every aspect of grading, stormwater management, and public utility connections is executed flawlessly. This conscientious approach is not just about adhering to best practices; it’s a safeguard against future complications, affirming JL Raper’s dedication to delivering superior and sustainable site work solutions.

ALL FINISHED UP

One of the greatest parts of any job is finishing it! There is nothing that brings us more satisfaction then seeing a completed project and a happy customer. Here are JL Raper we pride ourselves on our efficiency and thoroughness. We make sure that when the job is complete it is truly complete. That everything was done correctly and to the specifications set out at the beginning of the project. Here at JL Raper we make sure that the main goal we always achieve is our cusotmers satisfaction.