Land clearing might seem simple enough on the surface. You’re cutting down overgrown vegetation to flatten the area for future projects, right? We at WR Land Development beg to differ.
Clearing a plot of land involves much more than many Floridian property owners realize. You must account for your future project, learn how to sculpt the land, and protect the environment, among other things. So, should you do it yourself or work with a professional land development company? We’ll explore the positives and negatives of each route below.
DIY Pros and Cons
Many property owners think clearing their land by themselves will save them money. Then, they might pool those leftover financial resources toward another aspect of their project. Although you can tackle some projects alone, you should work with a seasoned land developer on large-scale or highly technical ones.
Otherwise, you’ll run into the following obstacles:
- Equipment investment: Bigger projects require heavier equipment than chainsaws, lawnmowers, and towing wagons. You must invest in equipment rentals and a license to operate them.
- Personal resource demands: Prepare for muscle soreness and stiffness for the foreseeable future, especially if you aren’t used to intense physical demands. Land clearing projects require heavy lifting, moving debris, and excavation.
- Potential injuries: The physical demands can increase your potential to get hurt on the job. Have personal insurance coverage for this project.
- Environmental harm: DIY land developers often forget a key aspect of Florida land clear: environmental protection. Our state is home to many unique plant and animal species that we must preserve.
- Poor project planning: Technical development projects likely require plans for drainage, slope, and erosion prevention. The average property owner may not factor these elements into their efforts.
Now, what about hiring professional service providers? What pitfalls and perks might you reap?
The Pros and Cons of Hiring a Professional
You likely already know you’ll pay more upfront when hiring a land development company to do the job for you. As mentioned above, that aspect turns off some property owners looking to make more frugal decisions. However, a professional approach will often cost you less over time.
Some positive outcomes include:
- Proactive erosion control: Imagine if, years down the road, you suddenly discover that the building foundation has sunk because of erosion. Professional services prevent this problem by clearing and sculpting the land according to your building plans.
- Environmental preservation: You could incur fines and other penalties for moving forward with a land-clearing project without properly planning around the ecosystem. Development companies protect you from those consequences.
- No hard, dirty work: Land clearers have the insurance and compensation necessary to complete each task. You won’t spend hours in the hot Floridian sun risking your safety on the project.
- No equipment management: Part of DIY land projects involves sourcing the best rental company, providing proper licensure for equipment operation, and returning the equipment after use. A land developer already has the necessary machinery.
Professional services just take less time and energy while creating fewer risks overall.
Understanding Different Types of Land Clearing Methods
Should you DIY your project or leave it to the professionals? First, let’s explore some various techniques and what they might involve:
- Grubbing goes beneath the ground to remove rocks, roots, and other organic debris deep within the dirt.
- Bulldozing focuses on above-ground debris, like growing vegetation and boulders.
- Selective clearing protects some vegetative growth while removing others that might get in the way of the project’s progress.
- Grinding removes trees, shrubs, and other vegetation by cutting and mulching the plants. After completing the project, you can apply the mulch to the ground to encourage future growth.
- Basic debris removal and clearance entails rudimentary grass cutting, branch and rock pickup, and other efforts to make the area cleaner and more manageable.
You can find land-clearing companies specializing in all these listed clearance methods, but can you tackle any on your own?
Choosing Between the Two
Most land-clearing projects require heavy equipment and a deep understanding of how elements like wind, rain, and dirt impact one another. A wise property owner will choose a reputable company based in Florida under the following circumstances:
- They need extensive site preparation for buildings and other structures.
- Their property is home protected or native plants and animals.
- The land supports dense plant growth, making DIY work next to impossible.
- They lack access to the necessary equipment.
- Their local zoning regulations mandate specific approaches and permits for land clearance.
However, you can clear a small plot of land on your own if you just want to level tall grasses, remove fallen tree debris, and make the area more maintainable or visually appealing to potential buyers.
Choose WR Land Development for Your Florida Land Clearing Project
Most land-clearing projects require professional insight and know-how. WR Land Development will gladly help you get yours off the ground. Call 407-993-1439 to discuss services in Florida.
