The first major grading operation that moves large amounts of dirt to roughly establish the site's final shape and elevation.
The initial major earthwork operation that establishes approximate site grades and subgrades, moving large volumes of material to achieve the general form of the finished site. Rough grading is typically performed to within 0.5 feet of design grade, leaving fine grading to achieve final tolerances. It often includes cut-and-fill operations to balance earthwork on the site.
Rough grading drives the earthwork budget, which is one of the riskiest items to bid because quantities depend on a cut-and-fill analysis and on soil conditions that may not be fully disclosed. Estimators must price haul, import or export of material, and equipment time, and a poorly balanced site or unsuitable soils can blow the budget after award.
Using a takeoff from the grading plan, an estimator runs a cut-and-fill calculation showing a 1,500 cubic yard fill shortfall and prices imported structural fill plus the haul to balance the site.
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