[header] How to grade a site by hand [title] Choose your grade. [step] There are three ways to go here. Either cut straight back into the hillside, and use retaining walls behind the structure to hold the earth back.
[header] How to grade a site by hand [title] Choose your grade. [step] There are three ways to go here. Either cut straight back into the hillside, and use retaining walls behind the structure to hold the earth back.
Or put retaining walls around the lower side of the site, and build up with fill. You will be ordering at least a truckload of dirt here (not that costly, under a $100), and once it's in, it will need a month or so to properly settle. Use a masonry saw and a scraper to cut straight down the hillside to either 6-12 inches (15-30 cm), below the ground at the bottom. When you have cut straight across, trace the bottom. Again, cut back yourself into the riverbed, and have a friend navigate up and down the slope. Watch out for deer, and keep your attention on observing behavior. You have several options here; done it before. Cut back into the hill at a 45 degree angle; this will remain straight and make walking even easier.