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LiDAR hillshade revealing a cut-and-fill bench on a Lane County Oregon slope property
Jurisdiction
Don Healy

Cut and Fill: The 50-Year-Old Site Prep That Can Kill Your Build

Cut and fill site preparation compacts soil excavated from higher elevations to fill lower areas of a parcel. Fill placed before 1970 often lacks engineering documentation and may not meet modern compaction standards. Structures built on inadequately compacted fill risk differential settlement, foundation cracking, and drainage failure — defects that appear years after construction.

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May 28, 2026 No Comments
A modern two-story home with gray siding sits at the base of a green hillside during a heavy spring rainstorm. Bright windows glow with warm indoor light while stormwater pools at the foundation, flooding the area between the house and the slope. Leafing trees in the background and overcast skies suggest early spring in the Pacific Northwest.
Grading
Don Healy

Grading and Drainage Issues: Why They Matter More Than You Think

Grading and drainage issues arise when site work alters natural water flow patterns without adequate engineering. Pacific Northwest building codes require positive drainage away from foundations with a minimum 2% slope for 10 feet. Drainage disputes between adjacent parcels represent one of the most common residential construction legal conflicts in Oregon and Washington.

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April 25, 2025 No Comments
Grading
Don Healy

What Is a Perk Test? A Must-Know for Homebuyers & Developers

A percolation test measures soil drainage rates to determine whether land can support a septic system. Soil absorbing water at 5 to 30 minutes per inch meets standard septic requirements. Tests cost $300 to $1,500 for standard assessments. Failed tests may require engineered systems costing $15,000 to $40,000 or more, or connection to municipal sewer if available.

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March 5, 2025 No Comments
Land due diligence checklist
Access
Don Healy

Ultimate Guide to Buying Land and Build a Home – Tips & Tricks

Buying land for home construction requires verifying zoning, utility access, topography, soil drainage, and permit requirements before committing to purchase. In the Pacific Northwest, raw land parcels frequently require $20,000 to $80,000 in site preparation costs — grading, utility extensions, and access improvements — that appear nowhere in listing descriptions.

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March 4, 2025 No Comments
Geotechnical Reports in Home Construction
Grading
Don Healy

Building on Solid Ground: Understanding Geotechnical Reports in Home Construction

Geotechnical reports assess soil bearing capacity, expansive clay content, and groundwater depth before construction begins. Most Pacific Northwest jurisdictions require geotechnical investigation for hillside lots and custom home builds before permit issuance. Reports cost $2,500 to $8,000 depending on site complexity and number of borings required.

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February 7, 2025 No Comments