Clearing Costs

[amira]

Can anyone give me an estimate on the cost to clear about an acre of land? It is Ohia trees and fern. The undergrowth varies. Thanks.

[unknownjulie]

This can vary wildly. I had an acre cleared in Orchidland with a D9 for 3,000, this spring. It was a difficult lot, but the operator (James Kim-in the phonebook) managed to get in a windy driveway and a good building site on the high point of the lot. Other people who have seen it say "it was a good deal", but honestly, I really have no idea what it should look like, or how it should be done. I am happy and had a few loads of gravel brought in and I can drive my car in there and park hidden from the road. If I really want a perfectly flat grassy yard- I will have to haul in many loads of cinder. Where is your lot?

[rainyjim]

Going rate to rip and roll 1 acre is ~ $6,000.00 USD

[amira]

quote:

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Originally posted by unknownjulie

This can vary wildly. I had an acre cleared in Orchidland with a D9 for 3,000, this spring. It was a difficult lot, but the operator (James Kim-in the phonebook) managed to get in a windy driveway and a good building site on the high point of the lot. Other people who have seen it say "it was a good deal", but honestly, I really have no idea what it should look like, or how it should be done. I am happy and had a few loads of gravel brought in and I can drive my car in there and park hidden from the road. If I really want a perfectly flat grassy yard- I will have to haul in many loads of cinder. Where is your lot?

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I am looking at lots all over Puna right now (live on Oahu). Clearing costs is one factor that might help me decide (for example pay more for a cleared lot upfront or pay less and worry about clearing later)...I appreciate all input on this, as I am starting from scratch here...

[amira]

quote:

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Originally posted by rainyjim

Going rate to rip and roll 1 acre is ~ $6,000.00 USD

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Rip and roll? I can guess at what this means but could you tell me what it includes?

[rainyjim]

Aloha,

The bulldozer rips the lava, often slabs of pahoehoe in puna, and rolls it all flat and level filling in the dips with the material "ripped". Some operators have access to a big "roller" in addition to their dozer I am unsure of the proper name but it flattens and compacts the rock/gravel/cinder into a nice compact level surface.

Excavation Tech and Paul was a very nice guy couldn't have asked for a better all around experience from start to finish.

He also had a "roller" to compact down the surface.

I believe some threads on here recently discussed buying lots with improvements already on them...i.e. cesspool/septic dug, SS&P paid, driveway/housepad cleared, etc.

I suggest you do some reading and be creative with the search feature in the upper right hand corner you'll get an internet gold mine of information on local related questions/issues.

[csgray]

If you are not going to build within a year DO NOT mess with the lot by clearing the land, otherwise the lot will very quickly grow amazing amounts of fast growing invasive plants you will spend the rest of your life on that land fighting. Left to itself the land here will just slowly grow Ohia trees and ferns, but once you mess with the ground cover and start moving things around with heavy equipment every non native seed hanging out dormant on your land will sprout and just grow and grow.

There are examples of this all over Puna, we watched a neighbor's lot get completely overgrown in just a few years. He ripped and rolled 75% of his lot, put a driveway, well, and cesspool and built a tiny cabin to live in while he built a house. After running out of money and work, he moved to the mainland and within two years so many albizia and trash trees had grown up you can't even find the driveway. These are now 20+ foot trees!

Carol

[amira]

@rainyjim - Thanks for the info! I was a little off in my guessing, now I at least know what to ask for!

@ Carol - Thank you! I didn't anticipate the problem with invasive species.[:0] I am not going to build within a year, but I thought maybe clearing the land now would just leave me with a flat lot to maintain for the indefinite future! I have no problem leaving it as is. This is more for a long-term goal like retirement.[8D]

@ anyone - thinking about Eden Roc. Pros? Cons? All info/opinions welcome.

[kalakoa]

Eden Roc does not have first-class access; there is a long connector road to reach the highway.

My $0.02 says the only way to rip/clear now and build later is to grow grass, fence in the lot, and lease it out as pasture until you're ready -- some goats/sheep/cows would keep the invasives down until then.

[tada]

Clear the lot then selective use of cement.