Ground Preparation and Excavation

What happens here

Once the patio is removed, excavate the underlying soil to the appropriate depth required for the deck's foundation and framing. Ensure the ground is properly leveled and compacted, or graded as necessary to manage water runoff away from the house foundation. Workers use a small tracked loader to move and level large quantities of soil, with manual adjustments made using shovels and wheelbarrows.

Goal: After clearing the patio, the ground is excavated and leveled to create a stable base for the deck's foundation. This involves removing soil to achieve the desired depth and slope.