Site prep is everything that has to be true before a post-frame crew can start setting posts. Done well, it keeps the build on schedule and on budget. Done poorly, it shows up later as drainage problems, rework, or surprise change orders. Here's the checklist Sherman uses, with the Minnesota-specific items most generic lists miss.
What "site prep" includes (and excludes)
Site prep covers access, clearing, grade, drainage, soils, utility locates, permits, and the building pad itself. It usually does not include landscaping, finished driveway surfacing, or interior mechanical rough-ins. Ask any builder — Sherman included — exactly what is in and out of their site-prep scope.
The 12-item pre-build checklist
- Driveway and access for delivery and crane.
- Site clearing — trees, brush, and any old structures.
- Topsoil strip and stockpile.
- Drainage and grade — water has to leave the building, not pool against it.
- Soil bearing check (when needed for the site or design).
- Frost depth verification.
- Utility locates and trenching.
- Septic and well location and setbacks (rural sites).
- Building pad — thickness, compaction, and material.
- Concrete pad (if applicable).
- Permits and culvert / driveway approach approval.
- HOA, setback, and zoning verification.
Minnesota-specific items most checklists miss
- Frost. Footings have to reach below the local frost line — generally deeper than national defaults assume.
- Snow drift planning. Where the snow lands off the roof and how it gets cleared affects door placement and grading.
- Summer access for soft-soil sites. Rural sites that look fine in October can be impassable in May.
- Soil class for footings. Engineered designs assume a soil class — verify it.
What Sherman handles vs. what the owner handles
Timeline to plan around
FAQ
Do I need a permit for a pole building in MN? Almost always — county and use-dependent. Who calls in utility locates? The party doing the digging is responsible. What if my site slopes? It's workable; expect more grading and possibly a retaining solution. When can site prep start in spring? Once frost is out and the ground can hold equipment.
