Site Preparation for Dummies

Theodolite used in site preparation

We've long been aware of the short bios eHow.com contributors (now randomly spread over Leaf Group niche sites) and the information they provide. What we can't generally figure out is how the broad experience logged by some of them is relevant to any particular subject. Most are journalists, who are apparently taught in J-school that they can fake knowledge of anything (they can't), but some aren't. Some are like lawyer and biker chick Karen Boyd, who for some unknown reason thought she was qualified to detail "Tools Used in Site Preparation" for Hunker.com.

Yeah, sure. Here's Boyd's list, in order:

• Backhoe and Bulldozer
• Level
• Wheelbarrow
• Tamping Tool
• Rebar Cutting Tool and Pliers

We dug back into the eHow.com original for Karen's references (they aren't listed at Hunker) to see if we could figure out why she included rebar tools in her list and why she didn't include anything more complex than "a carpenter's level to determine that the foundation is level both side to side and front to back"; a step we suspect only someone ignorant of the term "site preparation" would include in tools for that step. No, no mention of a theodolite to check the grade on the site and nothing for measuring distances at all. Oh, and although Boyd includes a wheelbarrow, she neglected to mention a shovel...

Karen's list is plucked, in part, from instructions for building a shed – so none of them mention a bulldozer. She conflates pouring a foundation with site preparation, which is where the "Rebar Cutting Tool and Pliers" comes in, although she doesn't mention any tools for digging the footings (a trencher would be handy).

We did have to chuckle at some of her notions, such as "You may find yourself using a wheelbarrow for... moving gravel into the forms for the foundation."  Ummm, gravel? Into the forms? Nope... Boyd jumbled together site preparation basics for different types of buildings and became confused about the difference between site preparation and pouring a slab or foundation. She seemed concerned about leveling the forms for the foundation, but laissez-faire about the site itself. Given those failings (along with others) we feel just fine about naming her the Dumbass of the Day.

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