Strip Topsoil from an Area

When you strip topsoil, you are lowering all the existing grades within an area.

Note: You can only strip topsoil from areas in the Existing layer. The topsoil you strip from the job site is not included in any cut or fill totals. Instead, it appears as a separate total in the Summary tab.

Because the topsoil stripped is not included in the cut or fill quantities, the amount of topsoil stripped can have a significant effect on the final calculated totals. For example, if you strip 6 inches of topsoil in a job site that requires cut, you will reduce the amount of cut required. If you strip 6 inches of topsoil in a job site that requires fill, you will increase the amount of fill required.

Additionally, any quantities of topsoil stripped will not be included in the export amount provided on the Summary tab. Topsoil stripped is tabulated separately. For more information, see View Total Quantities.

  1. Open a job in the Manage Earthwork Estimates screen.
    Note: To open a job in the Manage Earthwork Estimates screen, click Estimating > Earthwork > Manage Earthwork Estimates in the All Tasks pane. Click Open Existing Job. Then select the job you want to open, and click OK.
  2. Select the Area tab, if it is not already active.
  3. In the Active Layer field on the toolbar, click to select the Existing layer.
  4. Click Select on the speedbar.
  5. Select the area you will use to strip topsoil.
  6. Click Prop on the speedbar, or double-click within the area in question.
  7. In the Strip Topsoil field, enter the depth you want to strip topsoil.
  8. Click OK to save the topsoil stripped. You can now view the calculated topsoil stripped for the area in the Summary tab.
Note: You can also strip topsoil from the site perimeter, even if that area was created in the proposed layer. In this circumstance, topsoil stripping will exclude any areas created on the existing layer.