Site Prep & Grading
Ground shaped so water runs away from your house, and pads prepared so a deck, patio or outbuilding starts level and stays that way.
Overview
Grading is shaping the ground so water goes where it should. On a North Texas lot that matters more than most places: water that pools against a foundation keeps expansive clay wet on one side and dry on the other, which is exactly what makes slabs and fences move. Residential codes typically call for the ground to fall at least six inches within the first ten feet from the foundation.
We grade small sites (backyards, side yards, deck and patio areas, pads for sheds and outbuildings) with compact equipment, then compact, check the fall and leave the surface ready for sod, gravel or construction. Where a yard needs drains as well as grading, we'll tell you.
Styles and options
What's included
- Site walk and drainage check
- Texas811 locates before digging
- Cut and fill to the planned grade
- Fill compacted in lifts
- Fall checked away from the foundation
- Surface left ready for sod, gravel or building
Specifications
- Typical scope
- Backyards, side yards, pads
- Fall
- Typically 6 in. in the first 10 ft from the foundation
- Fill
- Placed and compacted in lifts
- Equipment
- Compact track loader, mini excavator
- Finish
- Ready for sod, seed, gravel or a slab
- Drainage
- Drains recommended where grading alone won't work
What affects your estimate
- AreaSize of the area to grade.
- Cut and fillHow much soil moves, and whether fill is brought in.
- AccessSide-yard width for equipment.
- DrainageWhether drains are needed as well.
- FinishSod, seed, gravel or a pad.
- Haul-offRemoving excess soil.
Common questions
How do I know my yard needs grading?
Water standing near the foundation after rain, soil washing toward the house, or gaps opening along the slab edge in dry spells are the usual signs.
Can you grade before a deck or patio?
Yes, that's one of our most common grading jobs, and it means the structure starts level.
Do you install drains?
Where grading alone won't move the water, we'll recommend drains and can coordinate them with the grading.
Will grading affect my fence?
If the fence is in the area being graded, we plan around it, and we can reset or replace posts at the same time.
Often paired with
Let's walk your property line.
Tell us about the project and we'll schedule a visit. You'll get an itemized written estimate, with no prices guessed online and no pressure.