Grading
Grading is the difference between water running off a lot and water sitting against a foundation. It is also the least visible work we do, which is exactly why it gets skipped.
What this includes
- Rough grading to subgrade elevations, cut and fill balanced on site where the material allows it
- Slope away from the building, held consistently rather than only at the corners where it is easy
- Proof rolling and compaction of fill in lifts, not one thick dump
- Finish grading to the tolerance the surface above needs, which is different for a lawn than for a slab
- Topsoil respread from the stockpile, raked and left ready for seed or sod
- Swales shaped and tied into where the water is actually supposed to go
What it does not include
- Seeding, sod, plantings and irrigation. We leave ground a landscaper can start on the same day.
- Paving, concrete flatwork and pavers.
- Retaining walls above the height where an engineer has to sign off. Below that we will tell you honestly whether a wall is the right answer or whether reshaping the slope is cheaper.
What we need from you
None of this is paperwork for its own sake. Each one is something that changes the price or the schedule if it turns up late.
- Target elevations, or a clear statement of what the finished surface has to do
- Agreement on where surplus material goes if the site does not balance
- Access wide enough for the machine that suits the tolerance you want
- Confirmation that Dig Safe 811 has been called and the site is marked
How we price it
Rough grading is usually priced by the area and the amount of cut and fill. Finish grading is priced by the area and the tolerance, because tighter tolerance means smaller passes and more time.
Imported fill and screened topsoil are quoted per unit delivered and placed, so you can see the material cost separately from the machine time.
If the site does not balance, hauling is its own line. It is usually the item that moves a grading price the most.