When your site preparation is handled correctly from the start, everything else falls into place. Your foundation contractor isn’t dealing with surprises or drainage problems. Your construction timeline stays on track instead of getting delayed by site issues.
Years down the road, you’re not calling contractors about water in your basement or cracks in your foundation. That’s what happens when grading is done right the first time by professionals who understand Fenimore’s terrain.
The difference between proper grading and corner-cutting becomes obvious when the weather hits. Proper drainage slopes water away from your foundation, protects your investment, and gives you peace of mind that your home is built on solid ground.
We’ve been serving Fenimore since 1997, starting as a logging operation before transitioning to full-time excavation in 2020. Josh leads every project with hands-on involvement, and his son joined as a partner in 2022, bringing fresh energy to decades of experience.
This isn’t just another excavation company. We’re your neighbors, and we understand exactly how water moves across Fenimore’s terrain and what soil conditions you’ll encounter on local properties.
Our approach is simple: do the work right, build lasting relationships, and be the excavation contractor you call for every project. We’re not the cheapest option – and that’s exactly why your foundation will be rock-solid for decades.
Every grading project starts with walking your property together. We examine natural drainage patterns, check existing soil conditions, and understand exactly what you’re planning to build. This isn’t a quick estimate – it’s a thorough evaluation that prevents expensive problems later.
Next comes the actual grading work. We create positive drainage away from building areas, install drainage structures when needed, and ensure final grades meet local building code requirements. In Fenimore’s terrain, drainage planning isn’t optional – it’s critical to your project’s long-term success.
The final step is coordination with your other contractors. We make sure our finished grades work perfectly with foundation plans, drainage systems, and waterproofing. Your foundation contractor gets a site that’s ready to go, and your project moves forward on schedule without costly delays.
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Our grading services cover every aspect of site preparation for Fenimore properties. We handle rough grading early in construction to establish basic elevations and drainage patterns, plus finish grading later for final contouring around structures and landscape preparation.
Fenimore’s terrain requires specific attention to drainage management. We create the minimum 2% grade away from foundation areas and plan where that water goes next. Sometimes that means installing swales or drainage ditches to direct water to appropriate outlets without creating problems elsewhere on your property.
We also coordinate closely with septic contractors, foundation teams, and utility installers. Our experience with local soil conditions and drainage patterns means fewer surprises and smoother project flow for everyone involved. When you’re building in Fenimore, local expertise isn’t just helpful – it’s essential.
Most residential grading projects in Fenimore take 2-4 days, depending on your building pad size and existing terrain conditions. Simple lots that just need basic leveling and drainage slopes might be completed in a day or two.
Properties requiring significant cut and fill work, drainage structures, or soil replacement will take longer. We walk your site during the estimate and give you a realistic timeline based on what we find. Weather affects our schedule too – we don’t grade in muddy conditions because it compromises work quality and your final results.
Fenimore’s terrain has specific drainage patterns and soil conditions that require local expertise to handle properly. We’ve worked throughout this area for years and understand how water moves across the landscape and what soil types you’ll encounter on different properties.
Drainage planning is especially critical here. We know which areas tend to hold water, where natural runoff flows, and how to work with the existing topography instead of fighting it. This local knowledge prevents problems that contractors from outside the area might miss completely.
Every property is different, but our experience with Fenimore’s specific conditions means we can anticipate challenges and plan solutions before they become expensive problems down the road.
Yes, we handle both phases of grading work. Rough grading happens early in construction before foundation work begins. We establish basic shape, elevations, and major drainage patterns to get your building pad ready for the next construction phase.
Finish grading comes later, usually after your house is built. This involves final contouring around structures, preparing areas for driveways and walkways, and getting everything ready for landscaping. The timing depends on your overall construction schedule and weather conditions.
Many clients prefer working with the same grading contractor for both phases because we already know your site conditions and can ensure consistency throughout the project. It also eliminates coordination headaches between different contractors.
Proper foundation drainage starts with creating the right slopes – typically a minimum 2% grade away from the foundation area for at least 10 feet. But it’s not just about sloping away from the building. We plan where that water goes next to prevent problems elsewhere on your property.
Sometimes this requires installing swales or drainage ditches to direct water to appropriate outlets. We coordinate with your foundation contractor to ensure our final grades work with their plans for foundation drains and waterproofing systems.
The goal is creating a comprehensive drainage solution that protects your foundation from both surface water and subsurface moisture. Getting this right during initial grading prevents expensive water problems that show up years later when they’re much harder to fix.
Our new home grading services include site evaluation, rough grading for foundation preparation, drainage planning and installation, and coordination with other contractors. We start by walking your property to understand existing conditions and your construction plans.
The work includes establishing proper elevations, creating drainage patterns, installing temporary or permanent drainage structures when needed, and ensuring final grades meet local building code requirements. We also handle any necessary soil replacement or fill material based on soil conditions.
Throughout the project, we coordinate with your foundation contractor, septic installer, and other trades to ensure our work integrates smoothly with their requirements. The goal is ground that’s ready for whatever comes next in your construction process.
Grading project costs depend on several factors: the amount of material we need to move, existing site conditions, drainage requirements, and project complexity. Simple leveling work costs less than projects requiring extensive cut and fill or specialized drainage structures.
We provide detailed estimates after walking your property and understanding your specific needs. Our pricing includes labor, equipment time, and any materials needed for the project. We’re upfront about costs – no surprises or hidden fees that appear later.
The investment in proper grading work pays for itself by preventing expensive problems later. Foundation issues, drainage problems, and construction delays from poor site prep cost far more than doing the grading right the first time with experienced professionals.
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