When your grading is complete, you’ll have a properly prepared site that’s ready for the next phase of your project. No drainage problems. No foundation issues. No delays waiting for other contractors to fix problems that shouldn’t have happened in the first place.
Your builder can start on schedule because the site is level, properly graded, and meets all local requirements. The access routes are clear and ready for heavy equipment. Water flows where it should go, not where it can cause expensive problems later.
That’s what happens when you work with contractors who understand Warren County’s terrain and know how to handle the challenging soil conditions, elevation changes, and drainage patterns that are common around Horicon.
We’ve been serving the Horicon area since 1997. We started as a logging business and transitioned to full-time excavation in 2020, with Josh’s son joining as a partner in 2022.
We’re not the biggest excavation company around, but we’re the one that shows up when we say we will and finishes the job right. Josh is present on almost every job to make sure the work meets our standards and your expectations.
You’re working with contractors who understand Warren County’s unique challenges. We’ve handled everything from lakefront properties to hillside builds, and we know how to work around the rocky conditions and drainage issues that are common in this area.
We start by walking your property and understanding exactly what you’re trying to accomplish. Every site has its own challenges – existing drainage patterns, soil conditions, elevation changes, and access requirements. We identify potential issues before we start moving dirt.
Then we create a plan that addresses your specific needs. This includes determining proper slopes, identifying where water needs to flow, and planning access routes for other contractors. You’ll know what’s included in the work and what it’s going to cost before we begin.
During the work, we use laser levels and GPS technology to ensure precise grading that matches the plan. We handle everything from rough grading to establish basic elevation patterns to finish grading that’s ready for construction or landscaping. When we’re done, your site is prepared properly and ready for the next phase of your project.
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Our grading service covers everything needed to prepare your site properly. We handle rough grading to establish basic elevation and drainage patterns, fine grading for precise slopes and elevations, and finish grading that’s ready for construction or landscaping.
We also address the drainage concerns that are common in the Horicon area. This includes creating proper slopes to direct water away from building areas, installing drainage features where needed, and ensuring your site meets local stormwater management requirements. Warren County has specific guidelines for erosion and sediment control that we follow on every project.
You get experienced operators using professional-grade equipment, including hydraulic hammers and rock breakers for the rocky conditions that are common around Horicon. Good soil gets stockpiled on your property for backfilling and grading. If you’re planning landscaping later, we can stockpile topsoil separately so you have it available when you need it.
Most residential grading projects take 2-4 days to complete, depending on the size of your lot, the amount of elevation change needed, and the soil conditions we’re working with. Rocky areas or clay soil can add time to the project, but we’ll know that after our initial site evaluation.
Weather affects timing too – we don’t operate heavy equipment in conditions that create safety issues or could damage your property. We give you realistic timelines upfront based on what we see during the site visit, not best-case scenarios that leave you waiting. If we run into unexpected conditions like underground ledge or wet areas, we’ll discuss the situation with you before proceeding.
Warren County presents unique challenges that require local knowledge and the right equipment. We often deal with rocky ledge conditions that require hydraulic hammers and rock breakers. The terrain around Horicon includes everything from lakefront properties to steep hillsides, and many sites have wetland areas that require careful handling.
Drainage is particularly important here because of the soil conditions and the way water naturally flows during heavy rains and snowmelt. We understand how to create proper slopes that direct water away from building areas toward appropriate drainage outlets, typically at 2-5% slopes depending on your site conditions. We also identify any low spots that might collect water and address them during the grading process.
Permit requirements depend on the scope of your project and your property location. Building permits are typically required for foundation excavation work. If you’re doing septic work, that needs health department approval. Projects near wetlands or with other environmental considerations may require additional permits.
We’re familiar with local permit requirements in Horicon and can advise you on what’s typically needed for your specific project. Warren County handles building inspections, not individual towns, so we work with their requirements. We also follow Warren County’s guidelines for erosion and sediment control, which are key aspects of proper watershed management in this area.
We have the equipment to handle rock – hydraulic hammers and rock breakers that can deal with the ledge and rocky conditions you find around Horicon. Sometimes we need to blast, which requires special permits and certified blasters, but we identify rock conditions during our site evaluation so there are no surprises.
Rock adds cost and time to a project, but it’s manageable with the right equipment and experience. We don’t just break up the rock and leave it scattered around your property. Rock and debris get disposed of properly, and good soil gets stockpiled for backfilling and grading. We don’t waste the material you paid to have brought in originally.
Rough grading establishes the basic elevation changes and drainage patterns for your site. This is the heavy work that moves larger amounts of soil to create the general shape and slopes you need. Most construction projects need rough grading before foundation work begins.
Finish grading is the precise work that creates exact elevations and smooth surfaces ready for construction, landscaping, or paving. This typically happens after foundation work is complete but before final landscaping or paving. We handle both phases and coordinate timing with your other contractors so the work flows smoothly from one phase to the next.
We start by understanding how water naturally flows across your property during heavy rains and snowmelt. Then we create slopes that direct water away from your building areas toward appropriate drainage outlets. This is critical in Warren County because 18% of properties are at risk of severe flooding over the next 30 years.
We typically grade at 2-5% slopes depending on your site conditions, and we identify any low spots that might collect water and address them during the grading process. In some cases, we’ll recommend additional drainage features like swales or catch basins. The goal is making sure water flows where it should go, not where it can cause problems for your foundation, basement, or landscaping.
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