When your site is graded correctly, water flows where it should – away from your foundation, away from your basement, away from your future headaches. You get a stable base that won’t shift or settle unevenly over time.
Your contractor works faster because the site is properly prepared. Materials don’t get wasted. Your timeline stays on track. The building inspector signs off without issues because everything meets code from the start.
Years down the road, you’re not dealing with settling problems or water damage that could have been prevented. That’s the difference between professional grading and hoping it works out.
We’ve been handling site preparation and grading work throughout Ballston and Saratoga County since 2020. We understand how water moves across this terrain and what it takes to manage drainage properly in our local soil conditions.
Josh is present on almost every job to ensure the work meets our standards. We’re not a crew that shows up, pushes some dirt around, and disappears. We’re the excavation contractor you call when you want the job done right the first time.
Our operators know the difference between clay and sandy soils here in Ballston, and how each affects your grading plan. Rocky conditions aren’t uncommon in this area, and we’re equipped to handle them.
We start with a complete site evaluation and drainage analysis before any dirt gets moved. You’ll know exactly what needs to happen and why, with a realistic timeline that accounts for your property’s specific conditions.
Then we bring in GPS-guided equipment to create precise grades – we’re not eyeballing slopes, we’re creating exact grades that meet engineering specifications. We handle both rough grading to establish major contours and drainage patterns, plus finish grading for smooth, level surfaces ready for construction.
We strip and stockpile your valuable topsoil before doing the actual grading work, then spread it back over the finished grade. Site cleanup is part of every job – any areas we disturb beyond the work zone get restored to their original condition. You get a properly graded site that’s ready for the next phase of your project.
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Our grading service covers everything needed to properly prepare your site in Ballston. We work with different types of projects – new home construction sites that need precise grading for foundation preparation, commercial developments requiring grading for larger water volumes and heavier traffic loads, and residential improvements needing targeted grading to solve specific drainage issues.
In Ballston’s terrain, proper drainage requires understanding how water naturally wants to move across your property and working with those patterns. We create slopes that direct water away from structures toward appropriate drainage areas – steep enough for water to flow, but not so steep that you get erosion problems.
We coordinate timing with other contractors and handle any necessary erosion control measures to protect your newly graded site until construction begins. Most residential grading projects here take 2-4 days, depending on your lot size and existing conditions.
Grading costs vary significantly based on your lot size, existing conditions, and how much earth needs to be moved. Simple lots with good existing drainage might cost a few thousand dollars, while challenging sites with drainage issues or significant elevation changes can cost much more.
Rocky soil conditions or clay deposits can add $200 to $1,200 to the project cost. We provide detailed estimates after visiting your property and understanding your specific needs – there’s no guessing involved. Weather conditions also affect pricing since we can’t do quality grading work in muddy conditions.
Rough grading establishes the basic contours and drainage patterns for your site. This happens early in construction and creates the foundation pad and major slopes that direct water flow properly.
Finish grading comes later and creates the final elevations around your completed building, including landscaping areas and final drainage details. Most new construction projects in Ballston need both phases. We use laser levels and GPS-guided equipment for both to ensure precise results that meet engineering specifications.
Most residential grading projects take 2-4 days, depending on the size of your lot and how much earth needs to be moved. A simple house lot with good existing drainage might only need a day or two, while properties with challenging drainage or significant elevation changes can take longer.
Weather can affect the schedule – we won’t grade in conditions that compromise the quality of compaction or create drainage problems. We’ll give you a realistic timeline during our initial site visit and keep you updated if anything changes during the project.
Yes, we can often work around existing features you want to preserve, but it requires careful planning. Trees are particularly sensitive to grade changes around their root zones – too much fill or cut near a tree can kill it even if we don’t touch the trunk.
We’ll walk your property with you to identify what you want to save and figure out how to design the grading accordingly. Sometimes minor adjustments to the grading plan can save a valuable tree or landscape feature. Other times, the grading requirements might make preservation difficult. We’ll give you honest advice about what’s realistic for your specific situation.
Permit requirements depend on the scope of your project and how much earth you’re moving. Small residential grading jobs often don’t require permits, but larger projects typically do. We’re familiar with local requirements and can help guide you through the process.
The Town of Ballston has specific regulations about drainage and site work, especially since they updated their comprehensive plan and zoning regulations in 2022. We make sure our grading work meets all local code requirements so your building inspector signs off without issues.
Rock and difficult soil conditions are part of the job in this area. We carry equipment capable of handling most rock excavation, though extremely hard rock might require specialized blasting contractors. When we encounter unexpected conditions, we stop work and discuss options with you before proceeding.
Sometimes we can work around problem areas by adjusting the grading plan slightly. Other times, rock removal or soil replacement is necessary to achieve the grades you need. We’ll explain your options and the cost implications so you can make informed decisions about how to proceed.
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