When your land is properly graded, water flows away from your foundation instead of toward it. Your driveway doesn’t turn into a swamp every spring. Your new construction sits on ground that’s been prepared correctly the first time.
Most property owners don’t think about grading until there’s a problem. By then, you’re looking at foundation repairs, drainage issues, or having to redo work that should have been done right initially.
The difference between amateur grading and professional work shows up in your basement. It shows up in how your property handles heavy rain. It shows up in whether your project stays on schedule or gets delayed by preventable problems.
We’ve been handling grading and excavation work since 1997. What started as a logging operation evolved into full-time excavation when Josh saw the need for reliable contractors who actually show up and do what they say they’ll do.
Josh’s son joined the business in 2022, making this a true second-generation operation. You’re not hiring a crew that might disappear halfway through your project. You’re working with people who have deep roots in Brayton and plan to be here long after your project is complete.
The owner is present on almost every job because quality matters more than quantity. When you call, you’re talking to the person who will actually be operating the equipment on your property.
First, we walk your property together. You show us what you want to protect, what needs to change, and what the end result should look like. We identify any challenges before equipment arrives on site.
Next comes the actual grading work. We handle both rough grading for initial site prep and finish grading after utilities and other infrastructure are in place. If you’re coordinating with other contractors, we work around their schedules to keep your project moving.
Finally, we make sure water flows where it should. Poor drainage causes expensive problems later, so we take time to get slopes and contours right. You’ll know exactly how your property will handle water before we consider the job complete.
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Your grading project includes site evaluation, equipment operation, and coordination with any other contractors working on your property. We handle material movement, slope creation, and drainage planning as part of the standard service.
In Brayton, soil conditions change depending on where you are in town and what time of year you’re working. We know how local ground behaves in different weather and can adjust our approach accordingly. You’re not getting a crew that shows up and hopes for the best.
We also handle the details that other contractors sometimes overlook. If there are trees or landscaping features you want to protect, we plan around them. If permits are required for your specific project, we’ll let you know upfront what you’ll need and help coordinate timing.
Most residential grading projects take 1-3 days, depending on the size of your property and what needs to be accomplished. A simple driveway grade might be finished in a day, while full site preparation for new construction typically takes 2-3 days.
Weather affects timing more than most people realize. We can work in light rain, but heavy storms or saturated ground conditions mean waiting for better conditions. Trying to grade muddy soil creates more problems than it solves.
The complexity of your drainage requirements also impacts timeline. If we’re creating multiple drainage paths or working around existing features, that adds time but prevents expensive problems later.
Rough grading happens first and establishes the basic shape and elevation of your site. This is when we move the most material and create the general contours your project needs. It’s called “rough” because precision isn’t the main goal yet.
Finish grading comes after utilities, foundations, or other infrastructure work is complete. This is when we fine-tune slopes, create exact drainage paths, and prepare surfaces for driveways, landscaping, or final construction phases.
Most projects need both phases, but the timing depends on what other contractors are involved. We coordinate with your builder or other trades to make sure grading happens when it makes sense for your overall project timeline.
Minor grading for landscaping typically doesn’t require permits, but larger projects or work that affects drainage patterns often do. In Brayton, any grading that changes how water flows off your property usually needs approval from local authorities.
The size and scope of your project determine permit requirements. Foundation excavation for new construction almost always needs permits, while re-grading a small area for a garden typically doesn’t. When in doubt, it’s better to check first than deal with problems later.
We’ll let you know upfront if your project likely needs permits and can help coordinate timing so permit approval doesn’t delay your work. Having permits in order before we start prevents expensive delays and ensures your project meets local requirements.
Before starting any work, we walk the property with you to identify trees, landscaping, or structures that need protection. We use barriers, temporary fencing, or work-around techniques to minimize impact on features you want to keep.
Our operators have experience working in tight spaces and around existing improvements. However, some impact is unavoidable when grading near existing features, especially large trees with extensive root systems.
We’re upfront about what can realistically be protected and what might be affected by the work. If protecting certain features would compromise the effectiveness of your grading, we’ll discuss alternatives before starting rather than creating problems you’ll have to fix later.
Rocky soil or underground obstacles are common in this area, and we plan for them. Our equipment can handle most rock conditions, but large boulders or extensive rock shelves might require additional work or specialized techniques.
When we encounter unexpected obstacles, we stop work and discuss options with you before proceeding. Sometimes we can work around the problem, other times removal is necessary to achieve proper grading. We’ll explain the situation and associated costs before making changes.
The key is communication. You’ll know what we’ve found and what it means for your project timeline and budget before we make decisions that affect either one. No surprises, no work proceeding without your approval.
Proper drainage starts with understanding how water naturally wants to flow across your property. We create slopes that direct water away from structures and toward appropriate discharge points, whether that’s storm drains, natural drainage areas, or retention systems.
The grade needs to be steep enough to move water effectively but not so steep that it causes erosion problems. We typically aim for slopes between 1-2% for areas near buildings and can go steeper for areas where faster drainage is beneficial.
After grading is complete, we test drainage patterns to make sure water flows as intended. This might involve running water from a hose or waiting for the next rain to confirm everything works correctly. Proper drainage prevents expensive foundation and landscaping problems later.
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