You get a building site that’s properly graded, correctly drained, and ready for your foundation work. No surprises with rocky soil conditions because we know what to expect around Lake George. No drainage headaches because we understand how water moves through Adirondack terrain.
Your project moves forward on schedule. We coordinate with your other contractors so grading happens at the right time in your construction sequence. The result is a site that supports your investment for decades, not just until the next heavy rain.
We’ve been serving the Lake George region since 1997, transitioning to full-time excavation in 2020. Josh leads every project with his son as partner, ensuring quality control on each job.
We understand Cleverdale’s unique challenges – the rocky soil conditions, the drainage patterns near the lake, and the environmental regulations that protect Lake George’s water quality. This isn’t textbook knowledge. It’s earned through years of working in these exact conditions.
We start by walking your site to understand what you’re building and identify potential challenges with drainage, access, or soil conditions. This isn’t a quick look-around – we’re checking grades, noting where water naturally wants to flow, and planning work that avoids problems down the road.
Rough grading establishes the basic contours and drainage patterns. Finish grading creates precise elevations and smooth surfaces for construction. We bring the right equipment for your specific conditions – excavators for rocky areas, bulldozers for moving material, graders for exact slopes.
The timing matters too. We schedule grading when ground conditions are stable, typically late spring through fall, avoiding muddy conditions that make proper compaction impossible.
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Your grading service covers site evaluation, drainage planning, rough grading, and finish grading to construction specifications. We handle the complete process from initial land clearing through final grade preparation.
In the Cleverdale area, this often means dealing with rocky ledge common throughout the Lake George region. We bring hydraulic breakers and rock-capable equipment because we know what’s under the surface. Properties near the lake require additional attention to stormwater management and erosion control to meet Lake George Park Commission regulations.
We coordinate permit requirements and work with local inspectors who know our track record. The goal is delivering a site that passes inspection and supports your construction timeline without delays or surprises.
Grading timelines depend on your site size, soil conditions, and project scope, but most residential projects take 2-5 days for complete rough and finish grading. Rocky areas common around Lake George can extend timing, which is why we assess these factors during our initial site visit.
Weather and seasonal ground conditions also affect scheduling. Spring thaw and heavy rain periods require different approaches than summer and fall work. We provide realistic timelines based on your specific property conditions rather than generic estimates, and we coordinate with your construction schedule so grading happens at the optimal time in your building sequence.
The Lake George region presents unique challenges with varying soil conditions, rocky ledge, and strict environmental regulations. Rocky soil is standard around Cleverdale, requiring specialized equipment including hydraulic breakers and rock-capable excavators.
Drainage is critical because of how water moves through Adirondack terrain and the strict stormwater management requirements to protect Lake George’s water quality. Properties near the lake or wetland areas have additional environmental considerations. We help identify what permits your project needs and ensure grading plans meet local requirements before starting work.
Yes, we handle the complete grading process from start to finish. Rough grading establishes basic contours and drainage patterns for your site. Finish grading creates precise elevations and smooth surfaces needed for construction to begin.
Many projects need both – rough grading early in site preparation, then finish grading after utilities are installed but before foundation work begins. We coordinate with your other contractors to ensure grading work happens at the right time in your construction sequence. This prevents delays and ensures each phase builds properly on the previous work.
We use equipment specifically chosen for Adirondack conditions – excavators for digging and moving material, bulldozers for pushing and spreading, and graders for creating precise slopes and smooth surfaces. For rocky areas common around Lake George, we bring hydraulic breakers and rock-capable excavators.
The equipment we bring to your site depends on factors like site access, scope of work, and soil conditions we identify during our site assessment. Some foundations require coordination with licensed blasting professionals for deeper excavations. Our experience with local geology helps us prepare for what we’ll encounter and bring the right equipment from the start.
The best time for grading work is typically late spring through fall when ground conditions are stable and weather is predictable. We avoid working in muddy conditions because it’s impossible to achieve proper compaction and finish quality when ground is saturated.
Spring can be challenging because of snowmelt and wet conditions, while winter work is limited by frozen ground and weather. We recommend scheduling grading work well in advance, especially for spring and summer projects, since this is our busy season and experienced contractors book up quickly. Early scheduling also allows proper coordination with your construction timeline.
Yes, we help identify what permits your grading project needs and work with your contractor or architect to ensure plans meet local requirements before starting work. Most grading work requires building permits through the local municipality, and properties near Lake George have additional stormwater management requirements.
The Lake George Park Commission has specific regulations about soil erosion and drainage to protect the lake’s water quality. We understand these requirements and help ensure your project complies. Our experience working with local inspectors and understanding area regulations helps prevent delays and ensures your grading work passes inspection.
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