You get a building site that actually works. Water flows away from your foundation instead of pooling around it during heavy rains. Your construction crew shows up to level ground with proper drainage and stable soil compaction.
No more dealing with soggy areas that never dry out or watching your driveway wash away every spring. The site is ready for the next phase of construction immediately, with access routes planned for efficient equipment movement.
Your investment stays protected because the groundwork was done right the first time. That means no expensive foundation repairs, no basement flooding, and no erosion issues that create ongoing maintenance headaches you don’t want to deal with.
We’ve been serving Fort Miller and the surrounding Capital Region for over 25 years. What started as a logging business in 1997 evolved into full-time excavation and grading services by 2020, with Josh’s son joining as partner in 2022.
You’re not getting a crew that shows up and hopes for the best. Josh is present on almost every job to ensure quality work that meets our standards. This isn’t about being the cheapest option – it’s about being your excavator for life by delivering value and building lasting relationships.
Fort Miller’s unique soil conditions and drainage patterns don’t surprise us. We understand how water moves across this terrain during different seasons and what it takes to create stable building sites that handle everything from spring runoff to heavy summer storms.
First, we evaluate your property’s natural drainage patterns, soil conditions, and project requirements. This includes measuring existing elevations, identifying where water naturally flows, and calculating the slopes needed to direct water away from structures.
Next, we establish the proper grades using professional GPS-guided equipment for precision work. Whether you need rough grading for foundation preparation or finish grading for landscaping areas, we create the exact elevations your project requires.
Throughout the process, we handle permit applications and ensure all work meets local building codes. If we encounter unexpected conditions like buried obstacles or challenging soil, we stop and discuss your options before proceeding with any additional work.
The job isn’t finished until the site is clean and ready for your next contractor. Complete site cleanup and final grading verification are included as standard service, not extras that get tacked onto your bill.
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Your grading project includes complete site evaluation, drainage assessment, and proper slope establishment for water management. We handle all earth moving, whether that means cutting down high spots, filling in low areas, or completely reshaping the terrain.
Our service covers utility location and marking to prevent costly damage during excavation work. Soil stabilization and erosion control measures are built into every project, especially important in Fort Miller’s terrain where proper drainage prevents foundation problems and site erosion.
Fort Miller’s proximity to the Hudson River creates specific drainage challenges that we account for in every project. We understand seasonal water patterns and design grading solutions that work with the natural landscape rather than fighting against it.
You also get permit assistance and environmental compliance support. Local regulations can be complex, but we know what’s required and help ensure your project meets all necessary standards without delays or complications.
Most residential grading projects take 1-3 days depending on the size of your lot and complexity of drainage requirements. A simple lot preparation for new home construction might be completed in a single day, while properties with challenging drainage issues or extensive earth moving could take several days.
Weather plays a significant role in our timeline. We can’t do quality grading work in muddy conditions because it compromises the final result and soil compaction. Fort Miller’s clay-heavy soils require proper moisture conditions for effective grading and compaction.
We’ll give you a realistic timeframe upfront based on your specific property conditions, soil type, and project scope. If weather delays occur, we communicate immediately and adjust the schedule rather than rushing work that needs to be done properly.
Rough grading establishes the basic contours and elevations for your site. This is the heavy work that involves moving large amounts of soil, creating proper drainage patterns, and preparing foundation areas. Rough grading typically happens early in construction, before foundation work begins.
Finish grading creates the final surface that’s ready for landscaping, driveways, and walkways. It’s more precise work that establishes exact elevations and smooth surfaces around your completed structure. This phase usually happens near the end of construction.
Most projects need both phases, and timing depends on your construction schedule. We coordinate with your other contractors to ensure the site is ready exactly when they need it, whether that’s for foundation work, utility installation, or final landscaping.
Fort Miller’s location near the Hudson River and the area’s clay-heavy soils create unique drainage challenges that we’ve dealt with for years. We start by understanding where water naturally wants to go on your property, then create slopes that direct water away from structures toward appropriate drainage areas.
This might involve installing French drains, creating swales, or adjusting grades to eliminate low spots where water could pool. In clay soils, water doesn’t absorb as quickly, so drainage planning becomes especially critical for preventing foundation and basement issues.
We also consider seasonal patterns – spring snowmelt, summer storms, and fall saturation all affect how water moves across your property. Our grading solutions account for these variations to ensure your drainage works year-round, not just during dry conditions.
Yes, we assist with the permit process and ensure all work meets local Fort Miller and Washington County requirements. Small residential grading projects often don’t require permits, while larger excavation work or projects near wetlands typically do require permits and approvals.
We can tell you what’s typically required for your specific project and provide the technical information needed for permit applications, including site plans and drainage details. Part of doing business in this area is knowing what’s required and getting it done right.
We make sure our work meets local code requirements regardless of the permit situation. This includes proper setbacks, drainage specifications, and soil stabilization requirements that protect both your property and neighboring areas from erosion or water issues.
Rock and buried obstacles are common in the Fort Miller area, and we’re equipped to handle them. Small rocks and debris can usually be removed as part of the normal grading process without additional charges or delays to your project timeline.
Larger rock formations, old foundations, or unexpected obstacles like buried utilities may require additional work and specialized equipment. We stop immediately when we encounter these conditions and discuss your options before proceeding with any work beyond the original scope.
This prevents surprise charges and ensures you’re comfortable with how we handle unexpected conditions. We explain what we’ve found, what it will take to address it, and what the additional costs would be before moving forward with any extra work.
Proper soil compaction is critical for foundation stability and preventing settling issues that can plague your building for years. We use professional compaction equipment and follow industry standards for soil density based on your foundation requirements and local building codes.
For projects requiring specific compaction standards, we work with certified soil testing companies to verify that compaction meets engineering specifications. This typically involves proctor testing at specified intervals to ensure the soil can support your foundation loads.
Our GPS-guided equipment helps ensure consistent grades and proper compaction across the entire foundation area. We don’t rush this process because foundation problems are expensive to fix later and can compromise your entire construction project if not handled correctly from the start.
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