Most of what goes wrong on a hardscape or building job goes wrong at this stage, before anything visible exists. Ground that isn't proof-rolled, trenches backfilled loose, spoil spread on site instead of hauled — each one shows up two or three years later as a dip in a surface somebody else built.
We locate utilities through the state service before every dig, no exceptions, and we hand-dig where a line is marked. Backfill goes in twelve-inch lifts and gets compacted, particularly in trenches that run under anything that will later be paved.
Final grade is shot with a laser and set to run water away from the building on every side. If a site can't be graded to daylight we'll say so before the machine arrives and price the drainage that solves it instead.
What's included
- Excavation for patios, drives, footings, pools and utilities
- Bulk cut and fill, with import and export of material
- Final grading to a shot elevation, falling away from the house
- Demolition and removal of slabs, walls, old paving and stumps
- Utility locates, trenching and backfill compacted in lifts
- Silt fence, erosion control and soil stabilisation
What it costs
| Work | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Excavation and haul-off, per cubic yard | $48 – $85 |
| Slab demolition and removal, per sq ft | $4 – $8 |
| Rough grading, per sq ft | $1.20 – $2.40 |
| Screened topsoil, delivered and spread, per cu yd | $65 – $110 |
| Stump removal, each | $250 – $700 |
Ranges are installed prices for work in our service area. Every estimate we issue is a fixed price for a defined scope, not a unit rate applied to a guess at quantities.
Related work
Next step
We'll mark it out on your lawn
No charge, no obligation, and you'll have a fixed price within four days of the visit.
Book a layout & estimate →