Yard Grading That Sends Water Away.

Water is the whole job.

Read the site. Where the water comes from, where it pools, and where it needs to go. The slope gets decided before the bucket ever drops.

Cut and fill. Material moved to build fall away from the foundation, not toward it. Compacted where it has to carry weight.

Finish surface. Raked smooth and seed-ready, or left at base height if you're building on it.

What grading fixes.

• Low spots and puddles. Filled and blended so rain runs off instead of sitting.

• A yard that slopes toward the house. Reshaped so water heads away from the foundation.

• Bumpy, uneven lawn. Leveled so you can mow straight and actually use the yard.

• New construction lots. Final grade and topsoil before seed or sod.

• Ground for a patio or shed. Cut level and ready for the next step. See Site Prep & Building Pads.

Final grade for new builds.

Builders and new homeowners: I do final grade on new construction. Fill pulled back off the foundation and kept below the siding, slope set away on every side, topsoil spread and raked seed-ready. One guy who shows up when he says he will and finishes before he moves on.

Grading or a drain?

If the ground slopes the wrong way, grading fixes it. If water is coming from somewhere you can't change, like a neighbor's yard or a high water table, it needs a drain. Plenty of yards need both. See French Drains & Drainage.

What goes into the estimate.

Every estimate is line-item and in writing — labor, materials, total — and good for 30 days. These are the things that move the number:

• Size of the area. A low corner or the whole lot.

• How far off the grade is. How much dirt has to move to get the slope right.

• Topsoil. Whether it comes in, and how much.

• Access. Gates, fences, tight side yards, and how close the machine can get.

• Finish. Seed and straw, ready for sod, or left at base height.

Grading questions, answered.

How much should my yard slope away from the house?

The usual standard is about six inches of drop over the first ten feet out from the foundation. I also keep the dirt below the siding so it can't hold water against the house.

Do you bring in topsoil?

Yes. Topsoil comes in by the trailer load and gets spread as part of the job, so you're not coordinating a separate delivery.

Can you seed it when you're done?

I can seed and straw it, or leave it raked and ready for sod or your landscaper. Your call.

When's the best time to grade?

Any time the ground isn't frozen or soaked. Spring and early fall are best if you're seeding afterward.

Do you call 811?

Every dig. Locates are marked before the bucket touches dirt.

Grading across the Fox Valley.

Based in Neenah and serving Menasha, Appleton, Oshkosh, Fox Crossing, Grand Chute, Kaukauna, Kimberly, Little Chute, Omro, Winneconne and Larsen. Veteran-owned, licensed and insured.

Related work: French Drains & Drainage · Site Prep & Building Pads · Gravel Driveways

Text me photos of the yard and a rough idea of the size. You'll have a written estimate, usually the same day. 920-279-5793, call or text 24/7.