Site Grading and Pad Preparation in Nashville and Middle TN
Cut-and-fill grading, pad building and rough grading for homes, shops, barns and commercial buildings, shaped for drainage and ready for the next trade.
- Excavation and Site Work
- At or near the surface
- Middle Tennessee
Site Grading and Pad Preparation, explained.
Grading decides where water goes and what the building sits on. A pad built on poorly compacted fill can settle, and a lot graded without thought for runoff can send water toward the house. Good grading starts from the plan or the stakes and ends with a surface that is firm, even and sloped the way it needs to be.
We cut high ground, fill low ground in compacted lifts and shape the pad and the surrounding lot with dozers, loaders and graders. Where the soil on site is unsuitable, we talk through options like importing select fill, using stone or adjusting the layout.
Signs this service fits
- A new home, shop or barn needs a level pad
- A sloped lot needs cut-and-fill
- A lot has water problems you want to correct at the source
- A builder needs rough grading before foundation work
A good fit, and what to know.
We would rather you hear the limits from us than discover them later.
A good fit when
- Stakes or plans show the pad and the elevations
- You need earthwork handled before concrete or framing
- Water control is part of the goal
Worth knowing
- Soft or wet soil can slow the work and may need stone or drying time
- Cuts and fills near streams or on large sites may require permits
Why do it this way.
Elevation-controlled
Grades are checked with GPS, laser or rod, not guessed.
Built to compact
Fill is placed and compacted in lifts.
Drainage in mind
The lot is shaped to shed water away from the structure.
Ready for the next trade
Pads are left for footings, stone or slab.
Before and after: raw lot to ready lot
AfterBeforeIllustrative scene created to show a typical condition before and after the work. Drag the handle to slide between them.
From first look to finished ground.
A clear sequence for every job.
- 01
Plan from stakes
Elevations and limits come from the plan, the surveyor or the builder.
- 02
Cut and fill
High areas are cut and low areas filled in compacted lifts.
- 03
Shape for water
Slopes and swales are formed so runoff leaves the building area.
- 04
Check and hand off
Elevations are checked and the pad is ready for stone, footings or slab.
Services that go together.
B-07ExcavationLand ClearingClearing of brush, trees and stumps for building sites, pastures, driveways and utility corridors, with debris hauled or processed.Surface work
B-12ExcavationFill Dirt & HaulingHauling excess soil off site, delivering fill dirt, topsoil and stone, and spreading and compacting material where you need it.Surface work
B-13ExcavationErosion ControlSilt fence, wattles, construction entrances, matting and seeding to hold disturbed soil in place during and after construction.Surface work
E-04ProjectsBuilder & GC SupportFooting digs, basements, utilities, grading and backfill for custom builders, remodelers and general contractors, scheduled around the trades.Deep excavationRead more on this topic.
Site Grading and Drainage BasicsHow slope, swales and outlets keep water away from buildings.2 min read 
Compaction and Settling After BackfillWhy backfilled areas sink, and how compaction in lifts prevents it.2 min read 
New Construction vs Older Lots: Underground SurprisesThe different kinds of surprises you can meet on a new lot versus an old one.2 min read Site Grading & Pads FAQ.
How flat does a pad need to be?
As specified by the plan or the builder. We hit the elevations and tolerances the foundation designer requires.
Can you reuse the soil on my site?
Often yes, if it is suitable and dry enough to compact. If not, select fill or stone can be brought in.
Will grading fix my drainage?
Frequently it helps a great deal, because water follows slope. Some sites also need pipe, swales or drains in addition to grading.
Site Grading & Pads across Middle Tennessee.
Pick your city for its page.
Call 811. Then call us.
Tell us what you are building, fixing or draining and we will suggest a site visit and a plan. The lines get located before the bucket moves.