Get the ground right the first time
Site work is the part nobody sees once the house is up, and the part that causes the most expensive problems when it's done badly. A pad that isn't compacted properly, a footing trench cut to the wrong depth, or a site graded so water runs toward the foundation instead of away from it — those are not cheap things to fix later.
We handle the dirt work between a cleared lot and a builder's start date, and we work to the plan and the elevations you give us.
What's included
- Building pad excavation and compaction
- Footing and foundation trenching to plan depth
- Basement and crawlspace digs
- Utility trenching for water, electric, and gas runs
- Cut and fill, spoil hauling, and import of fill or stone
- Rough grade set for drainage before the build starts
Southwest Michigan soil is not one thing
Between the lakeshore dunes and the inland farm ground, this county has sand, heavy clay, and a lot of things in between — often on the same parcel. Sand drains beautifully and holds a trench wall poorly. Clay does the opposite. A seasonal high water table can turn a straightforward footing dig into a dewatering job.
That's why the price on excavation comes after somebody stands on the property, not before. What's under the grass drives the schedule, the equipment, and the cost.
If your site disturbs an acre or more, or sits within 500 feet of a lake or stream, it needs a soil erosion permit before work starts — and the controls have to stay in and be maintained until the site is stabilized.
Common questions
Yes. Send the site plan and elevations and we'll work to them. If something on the ground doesn't match the plan, you'll get a call before we keep digging, not after.
That's most of the job. Tell us the date the builder needs the pad ready and we'll tell you honestly whether it's achievable, including permit lead time.
It happens, especially near the lake. We stop, tell you what we found, and price the fix before doing it. Nobody likes a surprise line item, so we don't create them quietly.
Get a quote on your site prep and excavation
Tell us where the property is and what you're trying to do with it. We'll come look, and the estimate is free.
Other services
Ready to get dirt moving?
Tell us about the property and we'll come look at it. Estimates are free, and we'll tell you straight if the job needs a permit before anyone touches the ground.