Lot Grading & Site Work in Cleveland, OH

Lot grading and site work set the shape of the ground so rain and snowmelt run away from the house and off the lot instead of pooling against the foundation. On a new build it means stripping topsoil, cutting and filling to plan, and leaving a pad ready for footings. On an existing home it usually means fixing grade that has settled toward the walls over decades. In Greater Cleveland, where clay subsoil barely lets water soak in, surface drainage carries most of the load.

Why grade matters more on clay

The Mahoning and Ellsworth soils common across Northeast Ohio formed in clay-rich glacial till with moderately low permeability. A perched water table can sit within a foot or two of the surface for much of the fall, winter and spring. When water cannot soak in, it has to run off, and if the grade tips toward the house it runs straight to the basement wall. A common guideline is to drop about 6 inches over the first 10 feet away from the foundation, then keep a steady fall to a swale, street or drain.

Settled backfill around older homes

The soil placed against a foundation when a house was built was loose fill, and it keeps settling for years. Add downspouts that dump at the corners and patios that have sunk, and many older homes end up with a moat that slopes inward. Regrading means removing sod, bringing in clean fill or reworking what is there, compacting it in layers and restoring the surface.

Cut and fill on new lots

For additions, garages and new homes we strip and stockpile topsoil, cut the high side, fill and compact the low side, and shape the lot to the builder's grading plan. Balancing cut and fill on site is cheaper than trucking: HomeAdvisor lists cut-and-fill at $1 to $12 per cubic yard against $8 to $25 for dirt removal. Where the soil is too wet to compact, we tell you, and either wait, dry it or import material.

Ravine and escarpment lots

On lots that drop toward a creek or sit on the escarpment slope, we keep fill away from the top of the slope and carry concentrated water down in pipe. Many cities also regulate grading near streams and on steep slopes, so we check the rules for your address before the work is priced.

Finish grading and topsoil

The last few inches decide how the lawn grows. We spread and rake topsoil, roll it, and leave it ready for seed, sod or a landscaper. Where slopes need protection, we leave straw or erosion blankets until grass takes hold.