We Eat Limestone
For Breakfast. And Turn It Into Your Driveway.

Hill Country limestone is the most common project-killer in the Austin market. ClearGround mills it in place — one pass, stump-to-aggregate, nothing hauled, nothing wasted. The rock that was blocking your build becomes your road base, pad material, or driveway fill.

On-site limestone rock milling for pool builds, infill lots, access roads, and estate pads. RTK-verified before and after.

Book a Site Scan Land Clearing Overview

The Math — Why Milling Beats Hauling

Haul-off (traditional)Dump trucks, tipping fees, new base imported

$35–$65/yd³

FAE rock mill (ClearGround)Milled in place, processed to aggregate on-site

$2,000–$5,000/ac

Typical savings1-acre lot with moderate rock cover

Up to 50%

Per the live site: "potentially saving 50% on material haul-off and import costs."
Rock depth + hardness drive the final number. Pre-scan tells you before we quote.

4–6"

Mill Depth Per Pass

Zero

Haul-Off Required

1–3 Days

Typical Scope

Up to 50%

Cost Savings vs. Haul-Off

RTK

Pre/Post Verified

18"

Average Depth to Rock in Lakeway / Spicewood

Edwards Plateau limestone sits at or near the surface across most of the Hill Country. Pool builders and developers who don't pre-scan for it discover it when the excavator hits. That's the expensive moment.

$65

Per Cubic Yard — Haul-Off + Tipping Fee (Typical Austin Rate)

A 0.5-acre lot with a 4-inch limestone cap generates significant cubic yardage. At $35–$65/yd³ to haul and tip, plus imported base material cost, rock becomes the budget line item nobody quoted correctly.

1 Pass

FAE Mill to Aggregate — No Secondary Equipment

The FAE rock crusher on the CAT 299D3 XE mills limestone in a single pass to 4–6 inch depth. Output is self-compacting crushed aggregate — immediately usable as road base, pad fill, or driveway material. No dump trucks. No imported base.

Service Overview — Rock Milling / Rock Crushing

The rock that was
blocking your build
becomes your base material.

Rock milling is the process of grinding surface limestone in place using a FAE rock crusher attachment — turning a construction obstacle into a usable resource. The machine processes limestone from intact shelf to crushed aggregate in a single pass, at 4–6 inches of depth, without disturbing the surrounding soil profile.

What comes out the back is self-compacting crushed limestone — the same material sold as road base, pad fill, and driveway aggregate at supply yards across Central Texas. The difference: ClearGround's mill produces it on your site, from your rock, at a fraction of the cost of haul-off plus import.

Rock milling runs as a standalone service, bundled with lot clearing, or as part of access road and pad construction. The pre-clearing RTK scan identifies rock extent before we quote, so there are no surprises mid-job.

Road Base

Access Roads · Equipment Paths

Crushed limestone mills to a compactable base suitable for equipment access roads, construction staging areas, and permanent ranch roads. Self-compacting under load.

Eliminates imported road base cost

Pad Fill

Building Pads · Pool Surrounds

Processed limestone used as sub-base fill under concrete pads, pool decks, and foundation areas. Drains well, compacts predictably, and eliminates the need to import compactable fill material.

Replaces imported fill at $35–$65/yd³

Driveway Material

Estate Driveways · Ranch Roads

Crushed limestone is the standard driveway surface across Hill Country estates. Milling it from existing surface rock produces a finished driveway product without importing material from an offsite quarry.

Native limestone = no trucking premium

Retaining Wall Backfill

Drainage · Retaining Structures

Crushed limestone backfill behind retaining walls and in drainage swales. Drains freely, doesn't compress unpredictably, and is available on-site rather than sourced off-property at additional cost.

Avoids import + retaining wall void fill cost

THE ROCK THAT SURPRISES OTHER CREWS DOESN'T SURPRISE US.

AT ANY PHASE OF YOUR PROJECT
GET AN UNBIASED VIEW OF YOUR SITE

1/5

PRE-MOBILIZATION

PHASE 01 — ROCK LOCATED BEFORE ANYONE SHOWS UP

WE FIND THE ROCK BEFORE YOU DO.

The Mavic 3 Enterprise RTK drone flight happens before any equipment is dispatched. The orthomosaic and terrain model identify surface limestone indicators — outcroppings, shelving patterns, drainage that follows rock contours — that let us estimate rock extent and depth before the first machine arrives. You see where the rock is, how far it runs, and what it means for your project cost before you commit to anything. No surprise rock on the invoice. No equipment sitting idle while you figure out the plan.

± 0.5CM HORIZONTAL ACCURACY · SURFACE LIMESTONE INDICATOR MAPPING · ROCK EXTENT ESTIMATION · FIXED-PRICE PROPOSAL FROM DATA

RTK Terrain Model DroneDeploy orthomosaic of Hill Country lot Surface limestone outcroppings visible Elevation model showing — Illustrative — representative visualization

2/5

MILLING EXECUTION

PHASE 02 — ONE MACHINE. ONE PASS. DONE.

OBSTRUCTION IN. AGGREGATE OUT.

The FAE rock crusher mounts on the CAT 299D3 XE and processes limestone in a single forward pass — grinding surface rock from intact shelf to crushed aggregate at 4–6 inches of depth. The machine works in straight, overlapping passes across the rock zone. Output is deposited directly behind the drum: a uniform layer of crushed limestone that compacts under equipment load and is immediately usable as road base, pad fill, or driveway material. Nothing is loaded into trucks. Nothing leaves the property. The rock problem disappears and a usable material resource appears in its place.

CAT 299D3 XE (110HP) · FAE ROCK CRUSHER ATTACHMENT · 4–6" MILL DEPTH · SINGLE FORWARD PASS · ZERO HAUL-OFF

FAE Rock Crusher in Action CAT 299D3 XE + FAE attachment milling limestone Show drum contact

3/5

DEPTH & COVERAGE TRACKING

PHASE 03 — MILL DEPTH CONFIRMED AS WE GO

EVERY PASS TRACKED. NOT ESTIMATED.

On multi-day or multi-zone rock milling jobs, the drone flies the site each morning to track milled vs. remaining rock coverage. The elevation delta between the pre-mill and current surface confirms mill depth across the processed zone — so you know you're getting 4–6 inches of processing, not 2 inches with 4 inches of dust on top. If the rock formation changes depth or hardness mid-job — which happens when limestone layers shift — we catch it before it changes the scope, not after.

DAILY ELEVATION DELTA TRACKING · MILLED AREA COVERAGE CONFIRMED · DEPTH VERIFICATION · FORMATION CHANGE DETECTION

DroneDeploy Elevation Delta Before surface vs. current surface comparison Color scale showing 4–6" depth confirmation Milled — Illustrative — representative visualization

4/5

COMPLETION

PHASE 04 — VERIFIED OUTPUT, NOT JUST CLEARED SURFACE

AGGREGATE CONFIRMED. SURFACE DOCUMENTED.

At job completion, the final RTK scan confirms total milled acreage, processed depth across the zone, and aggregate distribution. For road and pad applications, the post-mill elevation surface is compared against the design grade to confirm the milled material sits at the correct height for what's coming next — whether that's a concrete pour, compaction base, or equipment access path. The before/after pair is delivered as your permanent record.

FINAL RTK SCAN · MILLED ACREAGE CONFIRMED · DEPTH VERIFICATION ACROSS ZONE · ELEVATION SURFACE VS. DESIGN GRADE · BEFORE/AFTER PAIR

Completion Documentation Post-mill aerial: uniform crushed limestone surface DroneDeploy elevation overlay showing milled depth Before/after split — Illustrative — representative visualization

5/5

THE DELIVERABLE

PHASE 05 — WHAT YOUR TEAM INHERITS

YOUR ENGINEER GETS THE NUMBERS.

Georeferenced before/after orthomosaics and elevation surfaces on DroneDeploy. The post-mill surface is shareable with your structural engineer, your GC, your pool builder, or your permit reviewer. Elevation data is exportable to CAD — your engineer uses it to model the pad or road base without an additional survey. For pool builds, the milled surface becomes the verified subsurface datum your excavation crew references before the first dig. The haul-off cost avoided is calculable from the volume data — useful for project accounting.

GEOREFERENCED BEFORE/AFTER · DRONEDEPLOY PLATFORM · ELEVATION EXPORT TO CAD · VOLUME CALCULATION · SHAREABLE LINK

DroneDeploy Delivery Shared link with before/after elevation surfaces Volume calculation panel visible CAD export option shown — Illustrative — representative visualization

Services & Pricing — Rock Milling / Rock Crushing

Three applications.
One machine. Zero haul-off.

RM.01

Lot & Site
Rock Milling

Surface limestone on a pool build or infill lot doesn't have to leave the site — or blow the budget. The FAE rock crusher processes it in place at 4–6 inch depth, turning a construction obstacle into compactable aggregate that stays on the ground as sub-base for the pour or dig that follows. Typically bundled with lot clearing as a single mobilization. One crew, one scan, one invoice — the rock problem and the clearing problem solved simultaneously.

1–3 Day Turnaround · 0.25–2 Acres Typical
CAT 299D3 XE + FAE Rock Crusher Attachment
Often Bundled with S1.03 Lot Clearing (Construction-Ready)

$2,000 – $5,000 / acre

Standalone milling scope. Often bundled with clearing at a combined rate.

What drives the price up: Rock hardness is the primary variable — standard Hill Country limestone mills predictably, but denser "blue rock" formations (more silica-rich, harder) can significantly slow the drum and increase wear cost per linear foot. Rock depth matters: the FAE mill handles 4–6 inches efficiently; deeper rock shifts into hydraulic hammer excavation territory at a different rate. Acreage with scattered boulders embedded in soil is more time-intensive per acre than a consistent shelf because the machine repositions constantly rather than running straight passes. The pre-scan estimates rock extent — but formation hardness is confirmed on the first pass.

RM.01 Before/After Before: exposed limestone shelf on cleared lot Construction timeline blocked, no haul plan After:

RM.02

Rock Milled Access
Roads & Pads

Central Texas limestone turns access roads into logistics bottlenecks — and estate driveways into expensive import projects. The FAE mill pulverizes rock on-site to create smooth, self-compacting surfaces for heavy equipment and maintenance vehicles. Access roads built from milled limestone hold up to loaded dump trucks, equipment trailers, and repeated vehicle cycles without the rutting and washout that imported gravel roads produce on Hill Country grades.

Estate driveways, ranch roads, construction staging pads, and heavy equipment access corridors — the rock that was blocking the path becomes the path.

Road Length and Rock Depth Are Primary Variables
CAT 299D3 XE + FAE Rock Crusher · Grade Work as Needed
Equipment Access · Estate Driveways · Construction Pads

$2,000 – $5,000 / acre

Road and pad scope. Linear road projects quoted by the foot when appropriate.

What drives the price up: Rock hardness varies — Hill Country limestone mills predictably, denser "blue rock" formations double mill time per linear foot. Width requirements change scope: a single-lane equipment road is faster per linear foot than a two-lane ranch road with turnouts. Significant grade changes along the road profile require grading work after milling to establish proper drainage slope. Wet or unstable soils below the rock layer may require sub-base stabilization before the milled material is placed. Longer roads with consistent formation are the most efficient per linear foot.

RM.02 — Access Road Milling Before: rocky, impassable access path Equipment trailer can't reach the site

RM.03

Integrated Clearing
+ Rock Milling

The most common configuration on Hill Country lot clearing jobs: the CAT 299D3 XE with FAE mulching head clears vegetation, then swaps to the rock crusher attachment and mills the surface limestone — all in one mobilization. One crew, one site visit, two problems solved. The pre-clearing RTK scan maps both vegetation density and surface rock indicators, so the clearing plan and the milling plan are integrated before the machine arrives. No second mobilization. No scheduling gap between clearing and rock prep.

Combined Clearing + Milling Scope — Single Mobilization
FAE Mulching Head Swap to Rock Crusher Attachment
Bundled Pricing Available · Pre-Scan Covers Both Scopes

$4,500 – $12,000

Bundled clearing + rock milling for typical Hill Country residential lots. Scope and price confirmed after pre-scan.

What drives the price up: Vegetation density and rock extent both contribute. A lot with light cedar over a moderate limestone shelf runs efficiently as a combined job. A lot with dense cedar over hard blue rock at 5-inch depth runs significantly longer per acre. The pre-scan estimates both; the fixed-price proposal reflects the actual conditions. Rough grading to drainage plan can be added as a third phase in the same mobilization — that's where the full construction-ready lot package comes together: clear, mill, grade, scan, handoff.

RM.03 — Integrated Clearing + Milling Day 1: CAT 299D3 XE with FAE mulching head Cedar

The Decision

Haul it out.
Or mill it in place and use it.

Traditional Rock Haul-Off

Excavate or break rock with hammer — multiple machine passes

Load dump trucks — multiple loads per acre of rock

Haul to disposal facility — $35–$65/cubic yard tipping fee

Import road base or pad fill — additional material cost

Multiple truck trips on your site and your access road

No documentation of what came out or what went in

ClearGround Rock Milling

FAE crusher processes rock in a single forward pass

Aggregate stays on-site — zero dump trucks

Zero tipping fees — nothing leaves the property

Milled limestone is road base, pad fill, driveway material

One machine, one operator, minimal site disruption

RTK before/after documents volume processed and surface depth

Primary Attachment — Rock Milling

FAE Rock Crusher

Surface Rock Processing · Limestone to Aggregate

FAE Rock Crusher Attachment on CAT 299D3 XE

The FAE rock crusher is a rotary drum attachment that mounts to the CAT 299D3 XE's high-flow hydraulic system. The drum carries tungsten carbide cutting teeth that pulverize surface limestone from intact shelf to 4–6 inch minus aggregate in a single forward pass. Output is deposited directly behind the drum — no secondary equipment required to move or spread the processed material. The same machine that clears vegetation can swap to this attachment and begin milling without a second mobilization.

Mill Depth

4–6 Inches

Cutting Teeth

Tungsten Carbide

Output

Crushed Aggregate

Passes Required

Single Forward

Primary Machine — Carrier

CAT 299D3 XE

High-Flow CTL · FAE Attachment Host

CAT 299D3 XE Compact Track Loader

High-flow compact track loader with the hydraulic output to drive the FAE rock crusher at full capacity. The same machine handles vegetation clearing with the mulching head and rock milling with the crusher — attachment swap in the field, no second mobilization required.

HP Rating

110 HP

Operating Weight

11,574 lbs

Hydraulic Flow

High-Flow

Attachments

FAE Mill + Mulcher

Survey — RTK Mapping

DJI Mavic 3 RTK

Rock Mapping · Depth Verification · As-Built

DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise RTK Drone

Survey-grade drone used to identify rock extent pre-milling, track depth progress mid-job, and verify finished surface at completion. The elevation delta between pre-mill and post-mill surfaces confirms actual processing depth across the full milled zone.

Accuracy

±0.5 cm

Output

Ortho + 3D Twin

Sensor

4/3 CMOS 20MP

Flight Time

45 min

Frequently Asked

Questions About
Rock Milling & Crushing

Completely different outcomes. A hydraulic rock hammer (NPK or similar, mounted on an excavator) breaks rock into chunks that have to be scooped, loaded, and hauled off-site. It's the right tool for deep rock that has to be removed entirely — foundation digs, pool excavation into deep limestone. The FAE rock crusher grinds surface limestone in place — the output stays on-site as aggregate, nothing gets hauled. Rock hammer = removal. Rock mill = conversion. When the goal is getting rid of surface rock without hauling it, the mill is significantly cheaper. When the goal is excavating deep into rock, the hammer is required. Some jobs need both — the pre-scan helps us determine which approach fits which zone.

The FAE rock crusher on the CAT 299D3 XE processes to 4–6 inches of depth per pass. For surface rock situations — thin limestone caps, shelf exposures, and road/pad areas where the rock is close to grade — that's usually sufficient in one or two passes. If the rock extends deeper than 6 inches and has to be fully removed for construction clearance, the scope shifts to excavation with a hydraulic rock hammer, which is a different service and a different price. The pre-scan identifies the depth of rock indicators before we quote, so you know which approach applies to your site before the equipment arrives.

Yes — and it's the same material sold at Central Texas quarries as road base and driveway aggregate. Crushed Hill Country limestone is a self-compacting material that drains well, holds under vehicle load, and performs better than imported gravel on the slopes and grades typical of Hill Country properties. The FAE mill produces a "4-inch minus" crush — material 4 inches and smaller — that compacts under equipment weight and behaves like engineered base material. We've had pool builders and GCs use the milled surface directly as sub-base for pad pours. If a specific gradation is needed for engineered applications, we'll let you know during the pre-scan consultation.

Blue rock (higher silica content, significantly harder than standard Edwards limestone) does slow the FAE mill considerably — it can double mill time per linear foot compared to standard limestone. We identify blue rock indicators in the pre-scan when possible, and flag it in the proposal. If we hit harder formation than anticipated mid-job, we'll let you know before continuing — because blue rock changes the cost per acre. In extreme cases where the rock is too hard for the mill, we shift to hydraulic hammer excavation, which falls under excavation pricing. This is disclosed upfront rather than discovered on the invoice.

Yes — this is the most common configuration on Hill Country lots. The CAT 299D3 XE runs the FAE mulching head for vegetation clearing, then the operator swaps to the rock crusher attachment and mills the exposed limestone surface. One machine, one site visit, one mobilization fee. The pre-clearing RTK scan maps both vegetation density and surface rock indicators, so both scopes are in the plan before anything starts. Bundling clearing and milling in a single mobilization is consistently more cost-effective than scheduling them as separate visits.

Three ways. Before: the pre-mill elevation surface establishes a baseline you can compare against the post-mill surface to confirm actual depth processed. During: progress scans verify that the machine is processing to depth, not just stirring dust. After: the post-mill elevation surface is deliverable to your structural engineer as a subsurface datum — they use it to model your pad or road design without commissioning a separate survey. The elevation delta between before and after surfaces quantifies how much material was processed, which gives you a volume calculation for haul-off cost avoided. For project accounting, that number is often useful.

There's no formal minimum, but the mobilization fee ($500–$1,500 depending on distance from Austin) is a fixed cost regardless of scope — so very small milling zones (under a quarter acre) work out to a higher cost per square foot. Small rock zones are typically most cost-effective when bundled with other work happening on the same mobilization: lot clearing, rough grading, or cedar removal. If you have a small rock problem on a lot where other work is being done anyway, the marginal cost of adding the rock milling to the existing mobilization is low. A standalone quarter-acre milling job 45 minutes from Austin costs more per acre than the same scope bundled into a larger clearing job.

We Eat Limestone
For Breakfast. And Turn It Into Your Driveway.

The rock that was
blocking your build
becomes your base material.