Site Prep & Pad Prep
in Austin & Central Texas
Site prep turns a cleared lot into a building pad: cut and fill, rough grading to spec, subgrade compaction and final grade. We do it for builders, developers and owners in Austin and Central Texas, typically $12,000–$22,000 per lot (to $30,000 with rock and engineered fill), over about two to five days.
A build-ready pad isn't just flat ground. It's cut to elevation, compacted to spec and checked before anyone pours concrete. We do the grading and the compaction, and we hand off elevation shots and photos your GC can use.
What does site prep and pad prep include?
Four jobs, all checked before we leave.
Cut / Fill + Rough Grading to Spec
Rough grading to spec means cutting and filling a cleared lot to your engineered grading plan before the finish pass. Cuts go to spoil or stockpile. Fill areas get brought up in lifts and compacted, not just dumped and graded flat. Rough grading on its own runs $2,500–$8,000 per lot (to $12,000+ with rock), and it is usually bundled with lot clearing in one mobilization.
Subgrade Compaction
Graded flat doesn't mean structurally sound. We compact subgrade to the geotechnical spec. If a soils report calls for a specific number, we work to it. Without a report we default to 95% Standard Proctor unless your GC or engineer says otherwise.
Drainage Slope + Final Grade
A pad that doesn't drain is a foundation problem waiting to happen. Final grade is set to move water away from the building. IRC R401.3 calls for a fall of 6 in. in the first 10 ft (5%) on soil and 2% on impervious surfaces near the building. We grade to the drainage plan, not just to "level."
Elevation Check
Elevations are checked from the RTK drone surface model (optional scan, $500–$1,500 per scan). Your GC, engineer or inspector then has something to check besides our word. This is elevation verification, not a sealed survey.
What is under a Central Texas pad?
Clay east of the fault, limestone west.
West of the Balcones Fault, Edwards and Glen Rose limestone sits near the surface. East of it, the ground is Austin Chalk and Blackland Prairie clay. The clay moves: it swells when wet and shrinks when dry. A pad built without proper cut depth, moisture conditioning and compaction can cause foundation problems, sometimes within the first year.
The two sides dig differently and price differently. Rock changes the scope. Clay changes the compaction plan. We sort out which one you have during the site walk.
Expansive clay at subgrade depth requires moisture conditioning before compaction — not just grading over. We look for it during the site walk and address it before pour day.
Rock at cut depth changes the scope. When limestone is in the profile, we bring an excavator with a hydraulic hammer so you don't wait for a second mobilization. Rock runs $35–$90 per cubic yard.
Fill material quality matters. If fill is required, we use engineered fill — not spoil from somewhere else on the lot that might include organics or debris.
How does a pad get built?
From raw lot to build-ready pad.
Quote + Plan Review
We quote from your site plan or grading plan — not a rough description. Pad dimensions, target elevation, drainage direction, and cut/fill volumes all come from the drawing. If there's no plan yet, we quote a range and firm it up when drawings are finalized.
Site Assessment + Utility Locate
We walk the lot before any machine shows up. Existing grade is shot, access is confirmed, and the 811 locate is requested at least 2 business days (48 hours, excluding weekends and holidays) before we dig, as Texas law requires. If the site has been previously graded or filled, we identify any problem areas before the scope is locked.
Rough Cut / Fill
We make the big moves first — cutting high spots to target elevation, bringing low spots up with engineered fill in compacted lifts. Rock that needs breaking gets broken here. Spoil gets staged or hauled depending on what's on-site and what the plan calls for.
Subgrade Compaction
Compaction happens in lifts — not all at once. Each lift is compacted before the next goes down. We work to the geotechnical spec; if there's no soils report, we default to 95% Standard Proctor unless your GC or engineer specifies otherwise.
Final Grade + Drainage Slope
Final pass brings the pad to finish elevation and sets drainage slope. We follow IRC R401.3, a fall of 6 in. in the first 10 ft (5%) on soil, or steeper if the drainage plan calls for it. We're grading to move water, not just to pass a visual check.
Elevation Check + Handoff
Before we pack up, we photograph the finished pad. Elevations are checked from the RTK drone surface model (optional scan). Your GC gets a clean handoff.
What does site prep cost?
$12,000–$22,000 per lot
Pricing depends on lot size, existing grade, cut/fill volume and rock depth. Lots near the low end are flat with no rock. Rock and engineered fill can push a job to $30,000 with rock and engineered fill.
| Scope | Unit | Timeline | Price Range | What's Included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pad Prep (site prep) | Per lot | 2–5 days | $12,000–$22,000 per lot | Cut/fill, compaction and drainage grade. Elevation check from an optional drone scan. Can run to $30,000 with rock and engineered fill. |
| Rough Grading to Spec (alone) | Per lot | 1–3 days | $2,500–$8,000 per lot | Cut and fill to the engineered grading plan. To $12,000+ with rock. |
| Rock Encounter | Per cubic yard | +1–3 days | $35–$90 per cubic yard | Rippable caliche $35–$45 per cubic yard; hard rock hammered $65–$90 per cubic yard. Hammer work can be billed by the hour when volume can't be known. |
| Spoil Haul (off-site) | Per load | Concurrent | $350–$650 / load | Typically 6–14 loads depending on cut volume |
| Engineered Fill Supply | Per cubic yard | As needed | $28–$45 / cu yd | Delivered, placed and compacted in lifts |
Prices reviewed: September 2026. Ranges for Austin and Central Texas; your site walk sets the final number. See all pricing or use the excavation calculator.
Slope rule: International Residential Code, section R401.3; check the edition your city has adopted. Texas requires a call to 811 at least 2 business days before digging. Last reviewed: September 2026.
Who is site prep for?
Builders, developers and owner-builders.
Your GC Needs a Pad,
Not a Problem.
You're working tight lots, existing neighbors and a tight schedule. We come in after demo, grade to your engineer's plan and hand off with photos and, if you add the drone scan, elevation data your GC can use. One mobilization, one clear handoff.
- Cut/fill scoped from your site plan — no interpretation errors
- Compaction to the geotechnical spec
- Optional: drone scan and 3D surface model, $500–$1,500 per scan
- Rock encounter handled same mobilization — no second trip
- Debris and spoil hauled, not left for your framing crew to navigate
One Sub Who Doesn't
Create More Work.
Most GCs have a grading sub they've used for years. When that relationship breaks down, or the job needs tighter control, Clear Ground brings compaction by lift and an elevation check on the finished pad from an optional drone surface model.
- Available for standalone pad prep or as part of a clearing + excavation package
- Site walk completed before mobilization
- Work to engineered or permit-ready plans
- Drainage slope set to plan, not eyeballed
- Elevation check included. It is not a sealed survey, so order one if your permit requires it
Site prep questions
Build-Ready.
Checked. Handed Off.
Describe the project and we'll quote from your plans. The site walk sets the final number.
Austin & Central Texas · Insured · Written quote within 48 hours of the site walk
Rather talk to a person? (512) 880-8888