Site Prep
& Pad Prep
A build-ready pad isn't just flat ground — it's cut to elevation, compacted to spec, and verified before anyone pours concrete. We do the grading. We do the compaction. We hand off with documentation your GC can stand behind.
Four Scope Items.
All of Them Verified.
Cut / Fill Earthwork
We take the existing terrain — whatever it is — and move material to hit the target elevation. Cuts go to spoil or stockpile. Fill areas get brought up in lifts and compacted, not just dumped and graded flat.
Subgrade Compaction
Graded flat doesn't mean structurally sound. We compact subgrade to the geotechnical spec — typically 95% Standard Proctor. If a soils report calls for something specific, we work to that number. Compaction is documented, not assumed.
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 footprint — typically 2% minimum slope to swale or sheet flow direction. We grade to the drainage plan, not just to "level."
RTK Elevation Verification
Before we demobilize, the pad gets confirmed with RTK GPS. We're not eyeballing it — we're documenting it. You get an elevation grid of the finished surface. Your GC, engineer, or inspector has something to sign off on besides our word.
The Ground Here
Doesn't Cooperate.
Austin sits on top of expansive clay over limestone. When that clay gets wet, it moves. When it dries, it shrinks. A pad built without proper cut-depth, moisture conditioning, and compaction documentation will cause foundation problems — sometimes within the first year.
Salt Lake City has its own version: hardpan clay and cobble layers that look solid until a load is applied. Both markets require the same thing — proper subgrade prep, not just flat ground.
Expansive clay at subgrade depth requires moisture conditioning before compaction — not just grading over. We identify it during assessment and address it before pour day.
Rock at cut depth changes the scope. We have the hydraulic hammer on-site when Austin limestone is in the profile. You don't wait for a second mobilization.
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.
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 surveyed, access is confirmed, and 811 utility locate is completed. 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. 2% minimum away from the building footprint is standard — steeper if the drainage plan calls for it. We're grading to move water, not just to pass a visual check.
RTK Verification + Handoff
Before we pack up, we run an RTK elevation grid across the finished pad. You get documentation of what was built — not just our word that it's done. Photos and elevation data sent before demobilization. Your GC gets a clean handoff, not a phone call two weeks later.
What Site Prep
Actually Costs.
Pricing depends on lot size, existing grade conditions, cut/fill volume, and rock depth. These ranges come from actual Austin and Salt Lake City projects — not national averages from an estimating database.
| Scope | Lot Size | Timeline | Price Range | What's Included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Pad Prep | 0.25–0.5 acre | 2–3 days | $5,000–$8,500 | Cut/fill, compaction, drainage grade, RTK verification |
| Large Lot Pad Prep | 0.5–1 acre | 3–5 days | $8,500–$25,000 | Extended cut/fill scope, engineered fill lifts, full RTK as-built |
| Rock Encounter Add-On | Per hour / volume | +1–3 days | $1,800–$6,000 | Hydraulic hammer mobilization, rock break, spoil haul |
| Spoil Haul (off-site) | Per load | Concurrent | $350–$650 / load | Typically 6–14 loads depending on cut volume |
| Engineered Fill Supply | Per yard | As needed | $28–$45 / cu yd | Delivered, placed, and compacted in lifts |
Built-Ready Handoffs
For the People Who Need Them.
Your GC Needs a Pad,
Not a Problem.
You're working tight lots, existing neighbors, and a schedule that doesn't have room for rework. We come in after demo, grade to your engineer's plan, and hand off with RTK documentation your GC can actually use. One mobilization. One clear handoff. Done.
- Cut/fill scoped from your site plan — no interpretation errors
- Compaction documented to geotechnical spec
- RTK elevation grid delivered before demobilization
- 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 worked with forever. When that relationship breaks down — or when the job needs more precision than a blade-and-hope approach — ClearGround shows up with RTK GPS, documented compaction, and a finished pad that passes inspection the first time.
- Available for standalone pad prep or as part of a clearing + excavation package
- Site assessment completed before mobilization — no surprises on-site
- Work to engineered or permit-ready plans
- Drainage slope set to plan specs, not eyeballed
- Elevation verification included — no additional survey required
What People Ask
Before They Call.
Build-Ready.
Verified. Handed Off.
Describe the project and we'll quote from your plans. No ranges that double after we show up. No surprises that become your GC's problem.