When it comes to home improvement projects, few things are as important as a solid foundation—literally. That’s why grading and leveling excavation are crucial for any outdoor project. Especially in the uneven, often unpredictable terrain here in our portion of West Virginia.
Why is this so important? If water isn’t draining away from your home, it can pool around the foundation and cause all sorts of problems—including cracking, shifting, and other structural damage. And suppose the ground around your home isn’t level. In that case, it can create an uneven surface that can make it difficult to properly install things like driveways, patios, decks, and other hardscaping and landscaping features. In short, if you want your outdoor project to be a success, you need to make sure that the ground around your home is properly graded and level first.
So, let’s break down each and the consequences of not doing them right.
Grading
Grading refers to the process of sloping the ground so that water will drain away from any structures on the property. This is usually accomplished by using a bobcat, excavator, or other similar machinery to move earth around until the desired grade is achieved. Water can pool around a building’s foundation and cause severe damage if not done correctly. Even worse, if water seeps into the cracks in your foundation, it can cause the concrete to expand and contract, eventually leading to cracking. If water pooled around your foundation freezes during the winter, it can put extra pressure on the foundation and cause it to shift. Leading to other potentially expensive fixes.
Leveling
Once you’ve graded the ground around your home, the next step is leveling. This is the process of ensuring that the ground is level—not too high in some areas and not too low in others. This is important for a few reasons. First, if the ground isn’t level, it can create an uneven surface that can make it difficult to properly install things like driveways, patios, decks, water features, and other hardscaping and landscaping features. Second, if the ground is too low in some areas and too high in others, it can create drainage.
Depending on the extent of your excavation project, you might need a permit from the city or county. Dealing with obtaining the proper paperwork can be a headache. A professional excavation company will know what permits are necessary, if any, for your particular project.
In Conclusion
Again, proper grading and leveling are vital for any outdoor project—whether you’re installing a new patio, a new driveway, fixing a drainage problem, or simply re-landscaping your yard. Not only will proper grading and leveling ensure that your project turns out looking its best, but it will also help protect your home from water damage by ensuring that water drains away from the foundation.
Doing any extensive excavation or site work yourself is no easy task. It often requires heavy equipment and a lot of experience to do it safely and correctly. That’s why we recommend leaving it to a professional excavation company.
Hire a Professional Excavating Company – Riverscapes Outdoor Living & Excavation
So save yourself time, money, and headaches down the road by hiring a professional excavation company like Riverscapes Outdoor Living & Excavating. We can handle the grading and leveling for any of your outdoor living projects. We guarantee you won’t be disappointed! Call us or contact us today for your free project consultation.
