Service
Excavation & Pad Preparation
Anything you build sits on the work underneath it. Pad preparation is where level, compacted, well-drained ground gets created.
On the job
excavation and pad preparation in Action
Excavation and pad preparation work on a residential property
Overview
Excavation is the cutting, digging and moving of soil that gets a site to the elevation and shape a project needs. Pad preparation is the finish stage: a level, compacted area sized for what is going on top of it.
The details matter more than the size. Water needs to shed away from the pad rather than pond against it. Fill needs to be placed and compacted rather than dumped. Edges need to be built so they do not slough off the first wet season.
Skipping those steps shows up later as a cracked slab, a sinking corner, a door that will not close, or water running under a building.
Common Reasons Property Owners Need This Service
Shop, barn or garage build
A new structure needs a pad cut to grade, compacted, and sized with working room around the footprint.
Shed or carport placement
Even a small building lasts longer on a level, drained pad than on native ground.
Equipment and container pads
Trailers, containers and equipment need firm ground that will not rut or settle.
Site cuts on sloped lots
Sloped ground often requires cut and fill to create a buildable flat area.
Utility and footing excavation
Trenching and footing digs on small residential and commercial projects.
What a Project May Involve
- 1Confirm the footprint, target elevation and how water should leave the area.
- 2Strip organic material and unsuitable soil from the build area.
- 3Cut and fill to grade, placing fill in manageable lifts.
- 4Compact the pad and shape the surrounding grade so runoff moves away.
- 5Add and level stone base where the project calls for it.
Residential Applications
- • Pads for detached garages, workshops and pole barns
- • Shed, greenhouse and carport pads
- • Excavation for patios, footings and small additions
- • Cut-and-fill work to create level yard space on a sloped lot
Small Commercial Applications
- • Small building and equipment pads
- • Container and storage pads on small commercial sites
- • Excavation for footings, bases and short utility runs
Questions
Excavation & Pad Preparation — Questions
- What is involved in preparing a building pad?
- Stripping unsuitable material, cutting or filling to a target elevation, compacting, and shaping the surrounding grade so water drains away. Stone base is added when the project needs it.
- How much bigger than the building should a pad be?
- Most builders want working room beyond the footprint, and extra width also protects the edges from eroding. We size it around what you are putting on it.
- Does the pad need gravel?
- It depends on the structure and how the surface will be used. Slabs, equipment and vehicle traffic usually benefit from a stone base.
- Can a pad be built on a sloped lot?
- Yes, with cut and fill. The steeper the slope, the more material moves and the more attention the edges and drainage need.
- Do you handle permits?
- Permitting requirements vary by jurisdiction and project. Confirm what applies with your local authority before work begins.
- How long before I can build on a new pad?
- That depends on the pad, the weather and your builder's requirements. Talk it through with whoever is putting up the structure.
Planning a Grading or Clearing Project?
Call Hugo Grading & Clearing at (470) 430-8701 or request an estimate online.