Grading and Site Preparation in Santa Cruz County
Freedom Earthworks provides rough and finish grading that sets the elevations, slopes and drainage patterns the rest of a project depends on. We prepare building pads, driveways, roads and parking areas throughout Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito and Santa Clara counties, including subgrade preparation, aggregate base installation and compaction. Land leveling and lot drainage corrections are handled as part of this work, and because we also pave and pour concrete, the base is built for the surface that goes on it. Licensed A General Engineering and C-12 contractor, CSLB #1105929.
Grading and Site Preparation Services
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Who it is for
- Owners and builders preparing a lot for a new home, addition or shop
- Properties needing a new driveway or parking area cut in
- Rural owners whose dirt roads and yards hold water or erode
- Contractors who need a grading subcontractor for pads and site improvements
How we work
- Review plans, or walk the site with you if there are no plans, and confirm elevations and drainage.
- Clear and strip the area.
- Cut and fill to grade, with fill placed and compacted in lifts.
- Shape final grades so water drains away from structures and off pavement areas.
- Place and compact base where paving or concrete will follow.
Site considerations
- Permits. Santa Cruz County requires a grading permit above certain cubic yardage, on steep slopes and in sensitive areas. We will help you understand when one applies.
- Erosion control during winter work.
- Soils. Clay, sand and rock behave differently under compaction and in rain.
- Access. Hillside sites can limit the equipment we can use.
What affects cost and schedule
- Volume of cut and fill, and whether soil must be imported or hauled off
- Compaction and testing requirements
- Base rock quantity
- Permits and inspections
- Rainy-season restrictions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a grading permit?
It depends on how much soil is moved, the slope and the location. Small driveway and yard grading often does not; pads and larger cuts often do.
Can grading fix a wet yard?
Often, yes. Re-sloping so water moves away from buildings, sometimes with a swale or drain, is the first fix to try.
Recent work
- Hillside Driveway Rebuild, Aptos – driveway regraded, existing base rock ripped, moisture-conditioned and compacted, then 6 inches of new base rock added.
- ADA Walkways and Approaches, Santa Cruz – organic material removed from the walkway subgrade and 6 inches of base rock placed before concrete.
Related: Excavation · Drainage · Asphalt paving · Complete sitework · Santa Cruz County
Request a grading estimate or call (831) 440-6042. Our team at Freedom Earthworks will personally review your request and contact you to discuss your project.