What is earth moving and site preparation?
Earth moving and site preparation involves clearing, excavating, and leveling land to create a stable foundation for construction projects. We move thousands of cubic yards of soil, grade terrain to exact specifications, and prepare sites for roads, buildings, parking lots, and industrial facilities.
Our Process
We begin with a detailed site survey and engineering analysis to understand soil conditions, drainage requirements, and project specifications. Our experienced operators use modern equipment to remove vegetation, clear obstacles, and excavate material efficiently. Each project follows TxDOT standards and ASTM guidelines to ensure compliance and long-term stability.
What We Move
- Soft soils and organic material from construction sites
- Clay, sand, and mixed soil for grading and leveling
- Rock and debris from excavation work
- Fill dirt for raising elevation and creating stable pads
- Topsoil for final landscaping and erosion control
Equipment & Capacity
Our fleet includes heavy-duty dump trucks with 22 cubic yard capacity, excavators, bulldozers, and compaction equipment. We've successfully moved over 50,000 cubic yards on single projects, with delivery logistics that ensure continuous operation and minimal downtime.
How does excavation work for construction projects?
Excavation is the process of removing earth to create space for foundations, utilities, drainage systems, and infrastructure. We dig to precise depths and dimensions, following engineering plans to ensure proper drainage, structural support, and code compliance for your construction project.
Types of Excavation We Perform
Foundation Excavation
Digging trenches and pads for building foundations, concrete slabs, and structural footings.
Utility Trenching
Precise trenches for water lines, sewer pipes, electrical conduits, and telecommunications cables.
Drainage Excavation
Channels and retention ponds for stormwater management and flood prevention.
Bulk Excavation
Large-scale earth removal for parking lots, warehouses, and industrial facilities.
Safety & Compliance
All excavation work includes utility locating (Call Before You Dig), proper shoring and sloping to prevent cave-ins, erosion control measures, and daily site inspections. We follow OSHA excavation safety standards and maintain comprehensive insurance coverage.
What is grading and compaction?
Grading shapes land to create proper slopes for drainage, while compaction compresses soil to increase density and load-bearing capacity. Together, they create stable foundations that prevent settling, cracking, and structural failure in roads, buildings, and parking areas.
Why Compaction Matters
Uncompacted soil settles over time, causing cracks in concrete, uneven pavement, and structural damage. We achieve compaction levels that meet or exceed engineering requirements:
- 90% Proctor density for residential driveways and light structures
- 95% Proctor density for commercial buildings, warehouses, and heavy equipment areas
- 95-98% Proctor density for road base and highway construction (TxDOT spec)
Our Grading Services
- Rough grading: Initial shaping of terrain to design elevations
- Fine grading: Precise leveling within 0.1 ft tolerance for foundations
- Finish grading: Final surface preparation for paving or landscaping
- Drainage grading: Slopes designed to direct water away from structures (minimum 2% grade)
- Laser grading: GPS-guided precision for large commercial sites
Testing & Verification
We work with certified testing labs to verify compaction density using nuclear density gauges. All test results are documented and provided to engineers and inspectors to ensure compliance with project specifications.
What materials can be delivered to my construction site?
We deliver fill dirt, topsoil, gravel, road base, sand, caliche, and crushed stone to construction sites throughout the Rio Grande Valley. Our 22-cubic-yard trucks can haul up to 800+ loads for large projects, with flexible scheduling to match your construction timeline.
Material Types & Pricing
Fill Dirt
$12-$18/yd³
General site filling, raising elevation, backfilling foundations. Clay-based soil with good compaction properties.
Topsoil
$18-$35/yd³
Nutrient-rich soil for landscaping, gardens, and final grading. Screened and organic-matter content.
Gravel & Stone
$18-$28/yd³
Crushed limestone, pea gravel, drainage rock. Various sizes for driveways, drainage, and decorative use.
Road Base
$22-$32/yd³
TxDOT Grade 1 flexible base. Compacts to 95-98% density for roads, parking lots, and heavy traffic areas.
Volume Calculator
Not sure how much material you need? Here's a quick reference:
- 1 acre, 1 foot deep: ~1,613 cubic yards (~73 truckloads)
- 1 acre, 6 inches deep: ~807 cubic yards (~37 truckloads)
- 100 ft × 100 ft × 2 ft deep: ~741 cubic yards (~34 truckloads)
- One truckload: 22 cubic yards (covers ~264 sq ft at 1 ft depth)
Delivery Logistics
We maintain relationships with multiple material sources across the Valley to ensure consistent quality and competitive pricing. Delivery scheduling is flexible, from single-truck orders to continuous operation with multiple trucks cycling throughout the day.
How is road base constructed?
Road base construction involves placing and compacting a layer of crushed aggregate (typically limestone) to create a stable foundation for asphalt or concrete pavement. We follow TxDOT specifications to achieve 95-98% Proctor density, ensuring the road can support heavy traffic without settling or cracking.
The Road Base Process
1. Subgrade Preparation
Excavate to design depth, compact existing soil to 95% density, verify with density testing.
2. Base Material Delivery
Haul TxDOT Grade 1 flexible base (crushed limestone) to site, typically 6-12 inches depth for roads.
3. Spreading & Grading
Use motor graders and dozers to spread material evenly, establish proper crown (2-3% slope for drainage).
4. Compaction
Multiple passes with vibratory rollers, maintain optimal moisture content (5-8%), achieve 95-98% Proctor density.
5. Testing & Approval
Nuclear density gauge testing every 500 feet, submit results to engineer for paving approval.
TxDOT Compliance
All road base work follows TxDOT Item 247 (Flexible Base) specifications. We use certified materials from approved quarries, maintain moisture content within spec, and coordinate with testing firms to ensure every lift meets density requirements before paving begins.
Applications
Public Roads
Highways, streets, municipal infrastructure
Parking Lots
Commercial, industrial, retail centers
Private Roads
Ranch roads, subdivision streets, driveways
Trailer Pads
RV parks, mobile home sites, storage yards
What is topsoil and when do you need it?
Topsoil is the nutrient-rich upper layer of soil (typically 2-8 inches deep) that contains organic matter, beneficial microorganisms, and minerals essential for plant growth. You need topsoil for landscaping, gardens, erosion control, and final site grading after construction to establish vegetation and prevent soil loss.
When to Use Topsoil
- After construction: Replace soil removed during grading and excavation
- Landscaping projects: Create planting beds, lawns, and garden areas
- Erosion control: Stabilize slopes and prevent runoff on finished grades
- Poor soil quality: Improve sandy, rocky, or clay-heavy soils that won't support plants
- Leveling lawns: Fill low spots and create smooth, even surfaces for turf
- Commercial landscaping: Meet code requirements for vegetative cover and drainage
Topsoil vs. Fill Dirt
Topsoil
- Contains organic matter (2-10%)
- Dark brown color
- Supports plant growth
- Screened, clean material
- Use for final 4-6 inches
- $18-35/yd³
Fill Dirt
- No organic matter
- Gray/tan clay-based
- Not for plant growth
- May contain rocks
- Use for raising elevation
- $12-18/yd³
Pro tip: Use fill dirt for deep filling and structural support, then top with 4-6 inches of topsoil for landscaping. This saves money while ensuring plants have the nutrients they need.
Installation & Spreading
We deliver screened topsoil and can spread it using dozers or hand-raking for smaller areas. For best results, topsoil should be installed to a minimum depth of 4 inches (6-8 inches for lawns and intensive planting). Light tilling or raking helps blend topsoil with existing subsoil and improves drainage.
Quality Standards
Our topsoil is sourced from local suppliers with consistent quality. It's screened to remove rocks and debris, has a loamy texture (mix of sand, silt, and clay), and contains adequate organic matter for plant establishment. We can also coordinate soil testing if specific pH or nutrient levels are required for your project.
Ready to start your project?
Get a detailed quote based on your specific needs. We provide transparent pricing, accurate volume calculations, and realistic timelines for every project.