Land Clearing & Grading

First Steps

Before starting on any excavation project, you will need to identify and secure the necessary permits for excavation work to be performed in your area.  Next, you will need to find excavation contractors, such as All Seasons Earthworks LLC, who are qualified to perform the work. These contractors will coordinate the project with the local zoning committee and mark any existing underground utilities, such as water, sewer, and power lines. Once this is complete, they will draw up a plan of what the next steps will be, specify how the excavation will be performed, and what you can expect the finished project to look like.

Land Clearing and Grading

Land clearing is often the first step of any excavation project. The purpose of land clearing is simple: to provide space for excavation to begin, as well as remove any obstacles that will slow the excavation, such as tree stumps and roots, bushes, shrubs, and rocks. First, you’ll want to select a designated place for your excavation contractors to place the debris that will result from the land clearing efforts. You’ll also want to check to see if your contractors handle debris cleanup and removal as well, as you don’t want to be stuck with having to pay for another company to remove it once the project is done.

Once the land has been cleared, the next step is land grading. Grading the land serves several different purposes, such as:

• Natural drainage. This is one of the most important aspects of land grading and excavation as a whole. Removal of earth from your land disrupts the natural flow of groundwater; land grading can be used to restore the natural drainage at the end of the excavation project. When planning your project, we recommend asking your excavation contractor what their plan is regarding your land’s drainage. In cases where natural drainage cannot be used, they may opt to install a drainage system instead.
• Surface leveling. If your land is naturally sloped or uneven, land grading can be used to remove the earth at the higher elevation and replace it at the lower elevation. This is often used in situations where the goal of excavation is to create a flat surface that will allow for a building foundation to be laid.
• Surface smoothing. This often follows surface leveling and is the process of using excavation machinery to make the surface of the land as smooth as possible. It’s similar to ironing clothes that have a few wrinkles in them. Surface leveling helps get the majority of the wrinkles out; surface smoothing takes care of the rest.

Qualified Excavation Contractors

For over 20 years, All Seasons Earthworks LLC has been performing residential and commercial excavation work for Snohomish county residents. We own all of our own equipment and possess the skills and qualifications needed to tackle your job. If you have need of excavation services in Snohomish county, we’d love to schedule a consultation with you to learn more and tell you how we can help. Call us today at 425-263-2075 or send us a message online to get started.

Family owned and operated since 2000