Grading and Leveling
Grading and leveling is a big part of determining where water flows on your property. When done correct, water will flow away from your foundation, keeping your yard dry, and allowing your landscaping to thrive. If done grading and leveling is done incorrectly, you risk water pooling against your house, damaging your basement, eroding soil, and more. A property with poor grading is fighting gravity every time it rains, and gravity always wins.
How We Grade and Level
In Central New York, where heavy rains, nor'easters, and freeze-thaw cycles are part of life, proper grading is essential. Some homeowners don't know that their "water issues" such as drainage problems, wet basements, or soggy yards, could all be due to subpar grading.
Simply regrading part of your property can solve significant water issues quickly and save major hassles and repairs. This goes for new construction too. Proper rough grading before a foundation pour is critical. Forgoing proper rough grading is one of the more costly mistakes builders make.
Getting your grading and leveling right also protects your investment in landscaping, hardscaping, and driveway sealing. Without the right slope, mulch beds wash out, patios collect standing water, and gravel driveways develop ruts and potholes. Getting the grade right from the start means every other improvement to your property performs the way it should — and lasts the way it should.
Top Grading and Leveling Services
Rough Grading
Establishing initial contours and slopes for new construction sites. Proper drainage patterns set before any building begins, ensuring water moves away from the future structure.
Construction Prep
Complete lot prep for new builds — clearing, stripping topsoil, grading to plan, and establishing proper drainage before foundation work begins
Finish Grading
Final surface preparation for landscaping, sod, or seeding. Smooth, even surfaces with proper pitch away from structures and consistent soil depth for healthy growth.
Topsoil Spreading
Delivery and spreading of screened topsoil, graded smooth and compacted to the right density for landscaping, seed, or sod installation.
Property Regrading
Correcting existing grade problems that cause water pooling, foundation saturation, or soggy areas in your yard. We reshape the terrain to redirect water permanently.
Driveway Grading
Grading for new driveways or regrading existing gravel and dirt driveways for proper drainage, crown, and a smooth driving surface.
If you're looking for grading and leveling services in Central New York, give us a call today.
Frequently Asked Grading and Leveling Questions
How much does grading and leveling cost? Costs vary based on ground conditions, access, and project scope. We provide free on-site estimates. Call us to get a specific price on
How long does grading and leveling take? Since there are a variety of grading and leveling processes, it's hard to say. However, residential projects usually take 1-3 days depending on size, depth, and soil conditions. Commercial projects vary more. We'll give you a clear timeline before work begins.
Do you work with contractors on new construction? Yes. Proper rough grading before construction and finish grading after are both essential for drainage and structural integrity.We've done plenty of new construction projects and have specific experience helpful to the industry.
The Dirt on Lewis Excavating
Lewis Excavating has Central New York at heart. From Syracuse to Rochester and all across Wayne County (our home), we've dug, moved, and uncovered just about everything...more than once. That's how we've gotten to know exactly what we're doing.
When we begin a job, we take everything into account and measure it against our real-world experience. Whether we're digging a foundation, trenching for utilities or adding a pond to a farm, we know what to watch out for—and how to do it right.
With all that in our back pockets, we consider ourselves a top excavation company, holding a dedication to delivering high-quality excavation services. We specialize in site preparation, grading, and earthmoving for both residential and commercial projects, as well as a range of agricultural services. Our team, under the guide of owner Chris Lewis, is committed to safety and efficiency at every job site. That's why you can trust Lewis Excavating to provide reliable excavation solutions tailored to your specific needs.
Give us a call or fill out our form to learn more about how we can work together.