Why is land grading so important for my yard?

Grading is the practice of leveling the ground to keep water from running into your house. In coastal Georgia, the land is generally flat and water tends to collect. By grading properly you can avoid any problems with your foundation from water. You can keep the yard from becoming waterlogged. It also makes it easier for when you want to install fences, patios, or driveways with a nice even surface.

Can grading fix the standing water in my backyard?

Yes. We can grade the slope in your yard. Also, we create shallow ditches (swales) to direct the water to the proper drain areas. No more swampy areas. Now you can enjoy your lawn when it rains hard.

Do you clear the land before grading?

Yes. We have complete land clearing and excavation services. Clearing everything from brush to small trees, stumps and old debris. To be able to start with a clean surface to move dirt and get proper slope.

How does grading help with fence installation?

On uneven terrain, fences tend to have big holes at the bottom. Grading the area of the fence line is a step we take to guarantee your new wood, vinyl or aluminum fence will be perfectly level with the ground. This provides more security and a far cleaner appearance.

How long does a grading project take?

Grading for most residential projects is typically 1-3 days. This varies based on how large the property is and how much dirt we need to move. It's also weather dependent. We work hard at being on schedule so that we can complete your project and keep delays minimal.

Do you bring in extra dirt if my yard is too low?

Yes, we can bring in fill dirt to get it to the desired slope. If we need to bring in dirt to fix your property. We also offer small load hauling services if you need dirt or debris removed from the site to keep the area clean.

Does heavy machinery ruin my existing grass?

To move dirt you will need heavy equipment like a skid steer, excavator, etc. To grade you are basically breaking up the top layer of dirt to change its shape. Meaning when we level the dirt out you will need to add new grass or sod.

Do you offer financing for excavation and dirt work?

Yes. Site prep jobs are often large. There's a cost involved. We have flexible payment options. Quick approval. Get those big drainage problems corrected and pay over time.

Land grading in the Golden Isles: professional site preparation and drainage solutions

Proper land grading is the foundation for a stable and usable property.

If you live here in coastal Georgia, you know about the heavy rains and the flat land that doesn't drain. Just moving dirt around your lot isn't enough to get ready for anything. You need to understand how the water moves and how the ground will stabilize to avoid things like flooding and soil erosion. With professional land grading, we will help you grade your yard or commercial property so the water will flow away from your buildings and structures. You will have a nice smooth and stable surface for things like building new driveways, foundations, fences or doing some landscaping.

We know the issues with improper drainage lead to costly foundation repairs and trashed yards. At Golden Isles Fencing and Excavation, we're all about getting the right grading and site prep work done for our specific area. We don't just rush through it and leave spots of uneven ground. We want to give you the right level property that will actually add value to your home and stop any water issues from even happening.

Mini excavator working a demolition site beside a roll-off dumpster and scattered brick — Machine and dumpster on the same site, so debris goes from pile to truck without double handling.

What goes into professional land grading and site preparation

The key to any long term project is having the proper equipment and plan of attack. First, we assess your land slope and where naturally the water wants to gather. Then, with heavy machinery we will excavate (cut) the high points and fill the low points to achieve a level surface. A critical part of what we do is compacting the soil. Dirt will naturally sink as time passes and create new low points. We make sure to compact the soil thoroughly so that whatever you build, your new lawn or driveway or concrete pad will have a nice strong base to start with.

After we've moved the majority of the dirt around, we'll work on achieving the last grade, or the smooth finish of the dirt. This part of the project makes the dirt ready for seed, sod or building. We can do land clearing and demolition for you too. That means removing trees and stumps or old structures in the way of your project. We can take care of all your site prep from A-Z so your project won't be held up in any way.

Open utility trench with pipe laid in the bottom and a mini excavator parked at the head of the run — Trenching a service line across a wooded lot, spoil banked to one side so it can go straight back in.

Solutions for drainage issues and standing water

What do you do when your yard is a swamp after a big storm in Glynn County? It will be filled with mosquitoes and it will kill your grass. We fix all of this with some land reshaping and natural ways of the water running off. We will dig some swales and make the land slope away from your home to divert water to its proper places like ditches and storm drains.

When installing a new fence grading is very important. If the ground is not level it will cause very big gaps under the fence where your pets can run away. We sometimes even grade the line for the fence before installing so that we can make the bottom of the fence run flush with the ground. Our excavating service and our fence service together give you a whole property improvement package all in one. You do not need to hire several people to do it.

Our step by step guide to leveling your property

We want you to understand what we do with your project. We have a process that we hold strictly in place to make sure that each job site is quality and safe.

Site inspection and planning. Walk your property to understand the terrain, see where utility lines are, discuss what you want to accomplish with water runoff and leveling
Clearing the land. Clear the area of brush, debris, and small trees that might get in the way of what we need to accomplish. We want a clean slate
Moving the earth. Use excavators and skid steers to cut down high points and dig and dump the dirt into low spots. This sets up a rough grade.
Compacting and smoothing. Tamp the soil and set the final grade to get a smooth finish. This gives us a flat surface that's ready for building or landscaping.
Final walkthrough. Go over the slope of drainage. Make sure that your area is clean and ready for its next step.

Protecting your property investment

Dirt work can be a very involved and difficult job. You need to have experience and the right equipment for the job. If you don't do your grading correctly you will end up directing water to your home. This will cause extreme damage to your property. You can save yourself money and a lot of headache if you do it correctly the first time. We have very flexible financing options available so you can afford to do your major site prep or property upgrades. Let us help you get it done today.

Your home needs a strong foundation. At Golden Isles Fencing and Excavation we are a family owned business who is bringing honesty and structured planning to all our projects in Brunswick and surrounding counties. Call Tyler today at 912 674 0619 and we will schedule your free estimate. Let us help get your land ready the right way.

Land grading across the Golden Isles

Drainage problems look different on a marsh-edge lot than in a Brunswick subdivision, so read about land grading in Brunswick, GA, land grading on St. Simons Island, land grading on Jekyll Island, and our work in Glynn County.

Related dirt work and fencing

Grading often follows clearing and comes before a fence, so see our land clearing service, excavation service, and fence repair service for fences damaged by standing water.

Mini excavator loaded on a dump trailer at a job site

Questions and answers

Common questions about land grading

Here are honest answers to the questions we hear most often from property owners in Brunswick and the Golden Isles.

Grading is the practice of leveling the ground to keep water from running into your house. In coastal Georgia, the land is generally flat and water tends to collect. By grading properly you can avoid any problems with your foundation from water. You can keep the yard from becoming waterlogged. It also makes it easier for when you want to install fences, patios, or driveways with a nice even surface.
Yes. We can grade the slope in your yard. Also, we create shallow ditches (swales) to direct the water to the proper drain areas. No more swampy areas. Now you can enjoy your lawn when it rains hard.
Yes. We have complete land clearing and excavation services. Clearing everything from brush to small trees, stumps and old debris. To be able to start with a clean surface to move dirt and get proper slope.
On uneven terrain, fences tend to have big holes at the bottom. Grading the area of the fence line is a step we take to guarantee your new wood, vinyl or aluminum fence will be perfectly level with the ground. This provides more security and a far cleaner appearance.

Grading for most residential projects is typically 1-3 days. This varies based on how large the property is and how much dirt we need to move. It's also weather dependent. We work hard at being on schedule so that we can complete your project and keep delays minimal.
Yes, we can bring in fill dirt to get it to the desired slope. If we need to bring in dirt to fix your property. We also offer small load hauling services if you need dirt or debris removed from the site to keep the area clean.
To move dirt you will need heavy equipment like a skid steer, excavator, etc. To grade you are basically breaking up the top layer of dirt to change its shape. Meaning when we level the dirt out you will need to add new grass or sod.
Yes. Site prep jobs are often large. There's a cost involved. We have flexible payment options. Quick approval. Get those big drainage problems corrected and pay over time.