Landscape Grading Contractors in Sacramento, CA

Yard Grading Services

A poorly drained yard is a threat not only to the plant-life on your property, but also to your home. Without a graded or sloped yard, rain or runoff will leak straight down into the ground, where it can infiltrate your home’s foundation and erode the soil that gives life to your lawn.

Yard grading is the practice of creating a slope on your property that diverts water away from vulnerable areas, like a house or cement foundation. Grading projects may involve broad excavations or fortifying of existing slopes. The point is the same: to protect your property from water intrusion, erosion, and flooding.

While the concept of yard grading is simple enough, the process is rather complex. For that reason, it is always a good idea to hire a landscaper to regrade a property before a sod installation in Bakersfield. Only a professional can provide the kind of heavy equipment and experience needed to grade a yard.

Reasons for Landscape Grading

Gutter downspout – Gutter and downspout systems are your home’s first defense against rain, but wherever the runoff gets diverted is prone to flooding. If you find pools of standing water at the end of your downspouts, chances are the landscape is not properly graded.

Retaining wall – These structures keep soil at bay, but they are not dams. Groundwater and runoff are sure to slip through or over retaining walls. If the base of the wall is not properly sloped, the water will just sit there, causing all sorts of problems down the line.

Outdoor yard – A washed-out driveway or soggy lawn are signs that your property has poor drainage. Standing pools of water are particularly alarming, as they can attract mosquitoes and nasty odors.

Crawl space – Homes with a crawl space instead of a concrete foundation are likewise prone to water damage from poor drainage. These areas can collect water, forming dangerous disease-ridden pools.

Lawn Leveling Preparation

The process of leveling or regrading a stretch of land begins with an assessment of the property. Landscapers need to locate any utility lines that may be buried in the area to avoid damaging them. Whether it is water, gas, telephone, or electric, the lines need to be marked with colored flags or stakes.

Landscapers also need to calculate and mark the intended direction of the runoff. By identifying the property’s high and low points, they will be able to assess the current route and determine which areas need to be dug up in order to properly divert the runoff.

After planning the runoff route, landscapers need to determine its precise “rise and run”. This involves a bit of math, which is another reason to leave the job to professionals. They have laser distance meters and formulas to evaluate both the current slope and the intended one.

Professional Lawn Grading

The basic idea of leveling a yard is to move dirt and soil around and channel water away from the home. With most jobs, the excavation process involves removing about eight inches of topsoil. With plans and markers in place, workers will then dig in the direction of the runoff.

As the excavation proceeds, landscapers will compact or rake the soil to create an even plane. In low-lying areas, it is necessary to dig around the perimeter to have sufficient soil to backfill and level the surface. Finally, workers will form the actual slope, which generally aims for a 2 percent minimum grade.

After the yard is regraded, it is important for the landscape to be revitalized with plant-life. Sod and vegetation will not only diminish the perception of the yard slope, but also help absorb moisture. The more complex and varied the vegetation, the better for the drainage system. In some cases, we might suggest a drain pipe installation to complement the yard grading.