Site Preparation Contractor in Utah
Building pads, rough grading and road base that take a lot from raw ground to ready to dig, from Lehi subdivisions to Park City home sites.
From Raw Ground to Ready to Dig
Site preparation is the work between a cleared lot and the day the foundation is dug: staking out the house, cutting and filling to make a level building pad, compacting fill, grading so water drains away, and laying road base so concrete trucks and deliveries can get in.
Ritz Excavation & Demolition preps sites for custom homes around Park City and the Heber Valley, new construction in Lehi and Utah County, and infill lots in the Salt Lake Valley. If the lot still has trees, stumps or scrub oak on it, we handle the land clearing first, and our own trucks haul off what comes out and bring in the fill and gravel the site needs.
What's Included
- Building pad cut and fill
- Rough grading for drainage
- Driveway and access road base
- Structural fill placed and compacted
- Hauling fill, gravel and road base
- Lot prep for builders and subdivisions
Planned for Valley and Mountain Conditions
We plan for lakebed clay, cobble, groundwater and frost before we price the job, so it doesn't turn into a surprise halfway through.
Bench and Foothill Lots
Sloped lots need cut and fill to make a level, solid pad.
Spring Mud
Snowmelt leaves ground soft in spring, so we plan around it.
Mountain Access
Steep drives need road base that holds through snow and thaw.
Drainage
Pads are graded so runoff moves away from the future house.
Who We Work For
Homeowners
Getting a lot or acreage ready to build a new home, shop or barn.
Builders & Contractors
Pads, access and rough grade done to your plans so your crews can start on time.
How the Job Works
- Walk the Site We look at the plans, the slope and where the house and drive will go.
- Estimate A written scope for grading, fill and road base.
- Layout and Locates The pad is staked and utilities are marked through Blue Stakes.
- Pad and Access We cut and fill to grade, compact the pad and put in the construction drive.
- Ready to Dig The site is handed off graded and ready for the foundation excavation.
What Affects the Cost
Every job is priced to the site after we've seen it.
What We Don't Do
We stick to the dirt work and coordinate with these trades on your project:
“Jeff is a fantastic and talented contractor. Jeff’s capabilities with equipment, like an excavator, are second nature to him. He’s fantastic at excavation work, building rock walls, creating waterfalls, etc.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does site preparation include?
Site prep usually covers layout, cut and fill for the building pad, compaction, rough grading for drainage, and road base for access. On most of our jobs it flows straight into the basement or foundation dig.
Do you compact fill under a building pad?
Yes. Fill under a pad is placed and compacted in layers rather than dumped in one pile. If your project has a soils report, its compaction requirements set the standard we build to.
Can you build a construction driveway?
Yes. We lay road base so concrete trucks, lumber deliveries and crews can get to the site without sinking, which matters most on mountain lots in spring.
Do you clear trees and brush too?
Yes. Clearing is its own job, covered on our land clearing page, and we often do both on the same lot so site prep can start right after.
When is the best time to schedule site work in northern Utah?
Spring through fall is the main dig season. Late March and April can be wet and muddy between snowmelt and dry ground, so it helps to get on the schedule over the winter.
Where We Do This Work
We provide this service across Salt Lake, Utah, Summit and Wasatch counties. Choose your area to learn more.
Ready to Dig In?
Contact Ritz Excavation & Demolition for an estimate on your project in Salt Lake, Utah, Summit or Wasatch County.