Earthwork is moving and shaping the ground so a project can be built on it. We handle cut and fill, grading, compaction, clearing, backfill and drainage for homes, shops, driveways and small commercial sites.
Earthwork Services in Boise
Earthwork is a broad term, and that's on purpose. It covers just about any job where soil gets dug, moved, shaped or compacted. On a new home it's the clearing, pad, foundation cut, backfill and final grade. On a commercial lot it might be stripping and grading for a parking area. In a backyard it might mean cutting down a hill, building up a low corner and getting water to drain away from the house.
We're a Caldwell-based earthwork contractor, and we work in Boise, Meridian, Eagle, Nampa, Kuna, Star, Middleton and Caldwell. Our reviews call us "great for earthwork services on your projects," and that's a lot of what we do.
What Earthwork Includes
Clearing and stripping
Removing brush, trees, stumps and debris, then stripping the topsoil. Topsoil is soft and full of roots, so nothing should be built on it. Good topsoil can be stockpiled on site and spread back over lawns and beds at the end of the job. See land clearing.
Cut and fill
Taking soil off the high areas and placing it in the low areas to reach the elevations on the plan. Balancing cut and fill on site keeps hauling costs down. Not every soil makes good fill, though. Wet clay, topsoil and debris shouldn't go under a slab, so some jobs still need imported structural fill even when the volumes balance out.
Excavation
Digging for foundations, basements, pools, ponds and utilities. The soil that comes out of a basement or pond is often the fill for another part of the same site, so the two get planned together. See excavation services.
Compaction
Placing fill in layers and compacting each one so it doesn't settle under slabs, driveways or buildings. Layer thickness and moisture decide whether soil will compact. Too dry and it won't bind, too wet and it pumps under the roller. On engineered jobs, an outside testing firm checks density as the layers go in. See compaction.
Grading
Rough and finish grading to set the final slopes and drainage. Rough grading comes early and sets the pad and the general shape of the lot. Finish grading comes last and gets the surface ready for sod, gravel or concrete. See land grading and site preparation and grading.
Backfill
Filling back in around foundations, walls and utility lines. Around a foundation, backfill goes in once the builder says the walls are ready for it, in layers, without heavy equipment pushing tight against the concrete. The top layer is sloped so water runs away from the house. See backfilling.
Hauling
Exporting extra soil, or bringing in fill, gravel and topsoil. Trucking can be a big share of an earthwork price, so we look for ways to use soil on the property before hauling it away. See dirt hauling.
Earthwork for Homes, Shops and Acreage
A lot of our earthwork is residential. That includes new home sites, additions, detached shops and garages, RV pads, driveways and backyard regrades. On acreage around Star, Kuna, Middleton and Canyon County, we also see a lot of pads for pole barns, long gravel driveways, ponds and grading for irrigation.
Earthwork for Commercial and Development Sites
We work with general contractors and owners on commercial site work like building pads, parking lot prep, utility trenching and grading. These jobs are built to the surveyor's stakes and the geotechnical report, with testing and inspections along the way, so the earthwork has to fit the general contractor's schedule. See commercial excavation and subdivision earthworks.
Treasure Valley Terrain and Soil
Earthwork is only as good as the soil under it, and ground conditions change from one end of the valley to the other. Two lots a few miles apart can need a very different plan and price.
- Caliche and hardpan across Meridian, Nampa and Kuna are slow to cut and don't drain.
- Clay in parts of the valley swells when wet and needs compaction at the right moisture.
- River rock and cobble near the Boise River are hard to grade smooth and can come with high groundwater during irrigation season.
- Basalt close to the surface in Southeast Boise and Kuna can require a breaker.
- Foothills slopes in North Boise and Eagle mean cut banks, retaining walls and a lot of attention to erosion.
Weather and Earthwork
Weather affects earthwork more than most trades. Clay soils get too wet to compact after spring and fall rain, frozen ground in winter doesn't grade or compact well, and summer brings heat and dust. Our reviews mention getting to the job before the rains came, so getting on the schedule early helps.
Permits and Erosion Control
Larger earthwork projects can need a grading permit from the city or county, and projects that disturb an acre or more generally need construction stormwater permit coverage with erosion control in place. That might include silt fence, a gravel construction entrance so trucks don't track mud onto the street, and stabilizing slopes. On smaller residential jobs, we still keep dirt off the street and out of the storm drains.
What Earthwork Costs
Earthwork is usually priced by the job. The main cost factors are the volume of soil moved, the soil type, whether material has to be imported or exported, compaction and testing requirements, access, and the size of the site. Rock and caliche cost more. Balancing cut and fill on site often saves money. We give free estimates.
Why Hire Ultimate Excavation LLC
We're an Idaho registered contractor (RCE-65836) with a 5.0 rating on Google. Our reviews say we're knowledgeable, respectful, on time and budget friendly. Call (208) 697-2429 or request a free estimate.
