Find out the best type of pro to hire for this task
As the name implies, a grading company is often the best choice for a yard grading project. When deciding who to hire to regrade your yard, try to find a company with certification in erosion and sediment control, as they will understand how to ensure the landscape drains adequately without erosion issues. Since this type of project will transform the look of your yard, only hire a company that is licensed, bonded, and insured.
A yard grading contractor is an excavation company specializing in grading and leveling land, making them the perfect choice for a regrading project. They have knowledge and experience altering the soil to ensure water drains away from your home and patio without causing any erosion. When it comes to regrading around your foundation and other parts of your property, you want to hire the most qualified professional possible to ensure the integrity of your yard remains intact.
Technically, you can regrade your own yard, but we don’t recommend it. If you have some landscaping experience, a free weekend, and you only need to fix one or two small areas where water pools up, this might be something you can manage on your own.
However, leveling and grading a lawn is difficult, time-consuming physical work, and larger projects require the use of expensive construction equipment, such as bulldozers, excavators, and backhoes. Renting this equipment to finish the project will often cost just as much as you would pay to hire a yard leveling pro.
More importantly, if you don’t know where the utilities in your yard are located, you risk breaking underground wires or pipes, which could put you in physical danger or damage your property. Beyond that, if you make a mistake when grading near your home, you could cause the drainage problem to worsen and damage your foundation. For all these reasons, it is usually best to hire a professional to grade your yard.
Many, but not all, landscapers offer grading services. If you already work with a trusted local landscaper, you may want to ask them if they provide this service. Still, even landscapers with grading experience can only perform finish grading, meaning they only take projects that involve moving the top few inches of soil.
If you require more substantial regrading, you will likely need to work with a landscaping contractor, a construction specialty focused on more involved landscaping services, including leveling, grading, and installing irrigation systems.
The regrading process starts by surveying the property to determine the proper slope angle and develop a grading plan. For larger projects, the contractor may need to obtain a permit prior to starting work.
Once they have a plan and proper permits, the contractor will clear the landscape before excavating the soil at the lowest grading point and moving it to the highest point. Once the slope is correct, they will add fill dirt and topsoil. Some projects may also require installing a drainage system to eliminate excess water in the land, while others may necessitate more advanced erosion control measures.
Depending on who you hire, your contractor may be able to install a new irrigation system and landscaping after the grading is completed. If they do not offer these services, you may need to hire a local landscaper to complete the project.
The cost to regrade a yard is $2,173, on average. The average cost range for a leveling or regrading project is $1,017 to $3,330, depending on the type of project you’re undertaking.
It takes about a week to regrade your yard if you choose to DIY it, but a professional can do it in just a day or two.
The best time to regrade your yard is when the soil is dry. The best season for this is often the fall.
