A north side pad is a rock job and a south side pad is a moisture job. We test the ground with the first few bucket loads and plan the cut, the fill and the slope from there.
Site prep around San Antonio begins with a simple question: rock or clay? On the north side, the topsoil may be only a few inches over caliche and limestone, so cutting a level pad means breaking rock and hauling it. On the south and east sides, the clay goes down many feet, and the risk is a pad that heaves or shrinks after it is built. We strip the topsoil, cut and fill to the planned grades and compact fill in lifts.
Grading sets where every storm will go. A San Antonio thunderstorm can drop a lot of water in a short time, and a lot that falls toward the house will show it right away. We slope the finished ground away from the foundation on all sides and carry runoff to the street, a swale or an approved outlet. On a hillside lot, we slow the water so it does not cut gullies. The rock or clay answer also sets how steep a cut can stand.
Erosion controls go in before the first cut, and the trees that stay get their root zones fenced. TCEQ construction stormwater coverage applies once a project disturbs one acre or more. Over the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone, larger earthwork can also need an approved plan under the state's Edwards rules, so we check the address before planning a big cut.
Site prep & grading in San Antonio: common questions
Can you cut a pad in solid rock?
Yes. We use a hydraulic breaker or a rock saw where the limestone is too hard to dig, and haul the rock or crush it for fill where the plans allow.
Will clay fill work under a slab?
Usually not. Native black clay swells, so the engineer often calls for select fill under a slab instead.
How much slope should my yard have?
Your plans and the building code set it for your lot. The goal is ground that falls away from the house on every side until it reaches a swale or the street.
How it works
- Free estimate: Call, text or book online. We walk the site with you.
- Written quote: Scope, equipment and price in writing.
- Utility locate & plan: We have utilities marked and plan access, haul-off and erosion control.
- Dig, grade & clean up: We complete the work, grade the site and haul away spoil.