Yard Grading in Farmington, CT

David's Landscaping provides professional yard grading in Farmington, CT and the surrounding towns of Avon, West Hartford, Simsbury, Southington, Collinsville, Burlington and more. Most wet basements don't start in the basement. They start in the yard, where the ground slopes toward the house instead of away from it. We regrade around foundations, level bumpy lawns, bring in and spread topsoil, extend downspouts, and finish the job with seed, sod or mulch. Our compact equipment fits through gates and into backyards. Every grading job is guaranteed: if it doesn't solve the problem, we come back and fix it free of charge. We're a family-owned, licensed and insured company (CT HIC# 0670708) with more than 15 years of experience.

Call or text 203-908-1987  |  Get a Free Grading Quote

• Foundation regrading to send water away from your house
• Lawn leveling and finish grading before seed or sod
• Topsoil delivery and spreading
• Downspout extensions included with grading work
• Guaranteed to fix the problem, or we return free of charge
• Licensed & insured, family owned and operated

How Grading Stops Water in Your Basement

When the ground next to your house is lower than the ground a few feet out, every rainstorm and every downspout sends water straight to your foundation. Over time it soaks the soil against the basement wall and finds its way in through cracks, joints and window wells.

The fix: grade it away from the house. We bring in topsoil and reshape the ground so it drops about six inches over the first ten feet out from the foundation. While we work, we keep the soil below the siding so the siding doesn't rot, adjust window wells as needed, compact the soil so it doesn't settle back, and extend downspouts so roof water lands well away from the house.

Signs Your Yard Needs Regrading

1. Soil piled up against the siding, or the ground right at the foundation sitting lower than the yard.
2. Water puddling against the foundation after rain.
3. A damp or wet basement, especially after storms.
4. Downspouts dumping water right at the house.
5. Erosion, gullies and low spots where water collects or washes soil away.

How to Check Your Grade

You can check the slope yourself with two stakes, a string and a line level:

1. Drive one stake at the foundation and another 10 feet straight out.
2. Tie a string between them and level it with a line level.
3. Measure from the string to the ground at each stake. The ground at the 10-foot stake should be about 6 inches lower than at the house.

Flat, less than that, or sloping toward the house? It's time to regrade. Not sure? We'll check it for you when we come out to quote.

Yard Grading Services We Offer

• Foundation regrading: building up and pitching the soil around your house so water drains away.
• Lawn leveling: smoothing bumps, dips and low spots that hold water or make mowing rough.
• Finish grading: a smooth, final grade before seeding or sod.
• Topsoil delivery and spreading: screened topsoil brought in, spread and shaped.
• Downspout extensions: included with grading work to carry roof water away from the foundation.
• Erosion fixes: filling gullies and washouts and reshaping the slope so they don't come back.

Our Yard Grading Process

1. Assess. We visit your property and look at how water actually moves across it: where it comes from, where it collects and where it needs to go.
2. Recommend. Grading, drainage or both, tailored to your property.
3. Call Before You Dig. Underground utilities are marked before any excavation.
4. Bring in and shape topsoil. Our compact skid steer and mini loader fit through gates and into tight backyards.
5. Compact and finish grade. The soil is firmed so it won't settle back toward the house, then smoothed to a clean final grade.
6. Extend downspouts. Roof water is carried away from the foundation.
7. Finish the surface. Seed and straw, sod, or mulch and stone beds along the foundation, your choice, quoted separately.

When Grading Isn't Enough

Grading works when there's slope to work with. If your yard is flat, or your house sits at the bottom of a hill, there may be nowhere for regraded soil to send the water. In those cases a drainage system intercepts the water before it reaches your foundation.

Our drainage solutions include French drains, catch basins, dry wells, underground downspout drains and dry creek beds. See all of our drainage systems.

Grading Before Seeding or Sod

Any bare or uneven area should be graded before it's seeded or sodded. Grading removes the high spots that dry out and the low spots where seed washes away and water collects. That gives you an even lawn that's easier to mow and drains the right way. Once the grade is finished, we can seed and straw it, lay sod, or install mulch or stone beds.

Our Grading Guarantee

Before Your Grading Project

• Clear the area. Please move furniture, planters, toys and other items out of the work area. For liability reasons, our crew does not move customer belongings.
• Weather may shift the date. Wet, muddy soil can't be graded or compacted properly, so heavy rain can push the job back.

How Much Does Yard Grading Cost?

Every grading project is tailored to the customer and quoted individually. We visit to assess how water moves across your property and meet you, then price the job. The main factors that affect the cost of yard grading are:

• Size of the area to be graded.
• How much topsoil has to be brought in to build up the grade.
• Access: gates, tight side yards, slopes and how far material travels.
• Existing conditions: old lawn, roots, rock or debris to remove.
• Finish: seed and straw, sod, or mulch and stone beds, quoted separately.
• Drainage: if grading alone won't solve it, any drainage work is quoted with it.

Schedule your free grading assessment →

Towns Where We Grade Yards

David's Landscaping is based in Farmington, CT, and we grade and regrade yards throughout these Hartford County towns and nearby communities:

• Yard grading in Farmington, CT, including Unionville and neighborhoods along the Farmington River, our home base
• Yard grading in Avon, CT, from the Route 44 corridor to the hillside homes below Talcott Mountain
• Regrading in West Hartford, CT, from West Hartford Center and Elmwood to Bishop's Corner
• Yard grading in Simsbury, CT, including Weatogue and West Simsbury
• Yard grading in Southington, CT, including Plantsville and Milldale
• Grading in Collinsville, CT and the rest of Canton, CT
• Yard grading in Burlington, CT, where hillside lots often need grading and drainage together
• Bristol, CT · Plainville, CT · Newington, CT · New Britain, CT · Bloomfield, CT · Hartford, CT · Windsor Locks, CT · Suffield, CT

Billing and Communication

• Billed after the job. We don't collect payment in the field.
• Questions or concerns? Contact David directly. Please send questions, requests and concerns straight to David, the owner, at 203-908-1987 or careformygrass@gmail.com, instead of to the crew.

Why Homeowners Choose David's Landscaping for Yard Grading

• We start with the water. We figure out where it comes from and where it needs to go before we move any soil.
• Grading, drainage or both, all from one company, so the fix actually fits the problem.
• Compact equipment that fits through gates and protects the rest of your yard.
• Downspout extensions included, and finishing with seed, sod or mulch.
• Guaranteed: if it doesn't solve the issue, we fix it free of charge.
• 15+ years of experience, licensed and insured (CT HIC# 0670708).
• Complete property care: drainage, seeding, sod, lawn mowing and hardscapes.

How to Get Started

1. Request a free quote. Call or text 203-908-1987 or fill out our quote form.
2. We assess the water. We visit to see how water moves across your property and recommend grading, drainage or both.
3. Get your custom quote, including your choice of finish.
4. We grade and finish. It's guaranteed to solve the issue, and you're billed after the job.

Yard Grading FAQs

How do I know if my yard is graded wrong?

Look at the ground right next to your foundation. If it's lower than the ground a few feet out, or water puddles against the house after rain, the grade is sloping toward the house.

How much should the ground slope away from my house?

The standard guideline is about six inches of drop over the first ten feet out from the foundation.

Why is water getting into my basement?

Often it's because the ground around the house slopes toward the foundation, sending rain and roof runoff straight to the basement wall. Short or missing downspout extensions make it worse.

Can regrading fix a wet basement?

In many cases, yes. Pitching the ground away from the foundation and extending downspouts keeps water from soaking the soil against the basement wall. If grading alone isn't enough, we add drainage. Either way, our grading is guaranteed to solve the issue.

What if my yard is flat or my house is at the bottom of a hill?

Grading alone may not be enough when there's no slope to work with. In those cases a drainage system such as a French drain, dry well or catch basin intercepts the water.

What's the difference between rough grading and finish grading?

Rough grading moves and shapes the bulk of the soil to set the slope. Finish grading smooths the final surface so it's even, drains properly and is ready for seed, sod or beds.

Can you level a bumpy lawn?

Yes. We fill low spots, take down high spots and finish grade the area, then seed it or lay sod.

Should I grade before seeding a lawn?

Yes, on any bare or uneven area. Grading removes the high and low spots that cause seed to dry out or wash away.

What happens to the area after grading?

Every graded area gets finished: seeded and covered with straw, sodded, or turned into mulch or stone beds along the foundation. It's your choice, quoted separately.

Do you extend downspouts?

Yes. Downspout extensions are included with our grading work, so roof water lands well away from the foundation. We also install underground downspout drains.

Can your equipment fit in my backyard?

Usually, yes. We use a compact skid steer and mini loader that fit through most gates and tight side yards.

Is your grading work guaranteed?

Yes. If our grading doesn't solve the issue, we come back and fix it free of charge.

How urgent is a drainage problem?

It's worth addressing sooner rather than later. Water against a foundation can cause extensive and sometimes irreversible damage.

How much does yard grading cost?

Every job is tailored and quoted individually. We visit to assess your property, then price it based on the area, topsoil needed, access, existing conditions, finish and any drainage work.

What towns do you provide yard grading in?

We grade and regrade yards in Farmington, Unionville, Avon, West Hartford, Simsbury, Southington, Collinsville, Canton, Burlington, Bristol, Plainville, Newington, New Britain, Bloomfield, Hartford, Windsor Locks and Suffield, CT.

Get a Free Yard Grading Quote in Farmington, CT

Water pooling by your foundation, a damp basement or a lumpy lawn? David's Landscaping grades it right, and guarantees it, throughout Farmington, Avon, West Hartford, Simsbury and the surrounding towns.

Call or text 203-908-1987  |  Request Your Free Grading Quote

David's Landscaping · Farmington, CT · Licensed & Insured · CT HIC# 0670708