Excavation and site prep

Why have the concrete company do the site prep?

The base decides how long a slab lasts. When one contractor digs and another pours, nobody owns the base. When the same crew does both, they build it the way they want to pour on it, and they answer for the result.

Do you do excavation without a concrete job?

Ask us. We take on grading, gravel and dig-outs around Pictou County, especially when they lead to concrete work later.

What happens before you dig?

We book Dig Safe utility locates on every job so buried power, gas, phone and water lines are marked before anything breaks ground. We also walk the access route with you so the equipment path does the least damage to your lawn and landscaping.

Why does grading matter so much?

Water that runs toward a house ends up against the foundation, and water that sits under a slab freezes and lifts it. Grading the ground so it falls away from buildings is one of the cheapest ways to protect both, and it is easiest to get right while the site is already open.

What affects the price of site prep?

How much material comes out, how much gravel goes in, how far it has to be hauled, and how easy it is to get equipment to the work. Rock, buried debris or soft ground found during the dig can change the scope; if that happens, we stop and talk to you before going further.

Can site prep and concrete be quoted together?

Yes, and that is how most of our jobs are quoted. One written price covers the dig, the base and the concrete, so you are not left managing the hand-off between two contractors.

Can you fix a driveway or yard that holds water?

Often, yes. Standing water usually means the ground was never shaped to drain, or that a slab has settled into a low spot. We can regrade the surrounding ground, add gravel where it is needed, and, if a new slab is going in, set its slope so water runs off toward the street or a safe outlet instead of toward the house.

What does compacting in lifts mean?

Gravel only compacts well in thin layers. If a deep base is dumped in all at once and run over with a compactor, only the top few inches get tight and the rest settles later. We spread the gravel in layers, water it, and compact each one before adding the next.

It takes longer, and you never see it once the concrete is poured, but it is the difference between a slab that stays flat and one that dips at the edges in a few years.