Example builds › L&S Excavation › Services › New Construction Site Prep
New construction site prep is the full sequence of excavation work that happens before a foundation crew ever shows up — clearing, topsoil stripping, rough grading, utility trenching, and pad fine grading, all done in the right order so what gets built on top of it holds up for decades.
What's included
- Clearing the building envelope and equipment access
- Stripping and stockpiling topsoil separately from subsoil
- Cut-and-fill rough grading to design elevation
- Utility trenching for water, sewer/septic, and electrical
- Building pad fine grading and compaction
- Footings excavation to the depth the structural plans call for
Why sequencing matters
Skipping steps or doing them out of order is the most common cause of long-term problems on a new build — building on ungraded fill, or running utilities after the pad is compacted instead of before. See our new home site prep guide for the full sequence explained step by step.
What affects cost and timeline
Site size, existing vegetation, soil type, and how many separate utility trenches the project needs are the biggest variables. A cleared, flat lot with straightforward utility runs moves faster than a wooded or sloped lot needing significant cut-and-fill.
Free on-site estimate.
(228) 355-1539 example build
Frequently asked questions
Do you handle the whole sequence, or just part of it?
We can do the full sequence from clearing through footings excavation, or just the piece you need — tell us what your builder has already scoped.
How do you make sure the pad doesn't settle later?
Fill is placed and compacted in controlled lifts, not dumped in one pass. On larger pads we recommend a compaction test before the foundation crew starts.
Can utilities and the pad be done at the same time?
No — utility trenching happens before the pad's final compaction, since running lines afterward means redisturbing already-compacted soil right where you don't want disturbance.
Other services in this build
Basement Excavation
Building Pads & House Pads
Catch Basin Installation
Commercial Parking Lot Grading
Concrete Driveway Installation
Concrete Driveway Repair
Concrete Sidewalks, Patios & Flatwork
Concrete Forming & Pouring
Crawl Space Excavation
Creek Bank Stabilization
Culvert Installation
Demolition (Residential & Light Commercial)
Other service areas
TN
GA