Site Preparation Contractor Serving Watertown and Northern New York
Clearing, Grading, and Excavation for New Builds and Additions
G&G Excavation handles site preparation for residential and commercial construction projects across Jefferson County and the surrounding region. We clear the site, cut to grade, excavate foundations and footings, compact the subgrade, and leave the site ready for the next trade.
Site prep is the first work done on a build and the work everything else depends on. A properly prepared site drains correctly, compacts to the bearing capacity the foundation requires, and is graded so that the finished building and yard function as intended. We do this work with owned equipment and operators who know the ground conditions in this area.
What Site Preparation Involves
Site Clearing
Before grading or excavation starts, the site footprint is cleared of trees, brush, stumps, and topsoil. We stockpile topsoil where it will be reused for finish grading. We haul debris and organic material that cannot be left in the subgrade.
Rough Grading
Rough grading establishes the elevations the site needs to meet. For a new home, that means cutting down or filling to get the foundation elevation right relative to the finished grade. For a commercial pad, it means creating a level, compacted surface at the specified elevation. We work from the surveyor’s plans and grade to the tolerances the project requires.
Foundation Excavation
Foundations in Northern New York must be dug below the frost line, which is typically at least 48 inches in Jefferson County. Some townships, soil conditions, or project specs may require deeper excavation. We dig to the required depth, bearing stratum, and dimensions provided by the contractor or engineer. Before any digging, we call Dig Safely New York 811 and coordinate all utility locates.
Compaction
Fill material that is placed without compaction will settle. Settlement under a foundation causes cracking and structural problems that are expensive to fix after the fact. We compact fill in lifts using appropriate equipment for the material and the load it will carry. For engineered fills, we can coordinate with the project engineer on compaction requirements.
Finish Grading
After construction is complete, the site needs finish grading to establish positive drainage away from the building, restore disturbed lawn areas, and prepare for seed, landscaping, or hardscape. We handle finish grading as part of the site prep scope or as a standalone job at the end of a build.
Site Prep for New Home Builds
Residential builds in this area typically need clearing, foundation excavation, rough grading, and a prepared subgrade for the driveway approach and any outbuildings. If the septic system is going in at the same time, we coordinate both scopes so the excavation crew is not running through the drain field area. We sequence the work with the foundation contractor to minimize downtime between trades.
Commercial Site Preparation
Commercial site prep involves the same steps as residential but at a larger scale and with tighter tolerances. We handle commercial grading for new construction, parking lots, equipment pads, and multi-building sites. We can sequence around other trades and provide the coordination and paperwork (certificates of insurance, site safety documentation) that commercial projects typically require.
Northern New York Ground Conditions
Clay soils throughout Jefferson and Lewis counties affect how site prep is done. Clay does not compact the same way granular material does, it stays wet longer after rain, and it is more susceptible to frost heave. We account for this in how we manage fill material, in the timing of compaction work relative to weather, and in the drainage design built into the rough grade.
The frost depth here means foundation excavations are deeper than in other parts of the state, which affects mobilization time and excavation cost. We know the local code, the local ground, and what the work actually takes.
Service Areas
- Watertown
- Carthage
- Adams
- Black River
- Evans Mills
- Clayton
- Cape Vincent
- Alexandria Bay
- Theresa
- Dexter
- Chaumont
- LaFargeville
- Redwood
- Fort Drum area
- Lowville
- Lyons Falls
- Croghan
- Port Leyden
- Copenhagen
- Gouverneur
- Canton
- Potsdam
- Massena
- Ogdensburg
- Hammond
- Pulaski
- Mexico
- Sandy Creek
- Lacona
- Camden
- McConnellsville area
Get a Free Estimate
Tell us the approximate length of the driveway, whether it is new or existing, and what the current condition of the base looks like if it is a resurface. We will come out and give you a written estimate.