DIRT WORK EXPLAINED

Common Site Work Terms In Plain English

If you don't hire contractors every day, the words we use can run together. Backfill, fill dirt, topsoil - they all sound like "dirt." But they're different materials doing different jobs, and getting them mixed up on a quote can cost you real money.

Here's what each one actually means.

Backfill

Backfill is a term used in site work construction to refer to placing dirt back against an existing wall or structure - most often around a foundation after it has been poured and cured.

Backfill matters more than most people realize. Improper backfill can cause water to drain toward a house's foundation instead of away from it, and that can cause a lifetime of expensive problems. See our backfill service.

Fill Dirt

Fill dirt is dirt that is brought in or imported to be used as fill in a foundation, to back fill utility ditches, or to bring up undercut or low areas.

Fill dirt is subsoil, not growing soil. It's chosen because it compacts well and stays where you put it. You would not plant grass in it and expect much.

Topsoil

Topsoil is the type of soil normally used to provide a good growing base for vegetation. It is usually dark in color and a sandy loam consistency.

Topsoil is the finish layer. It goes on last, after the grading is right, when you want grass or landscaping to take hold. Spreading topsoil over ground that drains badly won't fix the drainage - it just gives you a nicer-looking wet spot.

Excavating

Excavating is the removal of existing dirt.

That covers a lot of ground - digging a basement or footings, cutting a building pad into a slope, or opening a trench for a drainage line. The quality of the excavating directly affects the final project. If the ground a building sits on isn't properly excavated and prepared, the building cannot be as sound as it needs to be. See our excavation service.

Grading

Grading is the work of ensuring a level base, or one sloped to a specific degree, so that water drains where it should.

You'll hear two stages named. Rough grading gets the site close to the target shape. Final grading brings it to finished elevations before topsoil, seeding or paving. See our grading service.

Dirt Hauling

Dirt hauling is the hauling of dirt to a project site, or the removal of excess dirt from one.

Most projects need one or the other, and some need both at different stages - hauling spoil off during excavation, then bringing fill or topsoil back in near the end. See our hauling service.

Grubbing

Grubbing is done by using a root rake or blade to remove buried roots and limbs not removed during clearing. This helps keep the unwanted trees from sending up shoots and growing back.

It's the step that separates land that stays clear from land that's green again in two seasons. See our land clearing service.

What You Should Expect

Still not sure what your project needs? That's a normal place to be, and it's an easy conversation. Describe what you're trying to do and we'll tell you which of these applies - and roughly what it takes.

Call us at 931-345-4330 for a quote or consultation.