In Clark County, a pad has to stay firm through months of rain. We check whether your lot is flood gravel or north county clay, then plan the cut, fill and rock to match.
Site prep around Vancouver is a race against the rain. Silty and clay soils in the north county can only be graded and compacted when they are near the right moisture, and from November through April that window is short. We plan cuts and fills for the drier months where possible, strip the topsoil and organics, place fill in thin lifts, and use crushed rock where native soil is too wet to compact.
Grading has to send water away from the house and toward an approved outlet, whether that is a street, a ditch, a swale or a stormwater facility on the lot. Rain here falls gently but for a long time, so a yard that slopes the wrong way stays wet for weeks and soaks the crawl space. We set the finish grade with steady fall on every side and make sure the outlet can take the water.
Erosion control goes in before the first cut: silt fence, straw wattles, a rock construction entrance and cover on bare soil during the wet season. Larger sites need state construction stormwater coverage, and the city or the county may require an erosion control plan with the grading permit. We keep mud out of the street and storm drains. On sloped lots, we also break up long slopes so water cannot pick up speed.
Site prep & grading in Vancouver: common questions
Can you grade in the winter?
Sometimes, but wet clay will not compact. We use crushed rock where we must work in the rain and schedule big grading for drier months.
Why does my yard stay wet for weeks?
Usually because it is flat or slopes toward the house over slow-draining clay. Regrading and a drain to a real outlet fix most yards.
Do I need an erosion control plan?
Many grading permits here require one, especially in the wet season. We set up silt fence and cover bare soil either way.
How it works
- Free estimate: Call, text or book online. We walk the site with you.
- Written quote: Scope, equipment and price in writing.
- Utility locate & plan: We have utilities marked and plan access, haul-off and erosion control.
- Dig, grade & clean up: We complete the work, grade the site and haul away spoil.