Posted on: October 7, 2025 A great home starts long before the first wall goes up. Some of the most important work happens before the build: site preparation. Done well, it protects your foundation, manages water, and sets your build up for a smooth construction phase. At Cutting Edge Landscaping & Excavation, we bring the training, knowledge, and equipment to handle the full scope of site prep, including drainage, tree removal, cleaning and testing of soil, surveying to determine lot/house boundaries, excavating, backfilling, levelling, and grading, so your project begins on solid ground.
Why Site Preparation Matters (and Pays Off)
Site prep is where small decisions have big consequences. Good drainage keeps water away from the structure. Accurate surveying prevents boundary surprises. Clean, tested soil supports stable backfill. Proper excavation and backfilling protect the foundation. Smart levelling and grading make the whole property easier to live with and maintain. Investing in the groundwork reduces delays, change orders, and future repairs, because a strong finish starts with a strong base.
What “Full-Scope” Site Prep Looks Like
Here’s how the core pieces fit together and why each one matters:
1) Drainage: Move Water Where You Want It
Water is a home’s biggest long-term challenge. We shape the site so water sheds away from the house, not toward it. That starts with a grading plan and continues with practical drainage solutions that fit the property. The aim is simple: keep the foundation dry, prevent pooling, and make sure seasonal rain or snowmelt has an easy path off your lot.
Benefits you’ll notice:
Drier basements and crawlspaces
Less erosion and rutting
Fewer freeze-thaw headaches around walkways and driveways
2) Tree Removal: Clear Safely, Build Smart
Thoughtful tree removal creates safe access for equipment and opens up the build area. It also protects nearby trees you want to keep by planning felling, staging, and hauling carefully. Clearing the footprint early makes every other step, like surveying, excavation, and levelling, safer and more efficient.
3) Cleaning & Testing the Soil: Start with a Clean, Known Base
We remove organics, stumps, construction debris, and unsuitable fill so you’re not building on material that will decay, settle, or hold water. Clean, tested soil is the difference between “it looks fine today” and “it stays sound for years.”
4) Surveying to Determine Lot/House Boundaries: Build in the Right Place
Before a bucket touches the ground, you want the layout right. Surveying clarifies lot lines, sets house location, and helps align the footprint to your plan. Accurate boundaries avoid neighbour disputes and ensure the build sits exactly where it should, so your foundation, driveway, and drainage all work together.
5) Excavating: The Foundation of the Foundation
Excavation is more than digging a hole. It’s about reaching the correct depth and dimensions for your foundation, keeping sidewalls stable, and preparing the base so the structure sits on uniform, appropriate sub-grade. Done right, excavation speeds up the concrete phase and reduces the potential for having to fix mistakes later.
6) Backfilling: Protect the Structure and Shed Water
Backfilling supports the foundation walls and sets the stage for good drainage. Material selection and placement matter here: you want backfill that compacts well and slopes water away from the structure. This is where earlier steps, like clean soil, tested conditions, and a grading plan, really pay off.
7) Levelling & Grading: Everyday Ease, Long-Term Reliability
Final levelling and grading shape how you use the property day to day. Access for vehicles and equipment, placement of patios and walkways, and even where snow ends up in winter, all improve when the site is graded with intention. Good grading looks invisible, which is exactly the point.
A Simple, Real-World Sequence
Every property is unique, but a typical site-prep flow looks like this:
1. Walkthrough & Plan – Confirm goals, boundaries, access, and the sequence of work.
2. Survey & Layout – Determine the house/lot boundaries and set the footprint.
3. Tree Removal & Clearing – Create safe, efficient access and open up the build area.
4. Cleaning & Testing of Soil – Remove unsuitable material and understand soil conditions.
5. Excavation – Dig to spec for the foundation and any service trenches.
6. Drainage Setup – Shape the sub-grade and plan water run-off away from the structure.
7. Backfilling – Support the foundation and establish a positive slope.
8. Levelling & Grading – Finish grades for access, future hardscaping, and easy maintenance.
Our process keeps crews moving without tripping over unfinished steps, reduces site disturbance, and helps your foundation contractor move in quickly.
Planning Timing: Why Fall Site Prep Sets Your Property up for Success in Spring
Autumn is a practical time to book site prep. With summer traffic tapering off, there’s room to schedule drainage, clearing, testing, and grading, so your foundation work can start promptly when your build is ready. Getting the site shaped before winter also helps manage seasonal water and gives you a clean, known base to go into spring with. The result: less scrambling when the construction season opens, and fewer surprises when the ground thaws.
What Homeowners Can Prepare Before We Arrive
You don’t need to have every detail solved. That’s what we’re here for. A few simple steps will make the first day smoother:
Share your goals and ideas – House size, general placement, driveway ideas, and lifestyle needs (parking, future patios, storage).
Talk access – Where equipment can enter, any tight turns or overhead obstacles, and where materials can be staged.
Be realistic about water – Point out any spots where you’ve noticed water pools after heavy rain or snowmelt so we can plan grading and drainage accordingly.
From there, our crew handles the heavy lifting and keeps you informed as the work progresses.
Common Site-Prep Questions
Q: Do I really need soil cleaned if the area looks “fine”?
A: Organic material (roots, stumps, topsoil) breaks down and settles. Cleaning and testing at the start avoids uneven support and soggy spots later.
Q: How much tree removal is typical?
A: Just enough to create safe access and a clear footprint. We plan removals to protect the trees you want to keep and to support the final grading plan.
Q: Why is drainage listed first – shouldn’t that wait?
A: Drainage influences almost everything else. When we plan water movement early, excavation and backfilling reinforce it, and final grading locks it in.
Q: What’s the value of levelling and grading if I’m not landscaping right away?
A: A well-graded lot is easier to live with from day one. It reduces mud, puddles, and ruts, and it makes future hardscaping faster and cleaner.
The Cutting Edge Difference
Great groundwork starts with planning, the proper equipment, and people who know how to use it. Cutting Edge delivers on all three. We move efficiently from first cut to final grade, and our scope covers drainage, tree removal, soil cleaning and testing, excavation, backfilling, levelling, and grading, so you deal with one team, one schedule, and clear accountability.
Ready to Break Ground the Right Way?
If a new build, addition, or major outdoor project is on your horizon, start with the ground beneath it. Site preparation is the best investment you’ll make in the lifespan of your home or cottage, protecting the foundation, controlling water, and setting up a site that works from day one.
Get in touch to talk timelines and next steps. We’ll walk the site with you, map out a clear plan, and get the groundwork done right.