Site Prep in Massachusetts
Site Prep contractors in Massachusetts
Everything between raw land and a buildable pad: clearing, stripping, cutting, filling, compaction and the construction entrance.
Project guide
Hiring site prep contractors in Massachusetts
Site preparation is the package of work that turns a lot into a place a builder can start. On a typical job that means clearing vegetation, stripping and stockpiling topsoil, cutting or filling to the pad elevation, compacting fill in lifts, cutting in a temporary driveway, and installing the silt fence and gravel entrance the stormwater inspector expects to see. The scope shifts with the ground: a flat suburban infill lot may take two days, while a sloped wooded parcel with poor soil can run weeks and involve undercutting and replacing unsuitable material. Site prep contractors typically coordinate with the surveyor who sets the corners and the geotechnical engineer who signs off on compaction.
GradeLine lists 151 site prep contractors that serve Massachusetts.Compare their work and equipment, then confirm availability and service area before requesting a quote.
Listed businesses are based in , Beverly, Waltham, West Tisbury, Quincy, North Pembroke, though most crews travel well beyond their home city.
What site prep work costs
A straightforward residential lot typically runs $3,000 to $15,000 for clearing, stripping and pad grading, with heavily wooded, sloped or poorly drained parcels going well past that. Imported structural fill adds $10 to $30 per cubic yard delivered, and undercutting bad soil is one of the most common change orders on a site prep job.
Ranges are national and approximate; regional labor rates, material prices and site conditions move them in both directions.
Common projects
- Residential and commercial building pads cut, filled and compacted to the geotechnical report
- Temporary construction entrances, access roads and staging areas
- Topsoil stripping, undercut of unsuitable soil and import of structural fill
What affects a quote
- Vegetation and debris on the lot, and whether it is chipped, burned, hauled or buried on site
- Volume of cut and fill, the lift thickness and compaction spec, and whether a testing lab is required
- Slope, access, drainage across the lot, weather windows and how much room there is to stockpile
Site Prep FAQ
What does site prep work cost?
A straightforward residential lot typically runs $3,000 to $15,000 for clearing, stripping and pad grading, with heavily wooded, sloped or poorly drained parcels going well past that. Imported structural fill adds $10 to $30 per cubic yard delivered, and undercutting bad soil is one of the most common change orders on a site prep job.
What should I share when requesting a site prep estimate?
Send the site plan, the survey with pad elevations, any geotechnical or soil report, and the order the trades will arrive so the contractor can leave the site the way the foundation crew needs it.
What can change the cost of site prep work in Massachusetts?
The main cost items are vegetation and debris on the lot, and whether it is chipped, burned, hauled or buried on site; volume of cut and fill, the lift thickness and compaction spec, and whether a testing lab is required; slope, access, drainage across the lot, weather windows and how much room there is to stockpile. A site visit helps the crew see which ones apply.
Do site prep projects in Massachusetts need permits?
Site prep usually runs under the main building permit, but grading, land disturbance and stormwater permits are often separate and must be in hand before the first tree comes down. Lots on a public road need a driveway access permit for the construction entrance.
Directory
Site Prep contractors serving Massachusetts
151 contractors found
Capitol Services LLC
excavation, foundations, paving prep, retaining walls, site prep, trenching underground
John Keene Excavation
West Tisbury, MADukes County
demolition, driveways, excavation, hauling trucking, land clearing, pond water management
Kinvara Excavation Inc
demolition, excavation, foundations, grading, land clearing, septic systems
Dig&Design
North Pembroke, MAPlymouth County
demolition, driveways, erosion control, excavation, foundations, grading
Ground Breaking Excavation
demolition, driveways, excavation, foundations, grading, land clearing
Ron Sharleville Excavation & Trucking
East Douglas, MAWorcester County
concrete cutting removal, demolition, excavation, grading, retaining walls, septic systems
Fleury Excavation LLC
driveways, excavation, foundations, grading, retaining walls, septic systems
Marsh X Development, LLC
Dunstable, MA
excavation, grading, retaining walls, septic systems, site prep, trenching underground
D Buddenhagen Services LLC
Boylston, MA
driveways, erosion control, excavation, grading, hauling trucking, land clearing
Cavalieri Construction Company Inc.
Wilmington, MA
erosion control, excavation, land clearing, pond water management, retaining walls, site prep
Amex Construction
Hanover, MA
demolition, excavation, grading, land clearing, pond water management, septic systems
Keohane Earthworks LLC
driveways, excavation, grading, hauling trucking, land clearing, pond water management
Pastore Excavation
excavation, foundations, grading, hauling trucking, septic systems, site prep
24 years in business
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