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    RCG

    Commercial Site Grading & Earthwork

    Stripping, fine grading, pad prep, and slope construction — coordinated with civil drawings, site SWPPP, and the broader landscape and drainage scope.

    Earthwork That Doesn't Become Someone Else's Problem

    Site grading is where commercial projects compound their problems. Cut too deep and you're hauling fill back in. Strip topsoil without staging it and you're buying replacement soil at the end of the job. Miss a positive-drainage requirement at the building threshold and you're tearing up landscape to add a swale six months later. RCG's site grading work is integrated with the civil drawings from the start — cut/fill balanced, topsoil staged on-site for reuse, drainage targets verified during fine grading rather than after sod is laid, and SWPPP-compliant erosion control deployed before earthwork starts. We do the earthwork that supports the rest of the site work — and we make sure the next trade isn't fighting our exit.

    • Site Stripping & Topsoil Management: Strip, stockpile, and re-use topsoil on-site rather than hauling and replacing.
    • Cut/Fill & Mass Grading: Balanced cut/fill plans coordinated with civil drawings and as-built verification.
    • Building Pad Preparation: Compaction-tested building pads to civil engineer or structural specifications, with proof rolls.
    • Fine Grading: Final surface grading to drainage targets — typically ±0.10 ft tolerance for landscape, tighter for hardscape and pavement subgrade.
    • Slope Construction: Engineered slopes, swales, berms, and grade transitions tied to retaining wall and drainage scope.
    • SWPPP-Coordinated Earthwork: Erosion control deployed before disturbance begins; sequencing per the approved SWPPP.
    • As-Built Survey: Final grade verification by survey at substantial completion for as-built submittal.

    Coordinated With Civil Drawings

    Site grading isn't a freelance scope. We work from the civil engineer's grading plan, drainage plan, and SWPPP — building the site they designed, not the site we'd prefer. Where field conditions diverge from the drawing, we coordinate with the civil engineer rather than improvise.

    Topsoil Reused, Not Replaced

    Most commercial sites have salvageable topsoil if it's stripped and stored correctly. Our default is to strip, stockpile, and re-spread for the landscape scope — saving material costs and avoiding the haul-in expense at sod and plantings install.

    SWPPP Compliance From Day One

    Both Ohio EPA's OHC000005 (Construction General Permit) and Kentucky's KYR10 (Construction Stormwater General Permit) require erosion and sediment controls in place before disturbance begins on jobs at or above the 1-acre threshold. Our crews include KEPSC-qualified inspectors for KY work and CPESC-aware crew leads for Ohio sites — we deploy controls first, then break ground.

    Commercial Site Grading FAQs

    Self-performed for typical commercial scopes — stripping, building pad prep, fine grading, slope construction, and the earthwork that supports our retaining wall and drainage installs. For major mass grading on large sites (10+ acres, deep cuts, blasting required), we partner with established earthwork contractors in the corridor and project-manage the integration.

    Stripping runs roughly $2.25–$5.00 per cubic yard. Fine grading runs $0.40–$2.00 per square foot depending on tolerance and complexity. Cut/fill mass grading runs broadly based on haul distance, cut/fill balance, and rock conditions — typical commercial site grading falls in the $25,000–$150,000 range for the broader earthwork scope.

    Yes for installation of the controls — silt fence, inlet protection, erosion blanket, stabilized construction entrance, and other BMPs called for in the approved SWPPP. The SWPPP itself is typically prepared by the civil engineer or a qualified environmental professional. For Kentucky jobs at or above the 1-acre threshold, KEPSC-qualified inspector signoff is required at specified intervals — we provide that as part of our scope.

    That's the typical scope. Site grading, retaining wall installation, drainage, and hardscape are usually tightly sequenced — and integrating them under a single RCG contract eliminates the trade-coordination tax and the "who's responsible for the grade at the wall toe" question. See our integrated exterior renovation guide for the broader scope-bundling case.

    RCG's existing commercial GC business handles occupied-facility renovations daily — including healthcare campuses with ICRA considerations, retail centers staying open during exterior work, and corporate sites with active staff. The same project-management approach applies to Site Works scopes: phased schedules, dust and noise management, and clear coordination with facility operations.

    Related Resources

    Retaining WallsDrainageErosion ControlIntegrated Exterior RenovationSite Works Hub

    Ready to Build Something That Lasts?

    Whether it's a healthcare renovation, professional facility upgrade, or commercial buildout, we're here to deliver exceptional results with minimal disruption. Let's talk about your project.

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    info@radcliffconstructiongroup.com