Dirt work, grading and lot leveling with our own excavators and skid steers for homeowners, builders and businesses across Fort Worth, Tarrant County and DFW. Backyard leveling, drainage grading, pad prep, trenching, demo and haul-off. Hourly rates published below. Call or text 214-293-1501 or request a free quote.
Dirt work and grading services
- Backyard and lot leveling so water stops pooling against the house and you can finally use the yard
- Drainage grading, swales and French drains to move water off the property instead of into the slab
- Building pad and slab prep for shops, barns, ADUs, sheds and additions, cut to grade and compacted
- Cut and fill on sloped lots, terracing and retaining wall base prep
- Trenching for water, electrical, sewer and irrigation lines
- Fill dirt, select fill and topsoil delivered and spread
- Demolition and haul-off of old slabs, fences, decks, sheds and pools
- Erosion control including silt fence, slope grading and seeding
- Commercial site work for detention ponds, laydown yards, medians and utility easements (see our commercial page)
Dirt work pricing
- Skid steer with operator: $150 per hour (Kubota SVL75-3, buckets, grapple, forks, roller or mulcher)
- Excavator with operator: $150 per hour (Cat 304E2 or Kubota KX018-4, smooth, tooth and grading buckets)
- Dump trailer hauling: $125 per hour plus disposal fees where they apply
- Day rates and flat project pricing available for multi-day jobs; larger jobs are usually quoted as a firm number after a site visit
- Materials at cost plus delivery: fill dirt, select fill, sandy loam, topsoil, cushion sand, flexbase and limestone
Hourly billing is how we keep dirt work honest. You are not paying for our guess about how many buried stumps or how much rock we will hit; you pay for the machine time it actually takes, and we text you progress photos along the way. On straightforward jobs like a backyard leveling or a pad we will give you a flat price up front if you prefer.
The equipment we bring
- Caterpillar 304E2 excavator with 30-inch smooth bucket, 24-inch tooth bucket and brush mower
- Kubota KX018-4 mini excavator with 9, 18, 30 and 36-inch buckets for trenching and tight backyards (fits through a 4-foot gate)
- Kubota SVL75-3 tracked skid steer with smooth and tooth buckets, hydraulic Hydra bucket, grapple, pallet forks, roller compactor and street sweeper
- Wacker RD12 double-drum roller and plate compactor for pads and driveways
- Dump trailers and a 20-foot flatbed equipment hauler so we move our own dirt, rock and machines
How a grading job goes
- Site visit and quote. We look at where the water goes now, where it needs to go, and what is in the way. You get a written estimate by email.
- Utility locates. We call in 811 before any digging. Sprinkler lines and private utilities are your call to flag; we will show you what to look for.
- Grade. Topsoil stripped and saved where it makes sense, subgrade cut or filled to the plan, compacted in lifts.
- Finish. Final grade with the grading bucket or box blade, topsoil back on, ready for sod, seed or concrete.
- Cleanup and invoice. Debris hauled, gates closed, photos texted, invoice by email.
Where we do dirt work
We are based in Richland Hills and cover Fort Worth, North Richland Hills, Haltom City, Hurst, Bedford, Keller, Southlake, Watauga, Saginaw, Haslet and the rest of Tarrant County, plus Azle, Springtown, Weatherford, Aledo, Burleson, Crowley, Mansfield, Arlington, Grand Prairie, Denton, Decatur and the surrounding counties.
Dirt work and grading FAQ
How much does it cost to level a backyard?
It depends on how much dirt has to move and whether new fill is needed. Most residential backyard leveling jobs in Fort Worth take a few hours of skid steer time plus a few loads of fill. We quote a flat price after seeing the yard.
Can your equipment fit through my backyard gate?
Yes. The Kubota KX018-4 mini excavator fits through a standard 4-foot gate and the skid steer needs about 6 feet. If access is tight we can pull a fence panel and put it back.
Do you call 811 before digging?
Always. Texas 811 locates public utilities for free; we schedule it before every excavation job. Private lines such as sprinklers, landscape lighting and septic laterals are not marked by 811, so let us know about them.
Will grading fix water against my foundation?
In most cases, yes. The fix is usually a positive slope away from the slab for the first 6 to 10 feet, a swale or French drain to carry the water to the street or a low area, and sometimes a downspout extension. We will tell you which one your yard needs.
Do you haul off the dirt and debris?
Yes. We haul spoils, concrete, brush and demo debris with our own dump trailers. Disposal fees are passed through at cost.
Are you licensed and insured for excavation?
Landpride Lot Service Corp is a Texas corporation carrying commercial liability insurance up to $7 million. Certificates of insurance are available on request for builders, HOAs and commercial clients.
Get a dirt work quote
Text or call 214-293-1501 with the address and a photo, or use the form. Rated 5.0 on Google; dirt removal, grading and fair pricing are the three things our customers mention most.