Does HiLine Homes or my builder handle the site work?

Usually not. On-your-lot builders typically start at the foundation and hand you a list of excavation contractors for everything below it. Check your contract for whether site work and the building pad are included or excluded - it is almost always excluded.

How much does a building pad cost in Coos County?

There is no honest flat number. It depends on how much clearing is involved, how far off level the lot sits, whether the dirt balances on site, and whether we hit rock. We walk the lot and give you a fixed number rather than a guess over the phone.

How long does pad prep take?

A straightforward residential pad is usually a few days to a week of machine time once we are on site. Heavy clearing, rock, or wet-season work stretches that out.

Can you do a pad for a detached garage, shop or pole barn?

Yes. Same work, smaller footprint. Shop, garage and barn pads are a good share of what we do.

Do you work with the builder's schedule?

Yes. Pad prep has to land after the permits and before the foundation crew. Tell us the builder's start date and we will work back from it.

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Building Pads & New Home Site Prep

Building on your own lot? The pad is your job, not the builder's.

Free Estimate Call

On-your-lot builders sell you the house, not the ground it sits on. Companies like HiLine Homes typically start their contract at the foundation, hand the buyer a list of excavation contractors, and leave the site work to you. That is the part people underestimate, and it is the part that stalls a build when it is not lined up before the builder shows up. We do that part.

What the builder does, and what is on you

Read your contract for the line about site work. On most on-your-lot builds, everything below and around the house is excluded: clearing the lot, cutting it to grade, building and compacting the pad, the driveway the concrete and lumber trucks have to get down, utility trenches from the road, backfill after the foundation goes in, and the final grade that sends water away from the house. Your builder will have requirements for the pad - elevation, size, compaction - and it is on you to deliver a site that meets them.

What actually goes into a pad

Strip the organics off first, because rock and fill placed over sod and root mat will keep settling. Cut and fill to balance the site so you are not paying to haul dirt you never needed to move. Bring the pad up in lifts and compact each one, because a pad that settles takes the foundation with it. Set the elevation so the finished floor sits above the surrounding grade and water runs away from the house instead of at it. Then rough in whatever drainage the slope demands, because in this county it will demand some.

What drives the price

How much has to come off the lot: brush and timber costs very differently than bare pasture. How far off level the ground is - two feet of cut is a different job than six. Whether the dirt balances on site or has to be hauled off. Rock. Access, since a site a dump truck can back into is cheaper than one it cannot. And season: Coos County averages around 64 inches of rain a year, and dirt work in February costs more than the same work in August.

Get it priced before you sign

The worst time to find out what your site work costs is after the house contract is signed and the budget is set. We will walk the lot with you, tell you what it actually needs, and give you a real number so the site line item is in the plan from the start instead of showing up as a surprise.

We required ground preparation consisting of sod removal, leveling, and rock placement for the construction of our new pole barn. Paul and his crew did a phenomenal job with our project. Not only a great job, but high accolades from our building contractor.

Wes Burch · Google review

I have worked with Bay Area Land Development, and they exceeded my expectations. From lot preparation to septic installation, their team demonstrated expertise and attention to detail. They even helped clear the area for our shop, saving us time and effort. Honesty and hard work define this top-notch company. Highly recommended!

Andrew D Bice · Google review

Common Questions

Does HiLine Homes or my builder handle the site work?: Usually not. On-your-lot builders typically start at the foundation and hand you a list of excavation contractors for everything below it. Check your contract for whether site work and the building pad are included or excluded - it is almost always excluded.
How much does a building pad cost in Coos County?: There is no honest flat number. It depends on how much clearing is involved, how far off level the lot sits, whether the dirt balances on site, and whether we hit rock. We walk the lot and give you a fixed number rather than a guess over the phone.
How long does pad prep take?: A straightforward residential pad is usually a few days to a week of machine time once we are on site. Heavy clearing, rock, or wet-season work stretches that out.
Can you do a pad for a detached garage, shop or pole barn?: Yes. Same work, smaller footprint. Shop, garage and barn pads are a good share of what we do.
Do you work with the builder's schedule?: Yes. Pad prep has to land after the permits and before the foundation crew. Tell us the builder's start date and we will work back from it.