Ground-Up Preparation
A stable, properly graded base means no settling, no pooling, and a surface that holds up for years.
What Goes Wrong & Why
Cutting corners below grade shows up on the surface within a season or two.
A court laid without a verified grade collects standing water in low spots, making the surface slippery and accelerating wear.
The builder establishes a minimum 1 percent surface drainage slope during base prep, before any concrete or asphalt is poured.
Uncompacted soil beneath the base layer shifts under load, causing the slab above it to crack and settle unevenly over time.
Base material is placed and compacted in measured lifts to the density the concrete or asphalt layer requires before the base is poured.
Roots, buried debris, and old concrete slabs left under the footprint create voids that cause the base to sink in isolated patches.
Clearing removes organic material, roots, and unstable soil down to a stable subgrade before any base material is placed.
A generic drainage approach ignores how coastal clay or inland sandy soil actually moves water, leading to pooling after the first rain.
Drainage planning accounts for the soil type and microclimate of the specific lot, not a one-size approach applied across all sites.
Scope of Work
Every task from first measurement to base-ready ground, itemised in the written estimate.
The court footprint is measured and marked, accounting for setbacks, access paths, and clearance around the playing area.
Existing grade and drainage paths are checked to determine whether minor correction or full regrading is needed.
Trees, roots, rocks, old slabs, and organic material are removed so the subgrade is clean and stable before excavation begins.
The site is cut or filled to the target elevation, establishing the correct slope and removing soft or unsuitable soil.
Base material is compacted in lifts to the required density, leaving the site ready for concrete or asphalt base installation.
Grading and drainage for residential backyard lots.
Full site prep scaled to compact or partial court footprints.
Footprint planning for courts serving more than one sport.
Old or cracked base removed and site regraded from scratch.
Larger footprints for community, school, and commercial facilities.
Why Choose Us
Local site knowledge, a written scope before work starts, and accountability from first visit to base-ready ground.
Every enquiry starts with a site visit to assess grade, soil, and drainage before a price is agreed.
Grading, excavation, compaction, and drainage are listed as separate line items so the scope is clear upfront.
Every site assessment accounts for local soil conditions, coastal drainage behavior, and the grading demands of sloped county lots.
Backyard, HOA, school, and commercial sites are all within scope, from compact half-courts to full multi-sport facilities.
The prepared site is reviewed and signed off before any base or surface installation is scheduled.
The Process
01
Share your location and the sport you want to build, and we schedule a ground assessment.
02
You receive an itemised estimate covering grading, excavation, compaction, and drainage before any work begins.
03
The builder completes all ground preparation and walks through the finished site before surface work is scheduled.
Pricing Estimates
| Work type | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Grading and drainage | $3,000-$15,000 |
| Site preparation for a court | $2,000-$10,000 |
Share the location and what you want to build. We schedule a ground assessment and put the full scope in writing. No commitment until you have an itemized estimate in hand.