Professional Grading Services

At True North Grading LLC, grading is one of the most important services we offer for homeowners. Good grading is what makes a property work the way it should. It helps move water away from your home, creates a more stable base for driveways and building areas, improves access, and gets land ready for the next step of your project. If the ground is too high, too low, uneven, soft, or holding water, we reshape it so the site works better and looks cleaner.

We do grading for many types of residential projects, especially around new home builds. That includes rough grading, finish grading, yard leveling, soil shaping, backfilling, drainage grading, driveway grading, and site preparation before or after construction. Some customers call us before a house goes up and need the lot opened up and prepared. Others call after the build is done and need the yard reworked, low spots filled, drainage corrected, or the driveway area properly shaped. We handle both.

Our grading work is focused on function first. A lot of property problems start with poor slope. Water may run toward the house, sit in the yard, soften the driveway base, or create muddy areas that are hard to use. We look at how the land is currently draining, where the problem areas are, and how the site should be shaped to improve runoff and stability. The goal is simple: protect your investment and make your property easier to use.

What grading helps with

• Improving drainage around homes, garages, and outbuildings
• Creating a stable, properly shaped base for driveways
• Preparing land for new home construction or additions
• Leveling uneven yards and filling low spots
• Backfilling around foundations and built areas
• Improving site access for vehicles and equipment
• Shaping land after land clearing or demolition
• Getting a property ready for landscaping or final finishing

Our grading process

We keep the process straightforward and personal. When you call, we talk through the project and set a time for an on-site estimate. The day before, we send a reminder text. About 15 to 60 minutes before arrival, we send a courtesy message to let you know we are on the way. Once we get there, we walk the property with you, listen to what you want to accomplish, and look at the existing grade, drainage flow, access points, and overall site conditions.

We take measurements, determine the scope of work, and calculate the bid on site in most cases. That usually takes about 15 to 20 minutes depending on the project. We then go over the pricing in person, and your official estimate is emailed that night with a clear option to approve or decline. If the original scope comes in higher than expected, we ask customers to call us before declining because we can often adjust the scope to better fit the budget. A 10% deposit gets your project on the schedule.

What we look at during grading

No two properties are exactly the same. Proper grading depends on the soil, the existing slope, water patterns, structures on site, and what the land needs to be used for. During our visit, we look at:

• High and low areas across the property
• Where water currently collects or flows
• The slope around the house or future build site
• Driveway layout, elevation, and access needs
• Areas that need fill dirt, reshaping, or backfilling
• Ground conditions that may affect stability
• How the grade ties into surrounding land

This helps us build a grading plan that is practical for your property, not just a one-size-fits-all fix.

Grading for drainage and water control

One of the biggest reasons homeowners call us for grading is drainage trouble. Water standing near the home, runoff crossing the yard, soggy areas, washouts, and erosion can all point to grading issues. We shape the land to encourage water to move where it should instead of sitting where it should not. In many cases, grading is the first and most important step in fixing drainage problems. When needed, our drainage solutions can also be part of the larger plan.

While grading can greatly improve drainage, we are always honest with customers about real-world limits. We do not offer a warranty, and we cannot guarantee against future weather-related damage such as heavy rain washouts. Outdoor work is affected by the conditions nature gives us. What we can promise is clear communication, experienced site evaluation, and grading work done with function and common sense in mind.

Grading for new home builds

We work with many homeowners building a new house. This is one of our main areas of focus. Before construction, we can help with land clearing, site prep, and shaping the lot for access and build readiness. After the home is up, we can come back for backfilling, final yard grading, driveway grading, and cleanup shaping around the property. Having one local company handle the work before and after the build helps keep the project moving and gives you one point of contact throughout the process.

Grading for driveways and access

A driveway needs more than gravel dumped in place. The ground underneath must be shaped correctly so water drains off and the surface holds up better over time. We provide driveway site prep and grading to create a strong base and better access to your home or building site. If your current driveway area is uneven, soft, rutted, or poorly sloped, grading can make a major difference in performance and appearance.

Why homeowners choose us

We are a locally owned company based in Lake City, and we take pride in serving homeowners in our area. We prefer to keep our work local and keep money in the community. Customers also appreciate that we do not treat the estimate like a rushed sales call. We show up, communicate well, walk the property with you, and take the time to understand the job. That high-touch process matters, especially when you are making decisions about your home, land, and budget.

We are known for being courteous and easy to work with. From reminder texts to the courtesy message before arrival, we respect your time. We prepare same-day written bids and send official estimates by email that night, so you are not left waiting around. If needed, we will also talk through options to adjust the project scope in a way that makes sense for your goals and budget.

Service area

We are based in Lake City and commonly serve homeowners in McBain, Cadillac, Leroy, Manton, Fife Lake, Kingsley, Kalkaska, Grayling, Houghton Lake, Lake, Prudenville, Merritt, and nearby areas. If you are planning a new build, dealing with drainage trouble, or need your yard or driveway area reshaped, we are ready to take a look.

Call for a grading estimate

If your property needs leveling, slope correction, yard grading, backfilling, driveway grading, or site prep, call True North Grading LLC at (231) 878-6056. We will walk the site with you, explain what we recommend, and provide a clear estimate. A well-graded property is easier to use, drains better, and is better prepared for whatever comes next. Give us a call and let’s get your project on the schedule.