Excavation & Grading in Mullica Hill, NJ

Old farm ground over clay

Much of the township is silty loam topsoil over clay — productive farmland precisely because it holds moisture. That same quality makes it poor at draining around a house. Silty topsoil gets soft and slick when wet, and clay below holds water. We plan grading so water travels across the surface to an outlet rather than relying on it to soak in.

Clay excavated on site usually isn't good structural backfill, so we import suitable fill for footings and slabs.

Re-cutting farm swales

Fields were drained by swales and ditches cut decades ago for agriculture. As land was developed, many silted in or were graded over, and water now backs up where it once ran freely. Restoring those channels — re-cutting them to grade, clearing their outlets and stabilizing their banks — is often the most effective fix for a wet lot.

Big catchments, one low point

The land rolls gently, which helps, but when an entire former field drains toward a single new lot, that lot's low point collects a lot of water. Before grading, we look at the whole catchment above the property, not just the yard, so the solution can handle the volume that actually arrives.

Near Raccoon Creek

Toward the Raccoon Creek corridor, the ground is lower and wetter, and wetland margins are a genuine constraint on where and how we dig. We check a project's location against those areas before scoping it and plan dewatering for deeper work.

Septic and well properties

Harrison Township Sewer Utility, with its own treatment plant in Mullica Hill, serves sewered areas, and New Jersey American Water serves part of the township. Many older rural parcels use private septic systems and wells. On those lots, we locate the tank, field and well line before any machine moves, and keep equipment off the drain field.

What we excavate for

Typical Mullica Hill projects:

• Grading and swale restoration on large lots
• Pads for garages, pole barns and outbuildings
• Excavation and base for long driveways
• Pool excavation, removal and backfill
• Careful excavation in the historic village

Pads for outbuildings

Garages, pole barns and sheds on large lots need level, stable pads. We strip topsoil, remove soft silty material, place and compact suitable fill in lifts, and grade the surrounding area so water runs away from the building.

Long driveways

A long drive across former farmland needs drainage built in: a crown or cross-slope, swales along the edges where needed, and a compacted stone base over firm subgrade rather than soft topsoil.

Pool work

Whether a pool is going in or coming out, clay soil affects the job. Removals are filled in compacted layers with suitable material, and the area is graded so it won't become a wet spot.

Digging in the historic village

On Main Street, foundations are stone and frontages are tight. We dig beside old walls in short sections so footings are never undermined, use compact equipment and hand tools, and expect to find old pipes and buried remnants along the way.

Permits and inspections

Structural excavation is inspected before concrete, and work in the right-of-way or near regulated areas needs approval. We handle the permits for our work.

Restoration

We finish with compacted backfill, fine grading and topsoil, leaving the ground pitched to drain and ready for seed.

Emergency sewer work

If a sewer line fails in a sewered area, our crews respond around the clock.