Yard Grading Plan Online: Slope It Right, From $349
Groundwork Design Co. · online design, anywhere in the U.S.
A yard grading plan before anyone moves dirt
The ground should fall away from the house and carry water somewhere useful. A grading plan shows which way every part of the yard slopes, how much, and where soil comes off or goes on, so a machine operator or you can shape it once and get it right.
- $349one area
- 10business days to a first draft
- 0site visits needed
When you need one
- Water runs toward the house or pools by the foundation
- A new patio, shed pad or addition is going in
- The yard is too steep to mow or use
- Topsoil or fill is coming in and you need to know where
- An uneven lawn you want leveled
Drawn by people who build this work: a landscape and hardscape contractor in Pennsylvania.
What’s in your plan
A scaled plan with the direction and amount of fall across the yard: away from the house first, then toward a swale, drain or the street.
Where soil comes off and where it goes on, with rough quantities, so you know whether to haul dirt in or out.
Shallow swales, and drains where grading alone won’t do it, with a material list and a scope to price.
What we need from you
- Photos of the whole yard and the house foundation all the way around
- Rough measurements of the yard and where the house, driveway and beds are
- Where water collects or runs now, and where it could go
- What you want to use the yard for
- A short walk-around video
- Order and send your photos, measurements and a short walk-around video.
- We draw the plan; the first draft comes within 10 business days.
- One round of changes on a Single Space plan, two on Full Yard.
- Build it yourself or hand it to any local contractor to price line by line.
Pick the size of the job
| Package | Price | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Single Space | $349 | One area: the side yard, the strip along the house, a pad site. |
| Full Yard | $895 | The whole lot graded as one plan, including drains where they’re needed. |
| Build-Ready | $1,795 | Construction-ready detail with spot elevations for an operator or a bid. |
Flat price, paid up front, set before we start. See every package on the design page.
Questions
How much should the ground slope away from the house?
A common rule is about 6 in of fall in the first 10 ft away from the foundation, then gentler beyond it. Your plan sets the slope for your lot and soil.
Can you grade a yard from photos?
For planning, yes: photos, measurements and a video show the high and low points. On site, a contractor checks heights with a laser or level as they work. If your lot needs a survey, we say so up front.
Will grading fix my wet basement?
Grading that sends roof and surface water away is the first fix, and often enough. Water coming up from below may need drains too; your plan shows both if needed.
Do I need a permit?
Some towns require one for moving a lot of soil or for changing how water leaves your property. Check with yours; we note where a permit is likely and never plan water onto a neighbor.
How long does it take?
The first draft comes within 10 business days of getting your photos and measurements.
Read first
Where it’s coming from and the fixes that work.
Roof water is half of most yard water problems.
When grading alone isn’t enough.
Clinton, Lycoming, Centre and Union counties: see what it costs to have us build it.
Groundwork Design Co. is the design studio of Muthler Landscaping & Construction LLC · 913 Bellefonte Ave, Lock Haven, PA 17745 · (570) 397-9800 · PA HIC #PA212584. Plans are landscape and hardscape designs, not engineered drawings; a wall over 4 ft, a wall holding up a driveway or a slope, or anything your town requires a permit for may need an engineer’s design.