Grading
We regrade yards that hold water and grade lots and pads for what gets built next. Rough grade, final grade, cut and fill and compaction, out of Indian Trail.
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Cornerstone Excavation Group builds retaining walls for homeowners, builders and commercial property owners around Indian Trail. A wall holds the slope in place and stops soil from washing down. It also turns a steep bank into yard you can use. We build segmental block walls, from a small backyard wall to a structural wall on a commercial site.
Most of what makes a wall last sits under it and behind it. The base gets dug out, filled with stone and compacted before the first course. Behind the wall, washed stone and a drain pipe carry the water out. As an excavation contractor in Indian Trail, we handle the cut, the backfill and the grading around the wall.
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Every wall starts with the dig. Utility locates get called in through NC811 before the bucket moves. We cut back into the slope, then trench the base below finished grade. That trench is filled with crushed stone and compacted until it is tight and level.
Block goes up course by course, each one set level and locked to the one below. On taller walls the design calls for geogrid. Those sheets run back into the soil and tie the wall to the ground. We compact the backfill in lifts as the courses rise.
Behind the wall we place washed stone, filter fabric and a drain pipe. The pipe runs to daylight or into a drain line, so water leaves. Then the backfill goes in, the wall gets capped, and extra spoil is loaded out on our dump trucks.
Water is what takes a wall down. The Piedmont red clay across Union and Mecklenburg counties sheds water at the surface and drains slowly underneath. Wet clay behind a wall gets heavy and pushes hard against the block.
Give that water a path out and the load on the wall drops. A wall built tight against clay with bare fill behind it carries all of it. Over a wet winter, that wall starts to lean. The same thinking goes into fixing a yard that holds water, where the grade and the pipe do the work.
The base matters as much. Block set on loose dirt settles, and the courses above follow it out of level. We dig that base out, replace it with stone and compact it first.
Height is the line. Section R404.4 of the North Carolina Residential Code calls for a registered design professional once a single wall holds back more than 5 feet of unbalanced backfill, a rule change that took effect January 1, 2025. The code applies it to walls that cross a property line or support a building at any height. Those walls are permitted and inspected, so confirm the current rule with your county before layout.
An engineer stamps that design and we build to it. The design sets the block, the base depth, the geogrid and the drainage. Our part is the excavation and the wall itself. The owner or the general contractor holds the permit.
Plenty of walls sit under that line. A wall that levels a backyard or squares up a side slope is plain work. Walls that carry a driveway or a building pad get planned with the site prep for the build.
Free estimates across the Charlotte metro, Union County and the York County side of South Carolina.
(980) 315-5707From the first call to the last load hauled off, here is how it goes.
Call or text (980) 315-5707 and tell us what the job is. We ask what the access looks like and when you need it done.
We come out to see the ground, the access and where the water goes. The visit and the estimate are free.
We set how the equipment gets in, where the material goes and what order the work runs in. Utility locates go in through NC811 before we dig, and any permit stays in the owner or builder's name.
The machines come in and the job gets done in the order we planned. Weather moves earthwork, so we tell you when the schedule shifts.
Spoils, brush and demolition material leave on our dump trucks. We grade the ground back before the equipment comes off the site.
Common questions about retaining walls across the Charlotte metro, Union County and the York County side of South Carolina. If yours is not here, call and ask.
We regrade yards that hold water and grade lots and pads for what gets built next. Rough grade, final grade, cut and fill and compaction, out of Indian Trail.
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We fix yards and lots that hold water after it rains. Regrading, swales, French drains and buried pipe move it away from the house.
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We prepare lots for new homes and commercial builds around Indian Trail and Charlotte. The work covers clearing, cut and fill, building pads, compaction and the first grade.
Learn MoreHomeowners, builders and property owners have rated the work five stars on Google. Those jobs cover grading, land clearing, demolition cleanup, drainage and a retaining wall.
We come to the property, look at the ground and price the work from what is there. The visit and the estimate are free.
Clearing, grading, digging, utility lines, walls, ponds, drainage, demolition and hauling all come from us. One company handles each stage, so the site stays on one schedule.
We work out of Indian Trail in Union County, on the Mecklenburg County line. Charlotte, Matthews, Monroe, Waxhaw, Mint Hill, Concord, Fort Mill and Rock Hill are all in range.
Real reviews from real grading, clearing and excavation jobs on Google.
These guys are excellent. Excellent pricing and top tier work. I contacted them about grading and pushing a debris piles. A couple days later, they completed the job. This literally was the easiest communication I've had with a company. Awesome, awesome, awesome! I will be using them again for sure. No question about it!
Cornerstone Excavation Group did an outstanding job on my property. They handled tree removal, land clearing, and grading, and the entire process was smooth from start to finish. Communication was clear and consistent, and they showed up when they said they would, which I really appreciated.The crew was professional, respectful, and clearly knew what they were doing. They removed multiple trees, cleared the land efficiently, and graded everything perfectly in preparation for the next phase. The property looked completely transformed when they were finished, and the site was left clean and well organized.It’s easy to tell they take pride in their work. The quality, attention to detail, and reliability really stood out compared to other companies I’ve worked with. I would absolutely use Cornerstone Excavation Group again and highly recommend them to anyone needing tree removal, land clearing, or grading done right.
Cornerstone Excavation Group did an excellent job grading the front of my property while my house was being built. The work was done professionally, efficiently, and exactly as promised. The site was left clean, the grading was precise, and it made a big difference in the overall look and drainage of the property. I would highly recommend them to anyone needing excavation or grading work.
Need a retaining wall permit in Charlotte, NC? See the state's 5 foot engineering line, Mecklenburg and Union County rules, and who holds the permit.
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Retaining wall cost in North Carolina runs about $32 to $44 per square foot. See block, stone and concrete prices, permit rules and cost drivers.
Read more →Tell us about the job on the form, or call (980) 315-5707. We will get back to you and set up a free look at the site.
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