Home › Services › Grading & Land Leveling

Drainage-Correct Slopes, Level Pads

Grading and Land Leveling Brooklyn NY

Water pooling against your foundation? A yard that slopes the wrong way? We re-grade Brooklyn lots for proper drainage, level ground for patios and driveways, and prep compacted bases that stay put.

Grading Services We Offer

• Yard re-grading for drainage — reshaping slopes so water flows away from foundations, not into basements. The single most valuable grading job in low-lying Brooklyn neighborhoods.
• Land leveling — cutting high spots and filling low ones for a flat, usable yard.
• Patio and deck base prep — excavated, leveled and compacted bases ready for pavers, stone or deck footings.
• Driveway grading — sub-base excavation and grading for new or replacement driveways.
• Swale and berm shaping — directing stormwater across larger lots in Queens, Staten Island and Long Island.
• Final grade for new construction — finish grading around completed foundations to plan elevations.

Why Proper Grading Matters in Brooklyn

Brooklyn's older housing stock sits on lots that have settled, been filled, and re-filled for a century. Negative grading — soil sloping toward the house — is one of the most common causes of wet basements we see, from Flatbush to Bay Ridge. Regrading is often a fraction of the cost of interior waterproofing, and it attacks the actual problem: water reaching the foundation in the first place. We cut grade to a proper fall (typically 6 inches over the first 10 feet from the foundation), compact in lifts, and verify with laser levels — not eyeballing.

Our Grading Process

1. Survey the water. We read the existing slopes, downspout discharge points and low spots — ideally right after rain.
2. Cut and fill. Excess soil is cut from high areas and used to build up low ones; unsuitable fill is hauled off.
3. Compact. Fill goes down in lifts and gets compacted so it doesn't settle into new low spots next spring.
4. Verify. Laser-level checks confirm positive drainage away from structures before we call it done.

For projects that also need underground drainage lines, our trenching team can install French drains and drywell connections in the same visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does grading cost in Brooklyn?

Small yard re-grades typically run $2,500–$7,000; larger leveling or driveway prep $5,000–$15,000. Access, soil import/export and buried debris move the number. See our cost guide for ranges.

Will re-grading fix my wet basement?

If the water comes from surface runoff pooling at the foundation — the most common cause — proper re-grading plus downspout extensions usually solves it. If water comes up through the floor (high water table), you'll need interior drainage too. We'll tell you honestly which one you're dealing with.

Do I need a permit to re-grade my yard?

Simple yard re-grading that doesn't change drainage onto neighboring properties generally doesn't need a DOB permit. Work tied to construction, or that alters stormwater flow to adjacent lots, can trigger requirements — we flag it at the estimate. See our permit guide.

Can you grade around existing trees and landscaping?

Yes. We work around mature trees and plantings you're keeping, and protect root zones during cutting and filling.