Excavation
Earthwork of every kind on the east side of Charlotte: land clearing, grading and building pads, utility lines, foundation digs, pool digs, demolition and hauling under one contractor.
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Charlotte sits on Piedmont red clay that sheds water instead of soaking it up. Water stands in the low spots, and a bad grade sends it at the foundation. Intown lots in Dilworth and Elizabeth run tight, often with an old house or slab in the way. South Charlotte lots run bigger, and the backyard is usually where a pool goes.
Cornerstone Excavation Group is an excavation contractor based in Indian Trail, on the east side of Charlotte. The crew drives in on US-74 for land clearing, lot and yard grading and site work. We also excavate for inground pools, take down old structures, build retaining walls, dig ponds and haul material off. Cornerstone is 5.0-rated on Google and estimates are free, so call (980) 315-5707.
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Red clay does not drain the way sandy soil does. Water runs across the surface and stops wherever the ground dips. On an older intown lot, years of settling and added fill have usually moved the grade. The low spot ends up right next to the house.
The grade itself is almost always the first fix. We regrade so the ground falls away from the foundation and out to daylight. Where that fall is missing, a swale or a buried drain line carries the water instead. That is where yard and lot drainage comes in.
Charlotte creeks like Little Sugar Creek, McAlpine Creek and McMullen Creek run through built-up ground. If a lot touches one, the city's SWIM buffer rules limit what can be disturbed near the bank. For the creeks those rules cover, the buffer starts at 35 feet on each side. It widens as the creek's drainage area grows. Check the buffer on the parcel with the city before any dirt moves.
Plenty of Charlotte work starts with something that has to come off the lot. An old house, a garage, a shed or a fire-damaged structure comes down first. That is residential and light commercial demolition. Old driveways, patios, slabs and buried foundation walls come out with it.
Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement issues the demolition permit, and the owner or the general contractor holds it. Utilities are disconnected by the owner and the utility company before anything comes down. Asbestos survey and abatement are separate work for a licensed abatement contractor. The county air quality notification form is part of the demolition paperwork.
After the structure is gone, the lot still has to be usable. We fill the hole, compact it, and set a rough grade that drains. From there the job moves to site prep and building pads for a house, a garage or a commercial pad.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services is a joint city and county stormwater utility. It covers the City of Charlotte, six Mecklenburg towns and the unincorporated county. Land development plans, floodplain reviews and erosion control permits go through Mecklenburg County Land Development in the Accela system. The owner, the builder or the developer holds those approvals.
Charlotte's soil erosion rules call for control measures on every land-disturbing job, including ones that uncover less than an acre. A site that uncovers one acre or more needs a city-approved erosion and sedimentation control plan. That plan has to sit on the job site. Lots developed as one unit get added together, whoever owns them. Confirm the current thresholds with the city before work starts.
The city also protects trees through its development ordinance. Removing a heritage tree takes a city tree work permit, plus replanting or a mitigation payment. A pool dig or a new build near a big tree can run into that rule. An inground pool needs a building permit from Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement and a code-required barrier once it is finished.
Most Charlotte pool digs land in the backyard, behind the house. The pool builder's plan sets the shape, the depth and the over-dig for the shell. We read that plan first, then work out how the machine gets into the yard. A gate, a fence panel or a narrow side yard decides which size excavator goes in.
Older streets near SouthPark, Cotswold, Olde Providence and Quail Hollow have room to work and mature trees to protect. We put down protection on the yard and the driveway before the first pass. NC811 asks for three working days of notice before digging, and we call that locate in. Power, gas, water and irrigation lines all get marked before the bucket drops.
Spoils from a pool dig fill several truck loads, and most of that dirt leaves the property. Some can stay for backfill or a finish grade if the yard needs fill. Charlotte clay digs clean when it is dry and turns greasy after rain. Shallow rock turns up on some lots, and rock changes the dig.
Communities and areas we serve around Charlotte: Dilworth, Myers Park, Elizabeth, Eastover, Cotswold, SouthPark, Sedgefield, Wesley Heights, Steele Creek, Hickory Grove, Olde Providence, Quail Hollow.
Charlotte ZIP codes served: 28202, 28203, 28205, 28207, 28209, 28210, 28211, 28212, 28215, 28226, 28269, 28270, 28273, 28277, 28278.
Free estimates throughout Mecklenburg County and the surrounding area.
(980) 315-5707 Earthwork of every kind on the east side of Charlotte: land clearing, grading and building pads, utility lines, foundation digs, pool digs, demolition and hauling under one contractor.
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We clear lots and acreage across the Charlotte metro, with trees, brush, stumps and debris hauled off. The ground is left open and ready for the next phase of the job.
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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 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.
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We install underground utilities on the east side of Charlotte: water mains and service lines, sanitary sewer, storm drainage pipe and structures, and trenching for power, gas and telecom conduit.
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We dig foundations and footings for new homes, additions, garages and outbuildings. We also trench for water, sewer and utility lines, then backfill and grade once the foundation is in.
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We excavate for new inground pools across the Charlotte metro and Union County. The hole goes in to your pool builder's plan, and the dirt leaves on our trucks.
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We take down houses, garages, sheds and light commercial buildings, then break out the concrete under them. The debris leaves on our dump trucks and the lot is graded and ready for what comes next.
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We build segmental block retaining walls that hold a slope in place and stop soil from washing out. The dig, the compacted base and the drainage behind the wall come with it.
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We dig and shape farm ponds, private ponds, backyard ponds and stormwater ponds across the Charlotte metro. The work covers layout, excavation, basin shaping, bank slopes and the grading around the finished pond.
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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 haul spoils, brush, concrete and demolition debris off your site. We also bring in fill dirt, gravel and stone for the work we run.
Learn MoreReal reviews from real grading, clearing and excavation jobs on Google.
Cornerstone Excavating Group LLC just completed regrading my backyard. I had a large, elevated mound running across it and close to the house making the yard essentially unusable. Cornerstone did a great job working with the limitations of the yard and created a usable space while ensuring I had proper runoff where I previously had water accumulating close to the foundation. Tim and his team were very professional and courteous. I would highly recommend Cornerstone to anyone looking for an excellent excavating company.
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.
Cornerstone Excavation Group did an excellent job grading my commercial lot. Very professional, on time, and the work was done exactly as promised. The site was left clean, level, and ready for the next phase. Communication was clear throughout the process and pricing was fair. I would absolutely recommend them for any commercial grading or excavation work.
I couldn’t be happier with the quality of work! The attention to detail and craftsmanship were outstanding, and my retaining wall looks amazing now. Everything was done with super high quality, and I’m extremely satisfied with the results. Highly recommend!
A few of the questions we hear most around Charlotte. If yours is not here, call and ask.
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.
Tell us about the job. We will get right back to you.