Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the questions we hear most from property owners across central Indiana. Don't see yours? Get in touch and we'll tell you straight.

General

Do you charge for an estimate?

No. Estimates are free and on-site. We walk the property, talk through the work, and put clear numbers in writing before any equipment moves.

How fast can you get out for an estimate?

Most of the time we can walk the property within a few days of your call. Reach out and we'll find a time that works.

When should I reach out to get on the schedule?

The sooner the better, especially spring through fall. Drainage and culvert work can usually be fit in faster. Call and we'll tell you straight where the schedule stands.

What areas do you cover?

Shelbyville and all of Shelby County, plus the surrounding counties roughly an hour out, including Hancock, Decatur, Rush, Johnson, Bartholomew, Ripley, and Brown. If you're close to that range and don't see your town, give us a call anyway.

How do you take payment?

Cash, check, credit, and debit. Financing is available through Joist for jobs that need flexible terms. Ask when you call.

Do you offer financing?

Yes. Project financing is available through the Joist platform for jobs that benefit from flexible payment terms. Ask about financing options when you call.

What equipment do you operate?

We own and operate a mini excavator, mini skid steer, and full skid steer, sized for both tight-access residential work and larger site prep jobs. No rental markups are passed to your project.

Do you handle commercial projects?

Our primary focus is residential and rural property work. Light commercial site prep and grading projects are welcome on a case-by-case basis.

Do you install septic systems?

No. Our current work covers driveways, site prep, drainage, excavation, and land clearing. Septic system installation isn't part of our service offering.

Do you work in the winter?

We work year-round. Heavier dirt work slows during deep freezes, but culvert installation, drainage corrections, and storm-related repairs are available through the cold months.

Gravel Driveways

How much does a gravel driveway cost?

It depends on length, the shape the base is in, how much drainage work it needs, and how easy the site is to get equipment onto. We give you a free on-site estimate with materials, timeline, and total cost in writing before any work starts.

How long does a new gravel driveway take?

Most residential driveways finish in one to three days. Longer farm lanes or full installs from scratch can run four to seven days depending on length and access.

Can you fix my existing driveway instead of replacing it?

Often, yes. If the base is still sound, regrading and fresh rock can bring a rutted or washed-out drive back. If the base has failed underneath, we'll tell you straight and walk you through what it'll take to do it right.

What kind of gravel do you use?

That comes down to your traffic, your grade, and the look you're after. We'll talk through the options on-site and recommend what holds up best for your property.

Do I need a culvert with my driveway?

If your drive crosses a ditch or sits where water needs to pass under it, yes. We size and place the culvert as part of the driveway work so the drainage is handled from day one.

Site Preparation & Grading

How long does site prep take?

A simple pad or small grading job usually runs one to three days. Full site prep for a new build with rough and final grade can run one to two weeks depending on the size of the footprint and the conditions.

Do you handle both rough grading and final grade?

Yes. We can take a site from rough grade at the start of a build all the way to final grade ahead of concrete, asphalt, or landscaping. A lot of outfits skip the finish work; we don't.

Can you prep a pad for a pole barn or outbuilding?

That's a big part of what we do. We level and prep the pad, plan the drainage into the grade, and set it up so the build sits right and water moves away from it.

Will you coordinate with my builder or concrete crew?

Yes. Site prep timing usually ties into framing, concrete, and utility schedules. We'll work with your builder or GC to line the grade up so it's ready when the next crew shows up.

Why does the grade matter so much?

A bad grade shows up the first time it rains, the first time a slab cracks, the first time a foundation shifts. Getting the grade and drainage right at the start prevents the expensive problems that surface years later.

Drainage

How do you figure out what's causing my drainage problem?

We walk the property, ideally during or right after a rain, and track where the water is actually coming from and where it's going. The wet spot you see is usually downhill from the real problem. We find the cause before we move any dirt.

How long does drainage work take?

A simple correction runs one to three days. Larger systems with multiple culverts or full tile repair can take one to two weeks depending on what we find.

Can you fix standing water in my yard?

Yes. Standing water usually traces back to grade. We regrade and shape the surface to move water to a proper drainage point so the same wet spots stop coming back every year.

Do you do agricultural tile repair?

Yes. We handle the small to medium-scope field tile repair work, including locating breaks, replacing failed sections, and fixing outlets where tile meets a ditch or creek. It's the kind of repair the big tile contractors usually don't want to take on.

Is drainage work seasonal?

We work drainage year-round. Soggy or frozen ground can push scheduling for quality reasons, but culvert and drainage corrections don't wait for spring, and neither do we.

Excavation

What kind of excavation work do you take on?

Trenching for utilities and drainage lines, foundation prep, earthmoving, debris removal, and tight-access work. Residential and rural property, plus smaller jobs that the larger regional outfits tend to pass on.

How long does an excavation job take?

Most residential excavation runs one to three days. Foundation prep and larger projects can take four to seven days depending on scope and site conditions.

Do you call in utility locates before you dig?

Yes. Indiana 811 marks buried utilities before any equipment moves. We coordinate the call and schedule the work around the markings so nothing underground gets hit.

Can you get into tight spaces?

That's where the mini excavator earns its keep. It gets into spots a 40,000-pound machine can't operate in, and the skid steer handles the volume work. The right machine for the access you've got.

Do you do utility line work?

We handle trenching for water, drainage, and service lines. Tell us what the project involves on the call and we'll let you know straight whether it's a fit.

Land Clearing

What kind of clearing do you do?

Light brush management and clearing with a skid steer and brush hook. Lot clearing, opening up overgrown fence lines, trail and access lanes, and ground prep ahead of new construction on small to several-acre properties.

Do you do forestry mulching?

No. We handle light brush and overgrowth with a skid steer brush hook, which is the right tool for manageable acreage and fence lines. Heavy forestry mulching is a different job and a different machine.

How long does a clearing job take?

Most clearing jobs finish in one to two days. Larger multi-acre work or heavy fence line clearing can run three to five days.

Will you tear up the rest of my property getting to the work?

No. We plan equipment access ahead of time to keep lawns, gardens, and existing landscape intact. Protecting what stays is as much a part of the job as removing what goes.

Can you clear a lot before I build?

Yes. We clear brush and saplings and prep the ground so a building site, pad, or outbuilding location is ready for what comes next.