Site Grading & Land Clearing

Site Grading & Land Clearing in Palm Beach County, Florida

Professional site grading and land clearing services for residential and commercial properties throughout Palm Beach County and surrounding South Florida areas. Thum Co. Contractors clears raw land, removes vegetation, grades sites to engineered elevations, establishes proper drainage, and prepares properties for construction and development.

Our grading and clearing team serves West Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Boynton Beach, and surrounding areas. We handle everything from single residential lots to large commercial site development, working from civil engineering plans or designing appropriate grading solutions.

Call (561) 366-2050 for a free site grading or land clearing estimate in Palm Beach County.

Land Clearing Services

Complete Lot Clearing

Land clearing excavator Palm Beach Florida

Removing all vegetation, trees, brush, and organic material from raw land preparing it for construction. Complete clearing removes everything down to mineral soil, hauls away debris, and leaves sites ready for grading and development throughout Palm Beach County.

We clear residential lots, commercial parcels, and large development tracts using bulldozers, excavators, and specialized land clearing equipment.

Selective Clearing

Removing specific vegetation while preserving desirable trees, natural features, or protected areas. Selective clearing requires careful equipment operation protecting what stays while removing designated material.

Property owners throughout South Florida often want selective clearing preserving mature trees, specimen plants, or natural areas while developing the remaining property.

Tree and Stump Removal

Removing trees and grinding stumps below grade allowing construction over former tree locations. We drop trees safely, cut and remove wood, grind stumps 12-18 inches below grade, and remove grinding debris.

Stump grinding prevents future interference with construction, landscaping, or paving throughout Palm Beach County properties.

Brush and Undergrowth Clearing

Removing brush, undergrowth, invasive vegetation, and scrub growth from properties. This lighter clearing improves property appearance, reduces fire hazards, controls invasive species, and prepares sites for development or use.

Debris Removal and Disposal

Hauling all clearing debris off-site to approved facilities. Wood waste goes to grinding facilities, vegetative material to composting or disposal sites, and debris is handled following environmental regulations throughout South Florida.

We don’t burn clearing debris—all material gets hauled away properly.

Site Grading Services

Rough Grading

Initial grading establishing basic site elevations and drainage patterns. Rough grading creates building pad areas, establishes swales and drainage routes, shapes overall site topography, and prepares for detailed grading work.

Rough grading moves larger earth quantities positioning sites for development throughout Palm Beach County.

Fine Grading

Site grading laser equipment Palm Beach County

Precision grading to exact elevations and slopes per engineering plans. Fine grading prepares building pads to specified elevations, creates proper drainage slopes (typically 2-5%), establishes finished grades for landscaping, and prepares surfaces for paving or construction.

We use laser-guided grading equipment achieving the accuracy required for proper drainage and construction throughout South Florida.

Finish Grading

Final grading before landscaping, paving, or surface treatments. Finish grading creates smooth surfaces ready for sod, removes equipment marks and irregularities, establishes final drainage patterns, and prepares sites for completion.

Drainage Grading

Commercial site grading preparation Palm Beach"

Grading specifically designed to manage stormwater—creating swales for water conveyance, establishing positive drainage away from structures, shaping terrain directing water to collection points, and coordinating with storm drainage systems.

Proper drainage grading prevents flooding, erosion, and water damage throughout Palm Beach County properties.

Parking Lot and Driveway Grading

Preparing surfaces for asphalt or concrete paving. We grade to proper elevations and slopes, establish drainage patterns, compact subgrade to stable conditions, and create surfaces ready for base and paving installation.

Landscape Grading

Creating gentle contours for attractive landscaping, establishing planting beds at proper elevations, grading for irrigation installation, and preparing surfaces for sod or landscape installation throughout South Florida.

The Site Grading Process

1. Site Assessment and Planning

We review engineering plans or survey existing conditions, identify required elevations and slopes, determine cut and fill quantities, and plan grading approach.

2. Clearing and Stripping

We remove vegetation and strip topsoil from areas requiring grading. Topsoil gets stockpiled for later use if suitable for landscaping.

3. Rough Grading

Using bulldozers and excavators, we move earth creating basic site contours, establish building pad areas, create drainage routes, and shape overall terrain.

4. Fine Grading and Compaction

We grade to precise elevations using laser-guided equipment, compact fill materials to specified density, create proper slopes and drainage patterns, and prepare for finish work.

5. Finish Grading

Final grading creates smooth surfaces, removes irregularities, establishes finish elevations, and prepares sites for landscaping or construction throughout Palm Beach County.

6. Erosion Control

We implement erosion control measures—silt fences, seeding, mulching, or temporary stabilization—preventing soil loss during construction.

Equipment for Grading and Clearing

Bulldozers: Push material, rough grade, and clear vegetation efficiently across Palm Beach County sites.

Excavators: Precision excavation, selective clearing, material handling, and detailed grading work.

Motor Graders: Achieve precise grades and slopes on larger commercial sites and roadways.

Skid Steers: Tight access work, finish grading, and material handling in confined areas.

Laser Grading Systems: GPS and laser-guided equipment ensures accurate elevations meeting engineering specifications.

Compaction Equipment: Rollers, plate compactors, and specialized equipment compact graded surfaces properly.

We own appropriate equipment for efficient grading and clearing throughout South Florida.

Grading for Proper Drainage

South Florida’s high rainfall requires careful drainage design:

Positive Drainage: Surfaces slope away from structures (minimum 2% slope typical) preventing water accumulation against buildings.

Swales: Shallow channels convey surface water to discharge points or drainage systems.

Drainage Patterns: Site grading directs water along planned routes preventing uncontrolled flow or erosion.

Coordination with Systems: Grading coordinates with storm drainage installation, catch basins, and other infrastructure.

Proper grading prevents the flooding and drainage problems common throughout Palm Beach County.

Soil Management

Cut and Fill Balance: Minimizing imported or exported material reduces costs. We balance cut (excavated) material with fill (placed) material when practical.

Unsuitable Soil Removal: Organic soils, high-plasticity clays, or other unsuitable materials get removed and replaced with approved fill.

Topsoil Management: Salvaging and reusing topsoil for landscaping when suitable quality exists.

Fill Material: Importing structural fill meeting specifications when additional material is needed for grading throughout Palm Beach County.

Permits and Environmental Compliance

Site work may require:

  • Grading permits for significant earth moving
  • Environmental permits for work near wetlands
  • Stormwater management compliance
  • Erosion control plan implementation
  • Tree removal permits in some municipalities

We coordinate permitting and compliance throughout South Florida projects.

Applications and Uses

Residential Development: Lot clearing and grading for new home construction throughout Palm Beach County.

Commercial Site Development: Preparing commercial parcels for buildings, parking, and infrastructure.

Subdivision Development: Grading entire subdivisions creating individual lots, roads, and drainage systems.

Property Improvement: Improving existing properties through selective clearing or drainage grading.

Agricultural Conversion: Converting agricultural land to development uses.

Stormwater Management: Creating retention areas, swales, or drainage features managing runoff.

Erosion Control and Site Protection

Grading and clearing disturb soil creating erosion potential. We implement erosion control:

Silt Fences: Barrier fencing prevents sediment leaving sites during construction.

Temporary Seeding: Stabilizing disturbed areas between construction phases.

Inlet Protection: Protecting storm drains from sediment during site work.

Stabilized Access: Preventing mud tracking onto public roads from construction sites.

These measures protect water quality and comply with environmental regulations throughout Palm Beach County.

Timing and Coordination

Site grading timing coordinates with:

We coordinate grading with overall project schedules throughout South Florida.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does land clearing cost? Clearing costs vary based on vegetation density, tree size and quantity, and debris disposal requirements. Residential lot clearing typically ranges $2,000-$8,000. Large commercial clearing requires estimates based on acreage and conditions. Contact us at (561) 366-2050 for a quote.

How much does site grading cost? Grading costs depend on area size, cut/fill quantities, precision requirements, and access conditions. Small residential grading may range $3,000-$10,000. Larger commercial grading is estimated per project scope.

How long does clearing and grading take? Small residential lots typically take 2-5 days. Large commercial sites may take weeks depending on size and complexity. Timeline varies based on property size and scope.

Can you preserve specific trees during clearing? Yes, selective clearing preserves designated trees and features. We protect root zones, avoid equipment damage to preserved trees, and clear around them carefully throughout Palm Beach County.

What happens to clearing debris? All debris gets hauled to approved facilities—wood to grinding operations, vegetative material to composting or disposal sites. Nothing gets buried or burned on-site.

Do you need permits for grading? Significant grading often requires permits from Palm Beach County or municipalities. We advise on requirements and handle applications when needed.

How do you ensure proper drainage? We follow engineering plans specifying slopes and elevations, use laser-guided equipment for accurate grading, create drainage routes directing water appropriately, and coordinate with drainage system installation.

Can you work during rainy season? Yes, though wet conditions may require adjusting schedules. We work year-round in South Florida, planning around weather when practical and implementing erosion control regardless of season.

Grading and clearing often involve additional work:

Get Your Site Grading or Land Clearing Estimate

Ready for land clearing or site grading in Palm Beach County? Contact Thum Co. Contractors for professional site preparation services.

Call (561) 366-2050 for grading and clearing.

Thum Co. Contractors 468 Tall Pines Rd. West Palm Beach, FL 33415

Licensed building contractors providing site grading and land clearing throughout Palm Beach County and surrounding South Florida areas since 2017.