Excavation & Grading FAQ — Common Questions Answered
Whether you’re building a new home, developing a commercial site, clearing land, or building a pond, you probably have questions about the process, the costs, and what to expect. Below are the questions we hear most often from homeowners, builders, and contractors across the Tulsa metro and northeast Oklahoma. If you don’t see your question here, call us at (918) 891-2960 — we’re happy to talk through your project.
General Questions
What areas do you serve?
We’re based in Claremore, Oklahoma and serve the entire Tulsa metro and all of northeast Oklahoma. That includes Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Owasso, Bixby, Jenks, Sand Springs, Catoosa, Collinsville, Sapulpa, Pryor, Bartlesville, Wagoner, Muskogee, and surrounding communities. For specialty GPS grading projects requiring tight tolerances, we travel statewide. See our full service area page for details.
How do I get an estimate?
Call (918) 891-2960 or fill out our online form. We provide free same-day estimates on most projects. We’ll come to your site, evaluate conditions, review your plans (if you have them), and give you a firm written price. No hourly billing, no surprise charges — the price we quote is the price you pay.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. CD Construction & Design Solutions is fully insured with general liability and workers’ compensation coverage. We’re BBB A+ rated, OSHA compliant, hold a Class D Water/Wastewater license, are a City of Tulsa certified Small Business Enterprise (SBE), and carry all required business licenses. We’re also members of the Claremore Chamber of Commerce. We can provide certificates of insurance to general contractors, property owners, and lenders on request.
Who will actually be doing the work on my job?
Us. CD Construction is a father-and-sons operation. When you hire us, you get the owners on your job site operating the equipment. We don’t sub your job out to another crew. We don’t send random operators you’ve never met. The people you talk to on the phone are the same people who show up on your property and do the work.
What sets you apart from other excavation contractors?
Two things: GPS technology and owner involvement. We’re the only local excavation contractor running full Topcon 3D GPS and LPS machine control — satellite-guided equipment that grades to ¼″ accuracy automatically. Most contractors grade by laser or eyeball. Second, we’re a family operation with 40+ years of combined experience. When you call, you talk to the owners. When we show up, the owners run the machines. That combination of technology and accountability is something the bigger companies and the one-man operations can’t match.
Cost & Pricing Questions
How much does excavation cost in the Tulsa area?
Excavation costs depend on the volume of material being moved, soil conditions (clay vs. rock), depth, site access, and whether spoil needs to be hauled off-site or can be used on-site. Every project is different — a foundation dig on a flat lot with good soil costs less than a deep cut into rocky ground with tight access. We give firm quotes, not hourly estimates, so you know exactly what you’re paying before work starts.
How much does grading cost?
Grading costs depend on the area being graded, how much cut/fill is needed, required tolerances, and whether material needs to be imported or exported. A residential lot regrading for drainage correction is a different scope than grading a 5-acre commercial pad. Our GPS machine control actually saves you money compared to traditional grading because it eliminates rework and reduces the number of passes needed. Call (918) 891-2960 for a free estimate on your specific project.
Do you charge by the hour or by the job?
By the job. We quote a firm price for the defined scope of work. If the job takes us longer than expected, that’s on us — your price doesn’t change. We believe hourly billing creates a misaligned incentive where the contractor benefits from going slow. A fixed price means we’re motivated to work efficiently and get your project done right and on time.
Is there a minimum project size?
We take on projects of all sizes, but our equipment and GPS capabilities make us most efficient on mid-size to large projects — house pads, commercial grading, ponds, large clearing jobs, and multi-phase site development. For very small jobs like a single fence post hole or a small landscape berm, a mini excavator rental might be more cost-effective. We’re always honest about that.
Project & Process Questions
Do I need a survey or grading plan before you start?
For new construction projects, yes — an engineered grading plan or site plan is needed so we know the design elevations. Your architect, engineer, or builder typically provides this. For simpler projects like yard regrading, driveway construction, or basic clearing, we can often work from existing conditions without a formal survey. We’ll let you know what’s needed when we evaluate your project.
Do I need permits for excavation or grading work?
In most cases, excavation and grading associated with new construction falls under your building permit. Standalone earthwork (like a pond, land clearing, or driveway on an existing property) may or may not require permits depending on the municipality. Requirements vary between Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Owasso, and the counties. We can help you determine what’s needed for your specific project and location.
What happens if you hit rock?
Rock is common in northeast Oklahoma, especially in the eastern counties and foothill areas. Depending on the type and hardness, we handle it with dozer ripping (for softer rock and shale), hydraulic breakers on the excavator (for harder limestone and sandstone), or excavation and removal. If rock is a known possibility on your property, we’ll discuss it during the estimate. If we encounter unexpected rock during work, we’ll stop and discuss options and costs with you before proceeding.
How does weather affect scheduling?
Weather is the single biggest variable in earthwork scheduling. Clay soils can’t be properly graded or compacted when they’re saturated — working wet clay creates more problems than it solves. We monitor weather closely and schedule work during favorable conditions. If rain delays a project, we communicate immediately and reschedule as soon as conditions allow. Spring (March–May) is the wettest season in northeast Oklahoma and the most common time for weather delays.
Can you work around existing utilities?
Yes. We call Oklahoma One-Call (811) before every project to locate existing underground utilities. Our GPS equipment helps us maintain precise positioning relative to marked utility locations. We take utility protection seriously — hitting a gas line or fiber optic cable is dangerous, expensive, and completely avoidable with proper procedures.
GPS Technology Questions
What is GPS/LPS machine control?
GPS/LPS machine control is a technology system that uses satellite positioning (GPS) and local laser/radio positioning (LPS) to guide equipment (similar to your phone’s GPS, but far more accurate) to guide the dozer blade automatically during grading. A 3D digital terrain model of your project is loaded into a controller in the dozer cab. GPS receivers on the blade track its exact position and elevation in real time. The hydraulics adjust the blade automatically to match the design surface — the operator doesn’t have to guess at the grade. Our Topcon system achieves ¼″ vertical accuracy. For a deeper explanation, see our GPS precision grading page.
Does GPS grading actually save me money?
Yes, in several ways. GPS grading eliminates staking crews (which other contractors have to hire). It reduces material waste because the blade doesn’t over-cut or under-fill. It eliminates rework because the grade is right on the first pass. And it speeds up production because the operator doesn’t stop to check grade with a level. On a typical residential pad, GPS typically saves 15-25% compared to traditional grading methods. On larger commercial projects, the savings are even more significant.
Can you build the terrain model, or do I need to provide one?
We build terrain models in-house using Carlson Civil software. If your engineer provides a grading plan (which is typical for new construction), we convert it into the 3D model the GPS system needs. If you don’t have an engineered plan — for example, on a simple residential regrading job — we can create the model from scratch based on existing conditions and the desired outcome. This in-house capability is one of the things that makes us faster and more flexible than contractors who have to outsource their GPS setup.
Still have questions? Call (918) 891-2960 and talk to us directly. Or send us a message and we’ll get back to you the same day. No salespeople, no call center — just the family that runs the business.
Ready to Get Started?
Call us directly for a free same-day estimate — or fill out the form and we’ll call you back.