SITE WORK + GRADING

The Foundation Every
Outdoor Build
Depends On.

Grading. Drainage. Earthwork. Before anything else goes in the ground.

TELL THOMAS ABOUT YOUR PROJECT

Every outdoor project in Southwest Florida starts in the ground. The grade determines where water goes. The drainage design determines whether a $400k outdoor build holds up after the first rainy season. The clearing and prep determine how every trade that follows performs.

Precision handles site work as the first phase of every estate build — or as a standalone engagement for properties that need grading and drainage resolved before any other contractor is engaged. The work that happens before anything is visible is the work that makes everything visible hold up.

"Site work done wrong is invisible until it fails. Then everything above it fails with it."

WHAT WE DO

Ground Preparation.
Done Once. Done Right.

01

Land Clearing + Demolition

Existing hardscape removal, vegetation clearing, and debris disposal — site cleared and documented before any new work begins. Proper disposal of concrete, asphalt, and organic material in compliance with Collier County requirements.

02

Rough Grading + Earthwork

Establishing grades that direct water away from structures and toward drainage infrastructure. In SWFL's flat topography, rough grading requires precision — every inch of elevation matters when there's nowhere natural for water to go.

03

Drainage Systems

French drains, catch basins, swales, and trench drains designed for SWFL's flat topography and seasonal rainfall. Drainage is not cosmetic here — it's structural. Every drainage plan is designed for the specific site, not templated from another property.

04

Soil Stabilization + Base Preparation

Compaction, fill, and base preparation for pavers, pool decks, motor courts, and driveways. Base failure is the primary cause of paver settlement in SWFL. We prepare the base to the spec the surface requires — not the minimum the schedule allows.

05

Fine Grading + Finish

Final grades set before sod, planting, or hardscape installation. Finish grading determines whether landscaping holds water or drains it — the last step before the surface trades begin, and one of the most consequential.

06

Permit Coordination

Earthwork permits and drainage permits where required by Collier County and Lee County. We pull what's required, document what's completed, and coordinate with other trades so permits don't block the schedule.

WHY SWFL SITE WORK IS DIFFERENT

Flat Ground. High Water Table.
Rainy Season.

1

Drainage Is Structural, Not Cosmetic

SWFL's flat topography means there's no natural slope to rely on. Every site requires an engineered drainage plan — not a standard spec from another climate. Water that doesn't drain properly doesn't just puddle. It undermines pavers, erodes sod beds, and saturates pool decks from below.

2

High Water Table

Pool design, foundation prep, and underground utility work all require understanding the water table on the specific site. In many Naples neighborhoods, the water table sits within 2–4 feet of grade. Site work done without accounting for this leads to pool pop-up, flooded French drains, and compromised base layers.

3

Rainy Season Timing

SWFL's June–September wet season affects every construction schedule. Site prep and drainage must be complete and functional before rainy season hits an active build. We plan site work phases around the seasonal calendar — not just the trade sequence.

ESTATE DRAINAGE · SWFL ENGINEERING

Estate Drainage Solutions
in Naples, FL

Poor drainage is the most common failure point on SWFL estate builds. In Collier County, heavy rainfall events — 10–12 inches in a single afternoon — are a design parameter, not an exception. Properties that weren't graded correctly will have water pooling within the first wet season.

What we design and install:

  • French Drains Perforated pipe in gravel-filled trench; redirects groundwater from foundation perimeter, pool equipment, and hardscape.
  • Surface Drainage Channels Precast concrete or cast-in-place; integrated with pavers during the hardscape design phase — not cut in after.
  • Swales & Berms On larger lots, engineered grade changes that direct flow to retention areas or street drainage.
  • Catch Basins At low points in driveway aprons and hardscape field to capture and redirect surface water.
  • Downspout Integration Roof drainage connected to underground drainage network — eliminates erosion at foundation corners.

The critical design note: drainage must be specified before hardscape is installed. Cutting drainage channels through finished travertine or shell stone is the most expensive correction we see on fragmented builds. We design it in.

GET STARTED

Tell Thomas About Your Project.

Whether you need site work as part of a full estate build or as a standalone engagement to prepare a property for other trades, Thomas reviews every inquiry personally.

TELL THOMAS ABOUT YOUR PROJECT
→ See Our Process → Full Estate Builds → Hardscape + Pavers