Professional grading, drainage solutions, driveway construction, and building pad preparation for properties across the Texoma region.
Get a Free Estimate Call (903) 282-5148Dirt work is the foundation — sometimes literally — of almost every property improvement project. Whether you're building a home, constructing a driveway, solving a drainage problem, or preparing a site for agricultural use, proper grading and earth work determine whether everything that follows succeeds or fails. At Lonestar Land Pros, we provide professional dirt work services across the Texoma region using dozers, excavators, skid steers, and motor graders to shape your property exactly as needed.
The heavy clay soils across Grayson, Collin, Fannin, and Cooke counties present unique challenges that require local experience to navigate. These blackland prairie clays expand significantly when wet and shrink when dry — a characteristic that can wreak havoc on foundations, driveways, and drainage if not properly managed during construction. Our crew understands these soils intimately. We know when conditions are right for compaction, how to manage moisture content during pad construction, and how to grade for drainage on clay soils that don't absorb water like sandy ground does.
Driveway construction is one of our most requested dirt work services. Rural properties throughout the Texoma area need reliable driveways that can handle daily vehicle traffic, heavy equipment access, and the muddy conditions that come with North Texas clay. A properly built driveway starts with the right foundation — grading the subgrade, installing geotextile fabric where needed, and layering compacted material (usually caliche or crushed limestone) to create a stable, well-drained driving surface. We build driveways that last through years of use without developing ruts, potholes, or mud pits.
Drainage problems affect thousands of properties across the Texoma region. Low spots that collect standing water, areas where runoff erodes across your yard, flooded barns and outbuildings, and driveways that become impassable after rain are all symptoms of poor drainage that can be solved with proper dirt work. We design and install drainage solutions including regrading for surface flow, French drains, culvert installations, swales and berms, and retention areas. The goal is always to manage water predictably — directing it where you want it to go and keeping it away from structures and high-use areas.
Building pad preparation is critical for any new construction in our area. The expansive clay soils require proper pad construction to prevent foundation issues down the road. We work with your builder or engineer to prepare pads to specification — clearing the site, stripping topsoil, importing and compacting structural fill in controlled lifts, and grading to proper elevation with positive drainage away from the building footprint. A well-built pad costs a fraction of what foundation repairs cost after the fact, making it one of the most important investments in any new construction project.
We assess your property's topography, soil conditions, drainage patterns, and project requirements. For building pads, we coordinate with your builder or engineer on specifications. You'll receive a detailed estimate covering scope, materials, equipment, and timeline.
Before moving dirt, we clear vegetation if needed (using our mulching equipment), strip and stockpile topsoil for later use, and establish equipment access. Any existing drainage features or utilities are identified and protected.
Using dozers, excavators, and graders, we reshape the terrain to specification. Fill material is imported and placed in controlled lifts with proper compaction. Drainage grades are established to move water predictably away from structures and high-use areas.
For driveways, parking areas, and other surfaced areas, we place and compact the specified material — caliche, crushed limestone, or gravel — to the correct thickness and grade. Topsoil is spread on areas designated for grass or landscaping.
Final finish grading ensures proper drainage slopes, smooth surfaces, and clean transitions. We walk the completed project with you to verify everything meets specifications and your expectations before closing out the job.
Reshape terrain for construction, drainage, aesthetics, or agricultural use. From rough grading with dozers to precision finish grading with motor graders, we deliver the grades your project requires.
Solve standing water, erosion, and flooding problems with regrading, French drains, culverts, swales, berms, and retention areas. We design solutions that address root causes, not just symptoms.
Build durable rural driveways from caliche, crushed limestone, or gravel. Proper subgrade preparation, material layering, and drainage ensure your driveway performs in all weather conditions year after year.
Prepare construction-ready pads for homes, barns, shops, and commercial buildings. Proper fill placement, compaction, and drainage grading that meets your builder's specifications and prevents foundation problems.
Complete site prep for new construction, including clearing, topsoil stripping, rough grading, utility trenching, and access road construction. One contractor handles the full scope from raw land to build-ready site.
Source and deliver fill dirt, select fill, caliche, crushed limestone, gravel, and topsoil. Material is priced competitively and we handle delivery, spreading, and compaction as part of the project.
"Had a 400-foot driveway built to our new home site outside Howe. Caliche base with crushed limestone top — it's been through two rainy seasons and still looks great. No ruts, no mud, no potholes. Exactly what we needed for getting equipment in and out."
"Our barn was flooding every time it rained because the grade was wrong. Lonestar regraded around the building, installed a swale, and put in a culvert under the driveway. Problem completely solved. First heavy rain after the work — bone dry barn. Worth every penny."
"Ty's crew built the pad for our new barndominium. Builder said it was one of the best-prepared pads he'd worked on. Compaction tests came back perfect. They even stockpiled our topsoil and spread it back around the building after construction. Really thorough work."
Pricing depends on scope: small grading projects start around $1,500–$3,000, building pad preparation typically runs $3,000–$8,000+, and driveway construction ranges from $3–$8 per linear foot depending on width and material. Projects requiring imported material include delivery costs. We provide fixed-price estimates — not hourly billing — so you know the total cost before work begins.
Caliche is the top choice for most Texoma driveways — it compacts firmly, sheds water, and holds up under traffic. Crushed limestone is a slightly more refined option with a cleaner appearance. For heavy-use driveways, a caliche base topped with crushed limestone provides the best combination of durability and looks. Loose gravel works for light use but requires more maintenance. We recommend materials based on your traffic, soil, and budget.
Every drainage problem is different, so we start with a site assessment to understand the root cause. Solutions range from simple regrading to redirect surface water, to French drains and culverts for subsurface issues, to swales, berms, and retention areas for larger-scale water management. The key is designing a solution that handles the volume of water your property generates during heavy rain events — not just average conditions.
In the Texoma area — yes. The expansive clay soils here expand when wet and shrink when dry, which can crack and shift foundations. A properly prepared building pad with imported structural fill, controlled compaction, and positive drainage significantly reduces foundation risk. Your builder or engineer will specify the requirements, and we build pads to spec with compaction testing when required.
Small projects (driveway grading, minor drainage) often finish in 1–2 days. Building pads take 3–5 days including proper compaction time. Large-scale projects may run 1–2 weeks. Weather is the biggest variable — saturated clay can't be properly compacted, so wet conditions may pause work. We build contingency into timelines and keep you informed of any weather-related delays.
Yes — we source and deliver fill dirt, select fill, caliche, crushed limestone, gravel, and topsoil throughout the Texoma region. Material is priced per load or cubic yard depending on type and quantity. We handle delivery, spreading, and compaction as part of the project scope, so you don't need to coordinate material suppliers separately. Bulk pricing is available for larger projects.
Lonestar Land Pros provides dirt work and grading services throughout the Texoma region from our base in Howe, TX:
Get a free estimate for grading, drainage, driveways, building pads, or any dirt work project. We'll assess your site and provide a fixed-price quote.
Request a Free Estimate Call (903) 282-5148