Control Where the Water Goes and Stays

When water runs toward your foundation after every heavy rain or pools in the middle of your yard because the slope was never corrected, the problem is not the soil, it is the grade. In Pownal, where seasonal runoff and freeze-thaw cycles test every property, finish grading controls how water moves across the surface and whether it drains away or soaks into areas that should stay dry. McGovern Earthworks uses grading equipment to reshape slopes, level low spots, and direct stormwater to safe discharge points, whether you are preparing for landscaping, a patio, or just trying to fix a drainage issue that has been causing problems for years.

Grading work starts with evaluating the existing contours and identifying where water is collecting or flowing in the wrong direction. The land is then reshaped using a grader or skid steer to create controlled slopes that move water away from structures and toward swales, culverts, or natural drainage paths. Finish grading also prepares the surface for hardscapes, lawns, or planting beds by leveling the areas that need to be flat and maintaining slope where drainage is required.

If your property in Pownal needs grading to fix drainage issues or prepare for outdoor construction, McGovern Earthworks can assess the site and explain what the ground needs to function correctly.

How regrading changes water flow and site usability

Grading in Pownal typically involves adjusting elevation in sections of the yard that are too flat to drain or too steep to use safely. A grader or compact machine spreads, cuts, and compacts soil to establish the correct slope, which is usually between one and two percent for drainage and up to four percent for steeper areas. Low spots are filled, high spots are cut down, and the final surface is smoothed to prevent rutting or erosion.

After grading is complete, you will see water running off the lawn instead of standing in depressions, clean edges along driveways and walkways, and a yard surface that is firm enough to mow or walk on without sinking. Areas prepared for patios or retaining walls will be level and compacted, ready for base material or forming. The grading work also reduces erosion because water is directed along controlled paths instead of cutting new channels across bare soil.

McGovern Earthworks uses laser or GPS grading tools on larger sites to ensure accuracy, especially when preparing for hardscapes or coordinating with landscape architects. The work is planned to avoid disturbing septic systems, underground utilities, or mature trees, and the final grade is set to support whatever the property owner is building or planting next.

People usually want to know how much of the yard will be affected, whether existing landscaping can be saved, and how long the ground needs to settle before planting or paving.

McGovern Earthworks handles grading and land leveling across residential properties in Pownal, using precision equipment and drainage planning to prepare sites for construction, landscaping, or long-term water management. If your property needs grading to fix drainage or prepare for outdoor improvements, the team can assess the site and outline what the work involves.