A building is only as good as the ground under it. Reach Dirt Works prepares sites for new homes, ADUs, shops, garages, additions and small commercial buildings throughout Snohomish County. We’re a family-owned excavation contractor in Snohomish, and we work with homeowners, custom builders and general contractors to get the dirt work done right so the next trade can start on schedule.
What’s Included
- Clearing and stripping. We remove vegetation, stumps and organic topsoil from the building area.
- Excavation and building pads. We cut and fill to plan elevations and compact the pad for foundations or slabs.
- Grading. Rough and finish grading so water drains away from structures.
- Utility trenching. Trenching for water, power and low-voltage lines.
- Drainage. Footing drains, French drains and culverts where the plan calls for them.
- Construction access. We build a gravel access road or driveway that holds up to trucks and equipment.
- Erosion control. We install and maintain the erosion and sediment controls the project requires.
Common Projects
- New single-family homes on rural acreage or infill lots
- ADU/DADU, detached garage and shop pads
- Additions and replacement homes, often after a demolition
- Light commercial and light-industrial building pads and parking areas
- Shed, barn and outbuilding pads
Local Considerations
Glacial till (“hardpan”). Much of the uplands around Snohomish County sit on dense glacial till. Below the weathered surface it’s nearly impermeable, so water perches on top and infiltration is poor. That affects how footing drains, downspout systems and pads are built. The county advises against dry wells and infiltration trenches where hardpan is within a foot of the system bottom.
LDA permit thresholds. In unincorporated Snohomish County, triggers for a Land Disturbing Activity permit include:
- disturbing 7,000 sq ft or more
- adding or replacing 2,000 sq ft or more of hard surface
- grading over the exempt limits, which start at 100 cubic yards in 18 months and are higher for some basement and drainage work.
Fill that supports structures or private roads isn’t covered by the 100-cubic-yard exemption. Your designer or permit applicant will confirm what applies. We build to the approved plans.
Septic and wells. On rural sites, the Snohomish County Health Department reviews building projects so they don’t interfere with existing or proposed septic systems and wells. Site prep has to stay clear of those areas.
Call before you dig. Washington law requires a locate request through 811 at least two full business days before excavation. We handle locates for our work.
Site Prep FAQ
Can you work from my engineer’s or builder’s plans? Yes. We prefer to. We build pads, grades and drainage to the elevations and details on your approved plans.
Do you work for general contractors? Yes. We take subcontract site work for builders and GCs on residential and light commercial projects.
How early should I call? Before permits are final is ideal. A site visit early on helps you budget for access, drainage and how the soil will behave.
Do you do the foundation itself? We do the excavation and pad prep. The foundation is typically formed and poured by your builder or concrete contractor.
Areas We Serve
We work within about an hour of Snohomish, including Snohomish, Monroe, Lake Stevens, Marysville, Everett, Arlington, Granite Falls, Mill Creek, and unincorporated communities such as Machias, Cathcart, Clearview and Maltby. See all areas we serve.
Get a Free Quote
Reach Dirt Works is family owned and operated in Snohomish, WA. We’re licensed, bonded & insured (WA contractor license #REACHDW771Q7) and rated 5.0 stars on Google.
Call 360-512-2225 or request a free quote. Tell us where the property is and what you’re planning, and we’ll set up a site visit.
