Yard Grading & Regrading in Austin, TX
Fix negative slope, water pooling, and the foundation risk that comes with it. We grade and regrade yards across Austin to drain the right way on Blackland clay and Hill Country lots. Veteran-owned, 5.0-star rated, with over 20 years of design-build work.
Most yard drainage problems in Austin start with the grade. When the ground slopes back toward your house, every storm sends water against the slab instead of away from it. On expansive Blackland clay, that pooling water soaks the soil, makes it swell, and puts your foundation at real risk. Yard grading fixes the root cause. We reshape the ground so it sheds water to the street, a swale, or a drain, and we set a positive slope away from the foundation. Thrive Landscape and Design is a veteran-owned, design-build landscaper with over 20 years of yard grading and drainage work across Travis, Williamson, and Hays counties, and we hold a 5.0 Google rating from 70+ reviews. We correct negative grading, regrade for drainage, level lots for sod and patios, and handle Hill Country cut-and-fill on rocky caliche lots. Most jobs run roughly $1,200 to $5,000, and every estimate is itemized and free. Our grading targets follow the foundation drainage standard in the International Residential Code (R401.3), which calls for the grade to fall at least 6 inches within the first 10 feet from the house.
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- 500+ Projects Completed
- 20+ Years Experience
- 5.0 Google Rating
Explore Our Full Drainage Lineup
French Drains
Buried perforated pipe and gravel that collect and carry away water grading alone cannot move on flat clay lots.
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Erosion Control
Swales, river rock, and ground cover that hold soil in place and slow runoff on sloped Hill Country yards.
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Retaining Walls
Walls that hold back a steep slope so we can build level terraces and stop soil from washing down.
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All Drainage Services
See the full range of grading, French drains, erosion control, and drainage solutions we build in Austin.
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Our Process
Assess The Grade & Water Flow
We walk the lot with you and take grade measurements at the house, the property line, and the low spots. We look at where water pools and which way it runs during a storm. If the yard slopes toward the foundation, we flag that negative grading first. You get an honest read on the problem and a clear, itemized written estimate, with no pressure.
Design The Slope & Drainage Plan
We map out the new grade so water leaves the house and the lot. Our target follows code: at least 6 inches of fall in the first 10 feet from the foundation. We plan swales, drain paths, and where any French drain or wall will tie in. On a flat clay lot we add a drain, because clay does not soak up water on its own. You see the plan before we move a single yard of soil.
Cut, Fill & Shape The Ground
This is the heavy work. We cut down the high spots and fill the low ones to build the planned slope. On rocky Hill Country lots that means cut-and-fill through caliche and limestone. We bring in clean, non-expansive fill where we need it, and we never pack expansive clay against the foundation. Every lift is compacted so the new grade holds and does not settle back into a low spot.
Set Drains, Swales & Tie-Ins
Once the rough grade is in, we build the drainage that grading alone cannot handle. We cut swales that carry water across the lot, set any French drain in clean gravel, and tie the system to the street, a dry well, or a safe outlet. On steep lots we tie the grade into a retaining wall so the slope stays put. The goal is one thing: water that keeps moving away from the house.
Finish Grade, Sod & Cleanup
We fine-grade and rake the surface smooth, then lay fresh sod or seed where we disturbed the lawn. A smooth, freshly graded yard is the ideal base for new turf, so the sod roots in fast. We haul off all spoil and debris, walk the finished slope with you, and check that water runs the right way. You end with a clean, level yard that drains away from the house.
Expert Yard Grading & Drainage
Travis, Luis and the crew did an amazing job on our front yard landscaping. Travis had a vision that we could've never come up with on our own. They were communicative, hard working and had incredible attention to detail. We were really impressed with our experience and will… Read more
We’ve been very impressed with Travis and his team at Thrive Landscaping. From the initial design consultation through revisions and installation, the entire process was smooth, thorough, and high quality. We needed an HOA-compliant design that improved drainage and reduced… Read more
Travis was very responsive on the pricing . Luis and the crew did an amazing job and fixed a lot of problems that the prior firm had created. Very pleasant group and seem to want to please clients.
Great people providing outstanding service. Our yard has never looked better. And best of all, they stand behind their work. If something needs attention after the job is finished, they’re right on it.
After interviewing several companies, we chose Thrive Landscape to create some hardscaping for our back yard. They installed stone paving for our patio and pool area, a gravel area for our fire ring, and a raised gravel pad for a greenhouse. Everything looks great! We had a good… Read more
Thrive replaced some dying plants in a white rock bed and left it clean and beautiful. You would never know they had been in the rock bed at all - no dirt, no disruption - they left it better than they found it!
Our neighbor a few houses down had Thrive do his property and we liked how it looked, so we decided to contact them to see what it would cost to do our house. Wanted to get rid of the sand burrs and decided to do stone, rock and mulch for the whole yard in front of the house. I… Read more
We have used Thrive landscape for several projects over the past two years. They have delivered outstanding service, careful attention to detail, and impeccable service and care after the project was complete. Travis Odom is outstanding, and his vision helped us transform our… Read more
We were very pleased with Thrive from the initial bid to the completion of the project. We had our front yard and backyard landscaped. Communication was excellent and when a couple issues occurred they were quickly resolved. The onsite crew was great to work with and were… Read more
Excellent service and advice. Knowledgeable, on time, communicative owner, and crew. This is the place you want to call for your landscaping needs! We are extremely satisfied with the outcome and will use the service again. Thank you Travis and crew.
I was really pleased with Thrive. Travis arrived exactly on time for the quote, had a great design, and was able to start quickly once the plans were approved by my HOA. The crew was polite and worked quickly. They left the whole worksite very neat, and my front yard now looks… Read more
Had grass that was dead, Travis and his team transformed my backyard in a few days!
I am a repeat customer of Travis's. He recently transformed my front yard. The design was perfect for what we wanted to accomplish and the crew did high quality work which included clean-up. I will keep coming back to him in the future.
Thrive is a very professional and excellent business - they did a wonderful job on my project and I couldn't be more pleased with the end results. Will definitely use them again!
I had an outstanding experience with Thrive. Quality, honesty, value and customer service were phenomenal! Exceeded my expectations!
Swapped out black stone that were killing my plants with mulch. Added a bunch of plants and sod. Also got my irrigation and stone walkway complete. I say it is all looking great.
I don't know where to begin. Travis and his team provided an amazing landscape design, strategy, and results on our backyard for my 50th birthday celebration. Travis was patient and very detailed with his quote and made sure he covered every detail with me. Once we decided to… Read more
I’ve done two projects with these guys to include a landscaping project where I added sod, metal planters, and plants. The second was a fence repair and both turned out great. They were fairly priced, scheduled quickly, executed on time, and worked through my lunch list at the… Read more
We chose Thrive Landscaping after a friend of ours used them for their own backyard and we could not be happier with our decision. Travis and team were incredibly professional, thorough and communicative the entire time. They added new grass, flowers, gravel and lights to our… Read more
Travis with Thrive Landscape & Design did an amazing job redesigning our backyard! They were hard-working, timely, responsive and appreciated their craftsmanship they put into the project. The space looks better than we imagined — highly recommend!
Wow! Travis and his team did an amazing job refreshing our back yard! They were professional, prompt, respectful and above all had an eye for detail! It was an absolute pleasure working with them to create our dream back yard! I highly recommend Thrive Landscape and DESIGN… Read more
Our project was the tear-out, re-design and rebuild of a fairly substantial deck. Great experience with Travis Odom and Thrive Landscape. Travis is congenial, professional and great to work with. The guys on site did excellent work. We’re very happy with the finished product and… Read more
Mr Travis Odom made an excellent, unique, and original cedar fence design that we ended up using.
Great design and construction for my landscaping project. Travis and his crew were very attentive and detailed. They also took on board our feedback and we’re very willing to evolve their designs.
Travis did a great job fixing the drainage along the side of my house! Was very responsive, timely, and reasonably priced. Would reach out to again for any future landscaping needs.
Travis was very responsive and did an excellent job designing our difficult yard. We LOVE the end result and can’t wait to do phase two. Can’t say enough how happy we are with the design!
Does Your Yard Slope Toward Your House?
The Symptoms We See Most In Austin
Negative grading sends storm water at your slab instead of away from it. If you see any of these signs, your yard likely needs regrading. The fix is to reset the slope so water drains away from the foundation.
Request A QuotePuddles that sit for days after rain mean the ground is not draining. Low spots and a flat or wrong-way slope trap water. Regrading removes the low spots and gets water moving again across the lot.
If water collects at the slab or you see water marks on the foundation, the yard slopes the wrong way. On Blackland clay that soaking water swells the soil and threatens your foundation. Grading away from the house is the fix.
If your yard floods after heavy rain, or mulch and soil wash toward the slab, runoff has no clear path. A graded slope, often paired with a swale or French drain, carries that water to a safe outlet instead of across your yard.
Why Choose Thrive Landscape and Design?
We Grade To Code
We set a positive slope away from your foundation, with at least 6 inches of fall in the first 10 feet, the standard in the International Residential Code. Water leaves the house instead of pooling at the slab.
Built For Austin Soils
Expansive Blackland clay swells when wet, so we use clean, non-expansive fill near the foundation and never pack clay against the slab. On rocky lots we handle cut-and-fill through caliche and limestone.
Grading, Drains & Walls Together
Grading is step one. On a flat clay lot we pair it with a French drain, and on a steep lot with a retaining wall. As a design-build crew, we plan all three to work together, not against each other.
Veteran-Owned, 20+ Years
We are a veteran-owned, design-build landscaper with over 20 years in Central Texas and a 5.0 Google rating from 70+ reviews. You work with the team that plans and builds your new grade.
Austin’s Go-To Yard Grading Contractor
We grade and regrade yards across Austin and the surrounding area, from flat Blackland clay lots in Round Rock and Pflugerville to sloped Hill Country lots in Dripping Springs, with full attention to local soil, drainage, and foundation protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yard grading is shaping the ground so water flows away from your house. We cut down high spots, fill low spots, and set a steady slope. In Austin that matters because so many yards sit on flat Blackland clay or slope back toward a slab. When the grade runs toward the house, storm water pools at the slab and puts your foundation at risk. Grading sends water to the street, a swale, or a drain instead.
Most residential yard grading jobs in Austin run from roughly $1,200 to $5,000, and larger lots or full regrading can cost more. The price depends on lot size, how much soil we move, how much fill we truck in, whether we hit rock or caliche, and whether you add sod or a drain. A small fix to correct negative slope sits at the low end. A full regrade with new sod and a French drain sits at the high end. Every estimate is itemized and free.
They sound the same but they are not. Yard leveling makes the ground flat and even, which is great for a lawn or a patio. Yard grading builds an intentional slope so water drains away from the house. A graded yard is rarely dead flat, because a flat yard does not drain. Regrading fixes a slope that is already wrong, often one running toward the foundation. We use the right mix for your goal, whether that is drainage, sod prep, or both.
Negative grading means the ground slopes toward your house instead of away. The clearest sign is water pooling against the foundation or in low spots after rain. Other signs are mulch and soil washing toward the slab, standing water that lingers for days, water marks on the foundation, and a yard that floods after a storm. A quick check is to watch during a rain. If water heads toward the house, you likely have negative grading.
Yes. Poor grading is one of the most common causes of foundation trouble in Central Texas. When the ground slopes toward the house, water collects at the slab and soaks the expansive Blackland clay. That clay swells when wet and shrinks when dry, and the movement cracks slabs and shifts footings. The International Residential Code calls for the grade to fall at least 6 inches within the first 10 feet from the house. Correct grading keeps water off the slab.
In most cases, yes. Standing water and pooling usually come from low spots and a yard that slopes the wrong way. Regrading removes the low spots and sets a positive slope so water keeps moving instead of sitting. On flat clay lots that do not drain on their own, we pair grading with a swale or a French drain to carry water to a safe outlet. Together they clear the standing water and keep your yard usable after a storm.
Grading is the first step, and drains and walls finish the job. Grading sets the slope that gets water moving the right way. A French drain then collects and pipes away the water grading alone cannot move on a flat clay lot. A retaining wall holds back a steep slope so we can build level terraces. On many Austin lots we use all three together, since a slope, a drain, and a wall solve a drainage problem better than any one alone.
Often, yes, if we move soil across the lawn area. Grading disturbs the existing grass, so we usually finish with fresh sod or seed on the new slope. Many homeowners plan grading and sod together, since a smooth, freshly graded yard is the ideal base for new turf. We grade, fine-rake, and prep the soil so the sod roots in fast. If you only regrade a side yard or a drainage path, you may only need to patch that strip.
