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Land Excavation and Drainage in Bentonville, AR

Aquaaid-international Excavation and Drainage Work, Bentonville

Land excavation and drainage work in Bentonville, AR

Drainage, grading, and safe trenching done right the first time, from an 811 locate to a compacted final grade. Free on-site assessments across Bentonville and Benton County.

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  • 811 locate before every dig
  • OSHA trench safety
  • Same-day storm response

Water and Ground

Drainage, erosion, and safe-dig guidance to keep water off your foundation and crews out of harm.

Graded drainage swale carrying water away from a Bentonville home

Keeping Water Off Your Bentonville Foundation

July 1, 2026

Most foundation trouble in Benton County is really water trouble. A slab that keeps taking on runoff, a crawl space that stays damp, or a soft low spot in the yard almost always traces back to grading and drainage, not the concrete itself. The good news is that water problems are fixable, and fixing them early is far cheaper than the repair that waits at the end. Here is how to think about it.

Start by Watching Where the Water Goes

The next time it rains, walk your lot. Note where water pools, where it sheets toward the house, and where it cuts a little channel. That map tells you almost everything. A yard that slopes toward the foundation, even slightly, will keep pushing water at the slab until the grade is corrected. Ground should fall away from the house on every side.

Positive Slope Is the First Fix

The cheapest and most durable fix is regrading for positive slope, meaning the soil drops away from the foundation for the first several feet. It sounds simple, but it takes real dirt work to do right: cut and fill to reshape the surface, then compact so the new grade holds instead of washing out in the next storm. Done well, it solves a surprising share of wet-basement complaints on its own.

When You Need a Drain, Not Just a Grade

Sometimes slope alone is not enough, especially on a flat lot or where a neighbor’s runoff arrives at your line. That is when a French drain, a swale, or a small detention feature earns its keep by giving the water a defined path to a safe outlet. Our drainage and erosion control work pairs the regrade with the buried drain so the two systems back each other up.

Do Not Skip the Locate

Any of this involves digging, and digging means calling 811 first. A free utility locate marks buried gas, water, and electric lines about two business days out, and it is the law before a bucket touches the ground. A drainage project is not worth hitting a gas line off Tiger Boulevard to save a phone call.

Move on It Before the Next Storm

Water problems compound. A minor washout that would cost a little to re-cut in July can undermine a footing by fall if nobody acts. If you see standing water near the 72712 area or a spot that never quite dries out, get eyes on it before the next heavy rain.

Worried about water at your foundation? Reach Aquaaid-international at (479) 566-4947 or contact us for a free on-site drainage assessment in Bentonville.

Read the full article

Aquaaid-international provides land excavation in Bentonville, AR, covering drainage and erosion control, site preparation and grading, utility trenching, foundation and basement excavation, land clearing and grubbing, and driveway and road base prep. Water is usually the problem behind the problem, so we grade positive slopes, cut swales, and set French drains that carry runoff away from a slab instead of toward it. Every dig starts with an 811 utility locate before a bucket ever touches the ground. That kind of careful site work is what protects a property near Central Avenue or a wooded lot out past Bella Vista.

Trenching is where corners get cut and people get hurt, and we do not cut them. Any excavation 5 feet deep or greater gets a protective system, whether that is sloping, benching, or a trench box, exactly as OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P requires, and a competent person inspects the cut before anyone steps in. On jobs that disturb an acre or more we handle the SWPPP along with the silt fence, inlet protection, and erosion blankets that keep sediment out of the storm system. Permits and grading plans are part of what we manage for you, not paperwork we hand back with a shrug.

Grading is measured work, not guesswork. We shape cut and fill to the engineer's plan, place structural fill in controlled lifts, and compact it to 95 percent of maximum dry density confirmed by a Proctor test so a pad or driveway does not settle a year later. Our excavators, dozers, and skid steers run laser and GPS grade control, which holds a drainage slope consistent across a long run. The payoff is a subgrade that actually drains and a finished grade that stays where we left it.

When a storm drops water where it does not belong, timing matters. We answer same-day for flooding, washouts, and blown-out culverts, clearing debris and re-cutting drainage before the next rain makes the damage worse. A washed gully off Moberly Lane can turn into a foundation problem in a single wet week if nobody moves on it. Homeowners and builders across the 72712 area call us because careful site work costs far less than the repair that follows a shortcut.

  • Locate before we digEvery job opens with an 811 Call Before You Dig locate, so gas, water, and electric lines are marked before the first cut.
  • Trenches done to codeCuts 5 feet and deeper get sloping, benching, or a trench box per OSHA Subpart P, inspected by a competent person.
  • Water sent the right wayPositive grading, swales, and French drains move runoff away from your foundation instead of pooling against it.
  • Same-day storm helpFlooding, washouts, and failed culverts get a fast response before the next rain compounds the damage.

Grading, Drainage, and Utility Digs We Perform

One local crew for the dirt work, the drainage, and the digging, from the first locate to the final compacted grade.

  • Drainage and Erosion Control

    Positive grading away from structures, swales, French drains, and detention features, plus silt fence and inlet protection to meet NPDES stormwater requirements.

  • Grading and Site Preparation

    Clearing, topsoil stripping, cut and fill, and rough to finish grading that sets pad elevations, drainage slopes, and a compacted subgrade ready to build on.

  • Utility Trenching

    Trenching for water, sewer, gas, and electrical lines with proper bedding and backfill, using sloping, benching, or a trench box in cuts 5 feet and deeper per OSHA.

  • Ponds and Detention Basins

    Excavation and shaping of retention and detention ponds and stormwater basins to designed volume and side slopes, with keyed embankments and riprap outlet armoring.

  • Foundation and Basement Excavation

    Footings, crawl spaces, and full basements dug to plan depth and dimension, with over-dig for forms and a compacted, level bearing surface for concrete.

  • Driveway and Road Base Prep

    Subgrade compaction, geotextile separation fabric, and crushed aggregate base for a stable, well draining gravel driveway or private road.

Where Our Drainage Crews Operate

We handle drainage, grading, and excavation across Bentonville and the surrounding Benton County towns, from tight in-town lots to acreage out in the country.

Not sure we reach your lot? Call (479) 566-4947 and we will tell you straight.

  • Bentonville, AR (72712, 72713)
  • Rogers, AR
  • Bella Vista, AR
  • Centerton, AR
  • Cave Springs, AR
  • Pea Ridge, AR

What Proper Drainage and Excavation Costs

Excavation pricing depends on access, soil, volume, and how much water the site is already holding. Grading is usually measured by the square foot, trenching by the linear foot, and heavier machine work by the hour or the day. Rock, wet ground, and haul-off raise the number. The ranges below are typical for the Bentonville area, and we put a firm figure in writing after we walk the site.

Grading and Drainage$0.40 to $2.00 per square footUtility Trenching$5 to $40 per linear footExcavator and Operator$110 to $325 per hour
  • Positive slope away from structures
  • Most yards land near $1.40 per sq ft
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  • Soft soil runs at the low end
  • Rock or deep runs at the high end
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  • Machine and certified operator
  • Day and week rates discount the hour
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Drainage and Safety Questions Answered

Do I need to call 811 before you dig?
We do it for you. Every job on your property starts with an 811 Call Before You Dig locate, which is free and usually takes about two business days, so buried gas, water, and electric lines are marked before we cut.
How deep can a trench be before OSHA requires shoring?
At 5 feet, protective systems become mandatory. Any cut 5 feet deep or greater gets sloping, benching, or a trench box under OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P, and a competent person inspects it before anyone enters. We never skip that step to save time.
How do you keep water away from my foundation?
We grade a positive slope away from the structure, then add swales, French drains, or a detention feature as the lot needs. The goal is simple: move runoff toward a safe outlet instead of letting it pool against the slab off Moberly Lane or anywhere else.
Do I need a permit or a grading plan?
It depends on the scope. Sites that disturb an acre or more need a SWPPP and stormwater controls under the NPDES rules, and many local jobs need a grading plan. We handle the permits and the erosion controls as part of the work, not as an afterthought.
What does 95 percent compaction mean?
It is a density target. We place structural fill in controlled lifts and compact it to 95 percent of the maximum dry density set by a Proctor test. That is what keeps a pad, driveway, or backfill from settling and cracking a year or two down the road.
Can you help during a flood or washout the same day?
Yes. We answer same-day for flooding, washouts, and blown-out culverts across the 72712 area, clearing debris and re-cutting drainage before the next rain makes it worse. Fast action on a washed gully often prevents a much larger repair.
What happens to the topsoil you strip off?
We strip and stockpile the topsoil at the start, then respread it over the finished grade for seeding and landscaping. Surplus fill or debris is hauled off, and the site is left clean and ready for the next trade.
How much does drainage and grading cost?
Grading typically runs $0.40 to $2.00 per square foot, with most yards near $1.40, and utility trenching runs $5 to $40 per linear foot depending on soil and depth. We give a firm written price after walking your site in Bentonville.

Schedule a Drainage and Grading Visit

Standing water, a soft spot in the yard, or a project that needs the ground moved first? We will walk the site, find where the water is going, and give you a written plan and price with no pressure. Most Bentonville jobs open with a free on-site assessment and an 811 locate before any dirt moves.

Call (479) 566-4947