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Expert Yard Grading & Drainage Hamilton, Burlington & Oakville

By Riaad, Owner & Project Manager · ICPI Certified Installer · Last updated May 13, 2026

Yard grading and drainage contractor serving Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, Milton, Mississauga and Ancaster since 2013. OBC-compliant 2% slope away from foundations, French drains, swales, and downspout extensions built to handle Southern Ontario clay soil and freeze-thaw. $5M liability, full WSIB, 5-year workmanship warranty. Free on-site quote, 24-hour response.

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ICPI Certified Installer Landscape Ontario Member Licensed & Insured
Lush new sod lawn with mulched garden beds along a wood fence
Lush new sod lawn with mulched garden beds along a wood fence
Paver driveway entry with lit masonry stone pillars and boxwood hedging
Regraded backyard with healthy new lawn, blue spruces and mulched beds
Front yard rock garden with boulders, ornamental grasses and exposed aggregate walkway
Front yard garden bed with blue spruce, mulch and paver border along an exposed aggregate driveway
Built-in stone bench and seating wall on a paver patio with perennial gardens
Stained wood privacy fence with shrub and topiary garden bed beside a fresh lawn

Seven Stones Landscape regrades yards to a 2 percent minimum slope (Ontario Building Code) away from the foundation, installs French drains, swales, and downspout extensions in Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, and across the Golden Horseshoe. Clay-soil specialists: every grading plan accounts for Halton-Till subgrade water retention and 60+ freeze-thaw cycles per winter. Typical residential regrade runs $3,000 to $12,000 in 2026 depending on lot size and access. ICPI certified since 2013, free on-site drainage assessment, 5-year warranty.

Serving Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, Ancaster, Dundas, Waterdown, Stoney Creek, Milton, and Mississauga.

Yard grading + drainage cost by project scope (2026 Halton)

Yard grading and drainage cost in Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, Milton, and Mississauga in 2026 scales with lot size and the drainage features required. Standard scopes for residential lots:

Scope Lot size Cost 2026 Timeline
Regrade only (2% slope correction)Small (under 1,500 sq ft yard)$2,500-$5,0001-2 days
Regrade onlyMedium (1,500-3,000 sq ft)$3,500-$8,0002-3 days
Regrade onlyLarge (over 3,000 sq ft)$6,000-$12,0003-5 days
Add 40-60 ft French drain (4" perforated pipe)Any+$2,500-$5,000+1-2 days
Add swale (engineered drainage channel)Any+$1,500-$3,500+1 day
Add downspout extension burial (4 corners)Any+$1,200-$2,400+0.5 day
Conservation Halton permit (regulated area)N/A+$500-$1,500+6-12 weeks

All pricing includes excavation, grade laser-survey, topsoil placement where needed, compaction, and final inspection. 70 percent of wet-basement calls in Hamilton, Burlington, and Oakville are resolved by surface drainage alone (no interior waterproofing required). Free on-site drainage assessment within 24 hours. See our Conservation Halton permit timeline guide if your lot is in a regulated area.

What yard grading and drainage services do you offer?

We offer a full range of yard grading and drainage services:

  • Residential yard regrading
  • Foundation drainage and slope
  • Swales and surface drainage
  • French drains and catch basins
  • New build lot grading
  • Grading before sod or patio
  • Eliminating standing water
  • Topsoil and final grade

We can handle both grading and the follow-up work (sod or interlock) so your property is finished in one go. Contact us for a free quote.

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+1 (289) 700-0312

Yard Grading and Drainage Solutions for Wet Ontario Properties

Yard grading is one of the highest-value upgrades for homeowners dealing with pooling water, soggy lawns, or foundation moisture risk. We provide grading and drainage correction in Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, Ancaster, Dundas, and nearby areas with a focus on positive slope away from structures. Many projects include French drains, swales, and coordinated upgrades with new sod installation or backyard renovation work.

This content targets high-intent terms such as yard grading cost Ontario and drainage contractor Hamilton. By solving grade issues first, later hardscape projects like interlock patios and concrete driveways perform better and last longer. For area-specific service detail, see our Dundas yard grading page Oakville and Hamilton pages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about yard grading and drainage in Hamilton, Burlington and Oakville.

In 2026, straightforward regrading of a typical 1,500 to 3,000 sq ft backyard in Hamilton or Burlington runs about $3,000 to $7,500 including topsoil. Adding a 40 to 60 foot French drain with 4-inch perforated pipe, clear stone, and geotextile adds roughly $2,500 to $5,000. Larger Ancaster and Oakville lots or clay-heavy sites with sump connections cost more.
The Ontario Building Code (OBC 9.12.3.2) requires a minimum 2 percent slope (roughly 6 inches of drop over the first 10 feet) away from the foundation. Municipal lot-grading plans in Hamilton, Burlington, and Oakville enforce this. We survey with a laser level and regrade to meet or exceed the 2% standard before topsoil and sod.
Grading corrects the most common cause of wet basements: negative slope sending water toward the foundation. We regrade to 2% positive slope, extend downspouts 6 to 10 feet from the house, and add a French drain or swale if the yard sits in a low pocket. About 70% of wet-basement calls in Hamilton and Dundas are resolved by surface water management alone.
Clay holds water and is nearly impermeable, so we rarely regrade clay in isolation. We typically excavate the low areas, install a 4-inch perforated PVC French drain bedded in 3/4-clear clean stone wrapped in non-woven geotextile fabric, then backfill with native clay and cap with 4 inches of triple-mix topsoil. The French drain carries water to a daylight outlet or dry well.
Minor regrading within your own lot usually does not need a permit. However, Burlington and Oakville both enforce lot-grading plans on newer subdivisions; altering approved drainage patterns requires engineering review. Diverting water onto a neighbour is never permitted. We verify existing grading plans before excavation.
A typical residential regrade takes 2 to 4 working days including excavation, French drain or swale, topsoil, and cleanup. Weather matters because saturated soil does not compact properly. Seven Stones has been serving the Golden Horseshoe since 2013, carries $5M liability and WSIB, and backs our work with a 5-year workmanship warranty.

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Serving Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville and the Golden Horseshoe. Free quote within 24 hours.

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Service Areas: Where We Install yard grading and drainage

We install yard grading and drainage across the Halton and Hamilton-Wentworth region. Each city link below opens the local landscaping page with neighbourhood detail, soil notes, and permit guidance.

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