Ground-Up Readiness
A build-ready site with confirmed slope, compaction, and drainage, before any surface goes down.
What Goes Wrong First
Skipping or rushing site prep does not save time, it moves the cost to a much harder fix later.
A yard that looks level to the eye can still carry enough slope variation to pool water and undermine the base within two seasons.
A laser level check across the full footprint maps actual grade change and drainage direction before any base material is placed.
A base compacted too lightly shifts under repeated load, opening hairline cracks in the surface that widen with each wet season.
Crushed stone base is compacted in measured layers to a specified density, locking the sub-base against movement under load.
Drainage lines added after base rock is locked in require breaking out finished work, a cost that dwarfs the original prep budget.
Lines are positioned and slope-confirmed before any base rock is compacted, so water exits the footprint at the correct grade.
Southern California clay-heavy soils expand when wet and contract when dry, destabilizing a sub-base that was not prepared to account for it.
Unstable or expansive material is excavated and replaced with compacted fill and base rock suited to the soil conditions on that lot.
Scope of Work
From the first measurement to a signed-off, build-ready subgrade, every task that happens before a surface goes down.
The court boundary is measured and marked to regulation dimensions, accounting for run-off zones and the lot’s actual usable area.
Excavation equipment removes high spots and fills low areas to bring the site within the slope tolerance required for a stable court base.
Drainage lines are set at the correct slope to carry surface water away from the court footprint before base rock is compacted over them.
Unstable soil is removed, crushed stone base material is placed in layers, and each layer is compacted to a specified density before the next is added.
Confirms actual slope and low spots across the full footprint.
Correct material placed and graded to sub-base depth.
Keeps the footprint accurate through each compaction pass.
Slope, compaction, and drainage confirmed before handover.
Why Choose Us
Site prep is where a court build is won or lost, here is what makes the difference at this stage.
No estimate is issued until a builder has physically checked the ground and drainage on your lot.
Base preparation, surfacing, and line marking are costed separately so you see exactly what each phase covers.
We arrange builders for residential backyards, HOA facilities, schools, and commercial properties across Orange County.
Nothing is scheduled until the full scope is in writing and you have agreed to it, no verbal estimates, no surprises.
Slope, compaction, and drainage are all confirmed on site before the job is closed out and handed over.
The Process
01
Tell us the location, the sport, and the rough area, we arrange a local builder to carry out an on-site evaluation.
02
After the site check, you get an itemised estimate covering grading, drainage, compaction, and sub-base depth requirements.
03
The builder completes grading, drainage, and compaction, then confirms slope and density before the site is handed over as build-ready.
Pricing Estimates
| Job | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Initial court design | $3,000-$10,000 |
| Site grading and base prep | $8,000-$25,000 |
| Drainage work | $5,000-$20,000 |
| Engineering and layout for larger projects | $10,000-$30,000 |
Tell us the site and the sport. We will arrange a local builder to assess the ground and put the full scope in writing before anything is booked.