Grading with a Skid Steer

Grading is leveling the surface of a piece of land. When grading with a skid steer, dirt is moved from higher areas to lower areas to create a level plain. Grading prevents a soggy lawn, standing water, and soil erosion. You may need to grade a lot so you can add onto an existing structure, pour a driveway or sidewalk, correct a drainage problem, or for various other reasons.

Clean Up

First, remove any and all rocks the size of a tennis ball and larger. A rock bucket grapple will make this job quick and easy. Now is the time to remove unwanted trees, shrubs, and bushes from the land. Pile any unwanted debris in an area that will be easy to clean up afterward. 

Fill Low Areas

Next, fill any low areas with dirt to make the land as level as possible. You can take dirt from the higher regions to fill in lower spots in the lot. If you have multiple low areas, you will need to bring in soil to fill them completely. 

You should also build up the ground next to any structures. There should be no prominent low or high spots; this is called a rough grade. The land should slope away from structures to avoid water build-up around them, as this could cause structural damage. 

Choose The Right Attachment 

Visibility is important when grading with a skid steer. If you cannot see the front edge of the bucket, it will be more difficult to grade. We recommend a low-profile smooth dirt bucket, which has lower sides and back, making it easier to see. Make sure your bucket is wider than your skid steer, so you don’t track over the soil you’ve just graded. 

Grading With a Skid Steer

Now it’s time to start the grading process. Hop in your skid steer and head to an area close to the height you want the lot to be. Once there, you will want to lower your bucket flat to the ground and begin moving forward, shaving off any bumps or irregularities as you move - this is known as making grading passes. It is ideal to handle the dirt only once, so grade in small sections to accomplish this. 

To maintain an even grade, take your passes at half of a bucket wide (like you would with a lawnmower where some of the blade is hanging over the cut line), matching it to the level ground you’ve already graded. When your bucket is full of dirt, you will want to stop and empty it in your designated area. 

You will also need to fill the low areas with dirt. To do this, take a scoop of soil, dump it at the beginning of the dip, and take your bucket and back-drag it to fill it in. Continue making grading passes across the lot and fill dips in the soil until the lot is level. When you finish, the soil should be even with the foundation of any structures on the lot. But if you intend to add sod, the soil should be two inches lower. 

Note: If your grade is uneven after a few passes, try going diagonally in the same section.

Check The Grade

Place two stakes in the lot: one at the highest point and one at the lowest point. Tie a string to the stake at the higher point of the lot around the base. Stand at the lower stake, and attach a line level to the middle of the string (it is best to have two people for this step). Hold the string next to the stake and move it up or down until the bubble is in the middle of the level. Measure the distance from the ground to the string on the lower stake, and divide this measurement by 100 to find the land grading - move the decimal two places to the right to find the percentage. The grade should ideally be around 5%; however, anything between 3% and 25% is acceptable.

Ex: If your string is 5 ½ inches from the ground on the lower stake, your calculations will come out to 0.055 or 5.5%

After you’ve done this, you can make any large adjustments with your skid steer, then clean up your grade with a hand rake for any final touches. 

Grading with a skid steer takes practice; you should make smooth movements with your skid steer and operate with the throttle at about 75% for the best results. If the throttle is too low, the hydraulics will also be slow to respond; too high, the skid steer can be hard to handle. No one is a professional at grading the first time; it takes patience. Be sure you are comfortable with your skid steer and your attachments first, then try your hand at grading.