OPS Forestry Mulching Division LLC
Skid steer shaping a graded slope down to a finished contour
Service

Site Preparation & Building Pads

Getting raw ground to the point where somebody else can pour, set, or frame on it — stripped, cut to grade, filled where it needs it, and compacted so it stays put.

  • Free estimates
  • Owner-run by James
  • Illinois Valley to the Quad Cities

Request an estimate

Goes straight to James. No call center.

Prefer to talk? Call or text (815) 240-9065.

Stripping and cutting

Topsoil comes off and gets stockpiled rather than buried, because you’ll want it back for finish grading. Then the pad gets cut to elevation.

Fill and compaction

Low side gets built up in lifts and packed. A pad that settles after the concrete is down is a problem nobody wants to own, so this is the part worth doing slowly.

Drainage before anything else

Water is what ruins pads and basements. Getting fall away from the structure and a path for water to leave is part of the prep, not an afterthought.

On the job

Site Preparation on real jobs

Every photo here is from a real OPS job. See more recent work.

Skid steer shaping a graded slope down to a finished contour
Drainage trench dug across a lawn with a laser level and catch basins staged
Drainage trench dug across a lawn.
Large corrugated drainage pipe laid into an open trench across a lawn
Drainage pipe laid in the trench.
Lawn restored and strawed after a drainage system was installed
Lawn restored and strawed after the drainage work.
Deep trench backfilled with washed rock over drainage pipe
Trench backfilled with washed rock over the pipe.
How is it different from having the ground bulldozed?

A dozer pushes everything into piles along with a good amount of your topsoil, and then you’re left dealing with the piles. Mulching leaves the ground intact and covered. The tradeoff is that mulching takes growth down at ground level — it doesn’t pull stumps or root systems out. If the site has to be dug into or built on, that’s land clearing or site preparation instead.

Can a forestry mulcher grind stumps?

It can take a stump down flush or slightly below grade, but it isn't a stump grinder and it doesn't remove the root ball. For a handful of stumps that just need to disappear from view, the mulcher handles it. For ground that has to be excavated or built on, the stumps and roots need to come out properly.

How long does a job take?

Small jobs — a fence row, an overgrown lot, a driveway regrade — are often a day or less. An acre of heavy, mature growth takes considerably longer than an acre of light brush. You’ll get a realistic time estimate along with the price, not an optimistic one.

How do I get an estimate?

Call or text, or send the form on the contact page. The details that help most up front: roughly how many acres, how thick it is, what’s growing on it, whether a truck and trailer can get in, and when you’d like it done.

5.0 stars · 31 Google reviews

What people say after

Word for word from the OPS Google Business Profile. Recent jobs are on Facebook.

Google review

“James has done a wonderful job for us. He is timely, efficient and willing to travel where needed. You will not be disappointed.”

Tim Hayden5 out of 5 stars on Google
Google review

“OPS does what they say they’ll do, and do it efficiently and at a fair price. You’ll be glad you hired them.”

Reed Akre5 out of 5 stars on Google
Google review

“James is a good communicator… he has some super equipment and for sure endeavors to do a great job. He recently rototilled some property for me… then planted it with oats and grass seed. Now it can rain all it wants!!”

Roelif Loveland5 out of 5 stars on Google
Google review

“OPS did an amazing job on our property. We hired them to install a drainage system for our pool area, level the ground…”

Jacqueline Latta5 out of 5 stars on Google
How It Works

From First Call to Usable Ground

Call or Text

Call or text (815) 240-9065 or send the form. Roughly how many acres, what is growing and whether a truck and trailer can get in.

We Look at the Ground

James looks at the ground before he gives you a number, so the estimate fits the job in front of him.

The Work Gets Done

We agree on what comes out and what stays. Then the machines go to work, with James running them.

Ground You Can Use

You are left with ground you can walk, mow, build on or farm, and the topsoil stays where it belongs.

Free Estimates

Need site preparation?

Tell us roughly how many acres, how thick it is, and whether a truck and trailer can get to it. That’s usually enough for a real number.

Straight to James. No call center.

Request an estimate

Goes straight to James. No call center.

Prefer to talk? Call or text (815) 240-9065.

Got a piece of ground?

Tell us roughly how many acres, how thick it is, and whether a truck and trailer can get to it. That’s usually enough for a real number.

Call NowFree Estimate