A homeowner near Snohomish needed a level, permit-ready pad for a new detached shop — on a lot that was anything but level.
The Challenge
Soft, organic topsoil over an uneven grade meant building straight on it would have invited settling and cracks down the road.
What We Did
- Stripped the organic topsoil to firm subgrade
- Built the pad up in compacted 6–8 inch lifts of crushed base
- Shaped a gravel access drive for delivery and equipment
The Result
A dead-level, fully compacted pad that passed inspection the first time — and a base the owner’s builder could set steel on with total confidence.
Tips from the Field
Skipping compaction in lifts is the disaster that surfaces a year later as a cracked slab. We compact every 6–8 inches so the pad never settles unevenly under a structure.