American Fork, Utah
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Grading, drainage fixes and retaining walls for American Fork yards, from flat lots that pond after a storm to rocky lots up toward the canyon mouth.
“In 2 days they graded and spread all of the topsoil, and had it raked and ready for sod delivery the next day.”
“they will definitely be my go to landscaper for many years!”
Grading and Retaining Walls in American Fork
A lot of grading work in American Fork is not about hills. It is about flat ground that does not drain. The lakebed silt and clay under much of the city soaks up water slowly, and the USGS notes that heavy rain can saturate flat ground and leave water standing on it. If your yard has a low spot that stays wet into the afternoon, or water creeping toward the basement, the fix is usually in the shape of the dirt.
Slopes come up too, mostly on the east side near the canyon mouth and in spots the city maps as steep. The city's hazard map under City Code 17.22 also marks liquefaction and wetland areas. A project in one of those zones can need a soils report and Engineering Division approval, and the review can take longer. We look up your lot before we draw anything, not after the crew shows up.
For walls, American Fork code says a fence or wall over 48 inches needs a plan and a permit from the Building Division. We confirm the retaining wall rules with the Building Division on each job, and taller walls get an engineer. Every wall we build has drain rock and a pipe behind it. Wet silt pushing on the back of a wall is how walls start to lean.
American Fork sits at the foot of Timpanogos where the river comes out of the canyon, so one town runs from soft lakebed silt that ponds and settles on the flats to boulder ground at the canyon mouth, all watered on the city's metered PI schedule.
Know your American Fork ground
The American Fork challenges
Silt and clay take water slowly, so a yard with even a slight dip turns into a puddle after a storm or a long sprinkler run. We reshape the grade so water moves away from the house and toward a spot that can take it.
A block wall on wet lakebed silt can settle and tip if the footing is shallow. We dig out the soft soil under the base course, replace it with compacted gravel and add drainage behind the wall so water cannot build up pressure.
Near the mountain front the ground is a mix of angular rock, cobbles and finer soil. The USGS says it stands in steep cuts better than the lakebed silt, but every lot is mixed a little differently. A test hole shows what the wall will sit in.
If your lot falls on the city's map for liquefaction, steep slopes or wetlands, grading can need a soils report and extra review. Starting without them can stop a job halfway through. We check the map for your address before we quote, not after.
The J&H approach
We watch where water runs and sits on your lot, then set the new grade so it falls away from the house. Low spots get a swale, a dry well or a drain line to a place that can actually take the water.
Walls and fences over 48 inches need a plan and a permit in American Fork. We draw the plan, bring in an engineer when a wall needs one and check the rules with the Building Division before anyone digs.
Each retaining wall gets clean drain rock, a perforated pipe and fabric to keep silt out of the rock. That stops water from building up behind the wall and pushing it over in a wet spring.
From our job sites
Short videos from real J&H job sites. Tap one to play it with sound.
What homeowners say
"We had a really big project (full lot project) and a crazy timeline, and Jackson and his team were awesome. They are very efficient, work hard to get things done quick, and the quality of their work is top-notch. Great company. Great guys. I would highly recommend them for any landscaping needs."
"Jackson and his crew did a phenomenal job on our back yard. I had a vision and they brought it to life. We had them do a retaining wall, grading, underground trampoline, sprinkler system, and sod. They met deadlines, communication was on point, and the whole crew was friendly.…"
"…The job was completed quickly without sacrificing quality, and the results exceeded our expectations. We would absolutely hire this team again and recommend them to anyone looking for landscaping help."
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Your dream yard. Done right. Done on time.
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