Residential Stormwater Management & Site Grading - West Chester, PA

Stormwater installation, difficult rock excavation, drainage improvements, driveway preparation and extensive residential site grading around a newly constructed addition and garage.

Project Snapshot

Location:
West Chester, Pennsylvania

Client:
Private Homeowner

Project Role:
Site-Work Subcontractor for Residential Construction Project

Project Type:
Residential Stormwater Management, Drainage & Site Grading

Primary Work:
Stormwater Piping, Drainage, Rock Excavation, Grading, Driveway/Site Preparation

Additional Work:
Boulder Retaining Wall, Walkway Base Preparation, Erosion Control

Site Conditions:
Restricted Access Beside Completed Addition/Garage; Rock Encountered During Excavation

Construction Timing:
Fall/Winter 2025; Completed Immediately Before Christmas

Project Overview

ES Excavation was originally brought to this West Chester property to complete the required residential stormwater work associated with a newly constructed addition and garage. Because the structure had already been built before the underground work was installed, access to the rear of the property was extremely limited and much of the excavation had to be completed in tight working conditions immediately beside the new construction.

The project expanded well beyond the original stormwater scope. ES Excavation completed drainage improvements, rock excavation, backyard regrading, driveway expansion and preparation, a boulder retaining wall, walkway base preparation, erosion-control work and final site grading throughout the affected areas of the property.

Stormwater Management & Restricted-Access Excavation

Before the stormwater system could be installed, ES Excavation first had to move concrete and excavated material that had been left onsite from earlier construction. With the new garage and addition already in place, the normal route from the front yard to the backyard was no longer practical. A workable equipment path had to be excavated around the end of the garage to reach the rear of the property.

Stormwater piping and drainage work were then installed under restricted-access conditions immediately alongside the completed structure. Rock encountered in the excavation had to be mechanically broken so the required piping could be placed at the proper elevations. The project also included level spreaders in both the front and rear yards, yard drains, driveway drains and a drainage swale around the end of the building to help manage runoff from the new driveway.

Backyard Regrading & Erosion Control

After the stormwater work was underway, the homeowner expanded the project to include substantial regrading of the backyard. The goal was to create a large, relatively level lawn area that would be more practical for outdoor use and large enough to accommodate tents for garden parties and similar gatherings.

ES Excavation reshaped the affected areas while coordinating the grading with the property’s drainage improvements. Silt sock and other erosion-control measures were used during construction to help control disturbed soil as the site work progressed.

Driveway Expansion & Boulder Retaining Wall

The project also included regrading and extending the driveway. To create the additional driveway area, ES Excavation cut back the existing hillside and installed a boulder retaining wall to retain the soil along the new cut.

Stone was then imported, placed and graded to build the base for the expanded driveway. ES Excavation also installed stone base for proposed walkways at the front and rear of the property, tying the new access areas into the overall site-grading plan.

Final Site Grading Around the Addition & Garage

Grading was completed around the new addition and garage and throughout the portions of the property affected by the stormwater, drainage and driveway work. The project took place in late fall and extended into December, with frozen ground and snow becoming factors as construction progressed. ES Excavation continued through the seasonal conditions and completed the work immediately before Christmas.

The completed scope left the property with the required stormwater infrastructure in place, improved drainage, a more usable backyard grade, an expanded driveway area and prepared surfaces for the next phases of exterior work.

Related Project

See our Storm Drain Relocation & Stormwater Management project in Malvern, PA for another example of residential stormwater infrastructure and drainage work.

Project Results

• Required residential stormwater work installed after construction of the addition and garage

• Stormwater piping and drainage installed under restricted-access conditions

• Rock mechanically broken where it interfered with underground installation

• Front- and rear-yard level spreaders, yard drains, driveway drains and drainage swale included in the project scope

• Backyard substantially regraded to create a larger, more usable lawn area

• Driveway regraded and extended with imported stone base

• Boulder retaining wall installed along the cut hillside

• Stone base installed for proposed front and rear walkways

• Final grading completed throughout affected areas of the property

Planning a Stormwater, Drainage or Site-Grading Project?

ES Excavation provides residential stormwater management, drainage, excavation and grading services throughout West Chester, Chester County and surrounding southeastern Pennsylvania communities.