The pad height comes from your plans
How high the pad goes isn't something we pick by eye. It comes from your builder's site plan, the survey and sometimes an engineer. In parts of Brevard the flood zone has a say in how high the floor has to sit, and that's a question for your builder or engineer.
If you don't have the elevation yet, hold off on the fill. A pad built to a guess may have to be cut down or built up again later, and that's paying for the same dirt twice.
How we build a pad
Here's the order the work goes in, using our own equipment the whole way through.
- Clear the lot, and pull stumps and roots out of the pad area. See lot clearing.
- Scrape off the leftover mulch and root mat, so the fill sits on clean ground.
- Bring in fill with our own dump trucks.
- Spread it in lifts, one layer at a time, with the dozer and track loader.
- Compact each lift with our roller compactor before the next one goes on.
- Grade the top flat to the plan height and shape the sides so water runs off the pad.
What we'll ask you for
A pad quote is only as good as the numbers behind it. These help most.
- The survey, with the lot's existing elevations
- The builder's site plan with the pad size and finished floor height
- Whether the builder or the building department wants the pad tested
- Where the driveway goes, and where loaded trucks can get onto the lot
Weather and wildlife
Summer is the hard season for pads. A heavy afternoon storm can soak a half-built pad, and wet fill doesn't compact the way it should. Build some weather days into the schedule between June and September.
If the lot hasn't been cleared yet, check it for gopher tortoise burrows. They're protected in Florida, and a survey or an FWC permit may be needed before clearing. Whether the lot needs a county or city clearing permit depends on the lot, so ask before work starts. We can talk it through with you.
Get a pad quote
Call (321) 638-4636 or request a quote. Send the site plan or photos if you have them. We'll usually want to see the land, or photos of it, before we give you a number.
What customers say
If you are looking to have a building lot cleared and a pad built, Harrack trucking and land clearing are the ones to call! We called them and couldn't be happier! We showed him our Plains he put us in touch with a few builders and the rest is history. Our dream house came out just like we wanted! Thank you Patrick harrack and your team!
Zachary M.Google Verified
Had them come out and use their roller compactor on a jobsite and they got it done in a timely manner. No complaint about them these guys are just hard workers.
Jorge S.Google Verified
Questions people ask
How much fill does a pad take?
It depends on how low the lot sits compared with the plan height, and on the size of the pad. Your builder or engineer can usually give you a number in cubic yards. We work from that, and fill shrinks as it's compacted, so the loose amount delivered is more than the finished pad.
Can the pad be tested?
If your builder wants density tests, tell us before the first load. That testing is often done by an outside testing company, and it has to fit between lifts, so it's easier to plan for up front.
Do you pour the slab?
No. We build the pad. Your builder's concrete crew forms and pours the slab on top of it.
Can you build a pad for a garage or a shop?
Yes. A pad is a pad. The size and height still come from the plans for whatever's going on it.
Last reviewed October 15, 2026. General information, not legal or professional advice. Check the linked sources for the current rules.