Grading and Leveling Services in New York
At Hilltop Masonry & Landscaping, we proudly provide professional grading and leveling services in New York, helping homeowners and businesses create safe, beautiful, and lasting outdoor spaces. With more than 40 years of hands-on experience, we understand the unique soil conditions, elevation changes, and drainage challenges that are part of living in New York. Whether you’re seeking precise land grading, reliable yard leveling services in NY, or custom property drainage solutions, Hilltop Masonry is the partner you can trust to get the job done right.

What Is Grading and Leveling?
Grading and leveling are essential processes that reshape and stabilize your land’s surface, ensuring a flat, even foundation for construction, landscaping, or water management. In a place like New York, where property elevations can vary drastically even within a single neighborhood, precise soil grading services make all the difference. Poor grading often leads to standing water, foundation damage, and soil erosion—problems that can cost thousands to fix if ignored.
At Hilltop Masonry & Landscaping, we combine traditional craftsmanship with modern technology. Our landscape leveling teams use laser-guided equipment to measure and adjust the land down to the smallest detail. Whether you’re prepping for a new patio, installing a drainage system, or fixing a backyard that’s constantly soggy, our site preparation and backyard grading services are tailored for long-lasting success.
The Benefits of Professional Grading and Leveling
- Better Drainage: We create slopes that naturally direct water away from your home, preventing puddles, mud pits, and costly water damage to foundations and basements.
- Stronger Foundations: Solid, compacted soil is critical for structures. Whether you're planning foundation grading for a new home or a simple patio slab, we ensure stability from the ground up.
- Healthier Lawns and Gardens: Proper slopes keep your soil from washing away, promoting stronger root systems and healthier plants that thrive through New York's rainy springs and snowy winters.
- Increased Property Value: A properly graded yard not only looks more spacious and polished but also reassures potential buyers about the quality and maintenance of the property.
Unlike less experienced contractors who might simply push dirt around, Hilltop Masonry focuses on the science behind grading. For example, when dealing with properties near the Hudson River or in flood-prone areas of Westchester County, we incorporate strategic property drainage solutions into every grading plan. That way, you’re not just getting a level yard—you’re getting protection against future problems.


Why Choose Hilltop Masonry & Landscaping?
There’s a reason Hilltop Masonry & Landscaping has become a go-to name for professional land leveling in New York

Local Expertise
From the rocky soils of Putnam County to the sandy areas closer to Long Island Sound, we understand how New York’s soil types and seasonal weather patterns affect your land.

Proven Experience
Over four decades of work has taught us how to anticipate and solve hidden site issues that could complicate a project later.

Top-Quality Equipment
Precision matters. Our fleet includes laser levels, skid steers, graders, and compactors specifically designed for both rough grading and final touches.
Customer-First Mindset
We take the time to learn about your property’s unique needs and provide clear, customized plans you can count on.

Our Proven Process
Here’s how we make your outdoor project stress-free and successful:
Free Consultation
We meet with you on-site to evaluate your land’s current condition, understand your project goals, and discuss any potential challenges.
Design Plan
Every property is different. We create a custom plan that considers slopes, drainage needs, nearby structures, and landscaping goals.
Build & Install
Using heavy machinery equipped with laser technology, we handle rough grading first to establish general slopes, then fine-tune the surface for optimal results.
Walkthrough & Follow-Up
We don’t consider a job complete until you’ve reviewed the work with us. Your satisfaction is our final checkpoint.
Our Gallery
Client's Reviews
George Riggs2025-02-08Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Glenn just finished a small project that involved clearing out several trees, regrading a driveway, and building a small retaining wall. Before starting, Glenn spent a lot of time with me going over various approaches and outcomes for this project. The end result has worked out great. In spite of weather challenges, he was able to kept the project moving. He was always available for questions. The friendly workers always cleaned up the site after each day. I couldn’t be any happier with the process and end result. Raymond Sturz2024-12-30Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I found this company by accident as they were doing work at my neighbor's house. They seemed to be doing a fine job so I asked for a quote to do tree work on my property. I couldn't be happier with the work they performed. The workers spent the day climbing trees and cutting off branches. They cleaned up so well that if you didn't see where the branches were cut, you'd never know that they were there. After they finished, they asked me to walk around with them to be sure that I was satisfied. I dealt with Bruce and Anthony. They have a business model that harkens back to the days when you could do work on a handshake and know you could trust them to do the work well. I will use them again and highly recommend them. Laura Lynch2024-12-19Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had several trees cut down with Hilltop and I am very, very satisfied with the work and the process! Hilltop Masonry & Landscaping was recommended to me. We had a number of trees to cut down, in fact I initially thought we would get a few more trees, but Glenn clearly has expertise in this and was honest in his recommendations. He suggested holding off on one big tree for another time and instead of cutting down some small trees, to rather just do pruning. His suggestions and honesty helped me understand the structure/roots of trees on my property more, but it also showed me he was not trying to just get a big job (big price). Glenn was fair with price and was efficient in getting the work done. Workers were very kind, too. It definitely makes me want to work with the company in the future. Cathy Burress2024-11-13Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had Hilltop come to plant mums and clean up yard and leaves. They did a really good job. Have recommended them to friends. Anthony Annunziata2024-11-06Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My experience with Glenn from Hilltop was fantastic his man are professional neat and very organized. I would recommend that if you need landscaping and or a fence use his company. Bobby Budhu2024-11-05Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Hilltop is friendly, professional and easy to work with. We find them to be very honest, reliable and reasonable in terms of prices on various projects such as, building wall, preparing backyard, blacktop and removal of debris, etc compared to many other similar contractors who have very much deceived us in so many ways. We recommend them highly! Stephen Damin2024-11-02Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This was our first landscape project with Hilltop and they exceeded our expectations. Glenn was very knowledgeable and helped make our vision a reality. We loved how it came out and are already looking forward to the next project. Highly recommend Hilltop! Jacques DiCroce2024-10-30Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I contacted Hilltop Masonry & Landscaping to inquire about replacing a decaying retaining wall on my property. I received a call back from Glenn within 5 minutes and 30 minutes later he came to look at the condition of the wall and discuss hardscape options. After consultation, I decided to replace the existing wall with a new railroad tie wall. He gave me a ball park estimate on the spot and followed up with a formal estimate within a few days. The estimate was very competitive and after confirming a few details, I accepted the proposal. A week later, a crew was onsite to start the demolition of the old wall. The crew was very professional, respectful of the property, used high quality materials, cleaned up after each workday, and minimized any inconvenience during the construction of the new wall. They made suggestions during the course of the construction that we hadn’t considered to enhance the outcome. The project was completed in 4 days, the work and attention to detail was exceptional and we couldn’t be happier with the end result. I highly recommend working with Glenn and his team. huguette Antoine2024-10-29Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. You did a great job with planting my tree..Your Staff was exceptional . I will recommend Hilltop Landscaping to Anyone thanks Alex Cannon2024-10-08Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. They did an amazing job installing my fence.Showing our latest reviews
Let’s Talk About Your Landscaping Needs
Ready to reimagine your outdoor space? Reach out to Hilltop Masonry and Landscaping for a custom consultation, honest pricing, and a team you can count on. We’re here to turn your landscaping vision into a stunning reality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most residential projects are completed within 1–3 days, depending on the size, access, and complexity of the land.
Costs vary based on the project’s size, slope, and soil type. We provide free, detailed estimates after a quick site inspection.
Absolutely. Without proper grading, even the best patio or driveway can crack, shift, or flood over time.
Look for standing water, sloped areas near your foundation, uneven lawns, or visible erosion. If you’re unsure, we’re happy to provide a free on-site evaluation.
Our teams use advanced laser-guided skid steers, soil compactors, and specialized grading blades to achieve professional-grade results.
In most cases, yes. Our grading plans include custom property drainage solutions to protect your home and landscaping.
Yes. We work carefully to protect your existing plants and structures while adjusting the slope for better drainage.
Rough grading shapes the basic contours of the land, establishing necessary slopes for water runoff and structural stability before final grading smooths it all out.