UpLand Grading & Septic LLC

05/31/2026

Is the recent rains leaving your driveway in a rut?

Let UpLand Grading straighten that out for you!

Our track steer with the land planer attachment is designed to recover and use existing aggregate to smooth out the surface of your driveway.
It'll fill in the low spots/ruts.

Using and recovering the existing aggregate with the land planer helps reduce the potential need of adding fresh aggregate, which can add up quickly in costs.

Where quality of work is what we pride ourselves on.

UpLand Grading & Septic LLC
Uplandgrading.com
828-513-3847

05/27/2026

Here's some after and before photos of a septic tank lid repair we provided our clients!
We made the lid a bit thicker, reinforced with 2 layers of fiberglass rebar, 6" standard septic tank riser set in the concrete, easy access lid with no heavy lifting and a whole lot safer with a kid catcher installed. Used concrete bonding agent to rework the top of the tank, set our new lid/riser into place, applied more concrete bonding agent with a layer of high strength concrete around the perimeter of our lid and the tank to reduce the potential of drainage runoff into the tank and fixed the surrounding soils back into place. The old lid was 3" thick and deteriorating.

Safe, solid and easy to access!!

Where quality of work is what we pride ourselves on.

UpLand Grading & Septic LLC
Uplandgrading.com
828-513-3847

05/21/2026

New septic installation officially underway!

Big thanks to Scott Gardner with Four Seasons Excavating and Hauling for making time in his day to bring some loads of aggregate for this tank installation! I appreciate you!!

The soil conditions were pretty rocky on this one, so we took the extra steps necessary to ensure the tank had a solid, long-lasting foundation. We excavated the tank location to the proper depth, then installed and compacted a 4” base layer of crushed stone (ABC road bond) to create a stable, level base for the tank.

Once the tank was carefully set into place, we checked level in both directions before slowly backfilling with additional crushed stone in compacted lifts all the way to the top of the tank. We then installed the outlet PVC, verified the baffles were open and functioning properly, installed the sanitary tee and effluent filter, fastened the lids, and marked/measured the inlet location for the plumber to tie in the house side plumbing.

After everything was checked over, we carefully backfilled the septic tank installation back to grade.

A proper installation matters — especially in difficult ground conditions — and taking the time to do things correctly now helps prevent problems later. Looking forward to seeing this project come together!

Reach out to UpLand Grading & Septic LLC for your next project!
We'll get it done right and with quality!

For a full list of services visit our website.
You can also book your free site assessment there as well or reach out via fb or call/text.

We greatly appreciate your time and interest in supporting our small business!

Where quality of work is what we pride ourselves on.

UpLand Grading & Septic LLC
Uplandgrading.com
828-513-3847

05/19/2026

Seen this guy earlier today at the Mars Hill Napa buying 2 fuel cans and the again at the fuel station filling them. Asked him if he'd broke down and he said he ran out of fuel about a mile or so away from Mars Hill. I'd given him a wrench and told him how to bleed the fuel lines.
A little time had passed by and when I was on my way back to Weaverville to pickup my oldest son he was still there. On our way home we turned around and pulled over to help him out. This is a smile of relief and a smile of him getting back on the road.

May good deeds brighten the road behind you Jude.

05/18/2026

Check out this septic installation we just completed!

So grateful for the wonderful clients we have and all the work they've provided our small business!!

From the initial driveway installation, house site clearing/preparation, expanding the driveway for a crane to set their house on its foundation, and boulder retaining wall installation, gutter downspout drainage and most recently the septic installation.

A properly installed septic system protects your home, your health, and the environment — and regular maintenance keeps it working for decades. We recently completed a system for local clients and it turned out great!

What we did:

Coordinated with the county to select a new tank location when the original permit location didn’t meet setbacks once the house was built and a deck was added on.

Rerouted gutter downspouts to protect the drain field.

Excavated the tank hole with an 18" perimeter, compacted the base, and backfilled to specs.

Used excavated soil to build temporary mounds so our excavator could set perfectly level for the first drain line. A level drain line equals even effluent flow and a properly functioning system.

Installed plumbing, walked in the drain field then buried the drain field, and to finish things up we carefully used our excavator with the land planer to carefully add a finished grade to the septic area which leveled out high/low spots and added a finished look to the area so grass can grow.

Why it matters:

Poor placement, uneven drain lines, or improper backfill lead to premature failure, backups, and costly replacements.

Routine maintenance (inspections, pump-outs, and keeping grease/wipes out) extends life and protects your property and local waterways.

Need a licensed, detail-oriented septic install or repair?
Reach out to us!

Where quality of work is what we pride ourselves on.

UpLand Grading & Septic LLC
Uplandgrading.com
828-513-3847

05/03/2026

Just a little informational post about having a gravel driveway and or if you're looking to have one installed:

LONG POST BUT WORTH READING

Gravel Driveways Done Right: What Most People Get Wrong

A long-lasting gravel driveway isn’t just about dumping stone and spreading it out. The real strength comes from what’s underneath and how water is managed. Here’s what you need to know before installing or upgrading your driveway:

Start with a Solid Foundation:
One of the most important (and often overlooked) steps is installing geo-textile fabric beneath your aggregate. This fabric acts as a separation layer between the gravel and the native soil. Without it, your stone will slowly sink as the ground absorbs it through compaction and freeze/thaw cycles.

Choose the Right Base Material:
A strong base layer—like railroad ballast (3" minus aggregate with rough, angular edges)—provides structural support and helps prevent shifting over time.

Understanding your top materials is just as important:

* **ABC Road Bond**: A mix of 3/4" aggregate down to fines. The higher amount of fines helps it compact into a smooth surface, but those fines are more prone to washing away.
* **ABCM Road Bond**: Also 3/4" aggregate to fines, but with fewer fines overall—still enough to lock everything together, while being more resistant to erosion. This makes it a better long-term investment, especially on slopes.
* ** #57 Stone / 3/4" Washed Gravel**: A clean, washed aggregate with rounded edges. Great for drainage, but not ideal as a surface layer—it tends to roll, shift, and rut under tire rotation.
* **Pea Gravel (3/8")**: Typically used for decorative purposes. Like #57 stone, it’s clean and lacks fines, so it will move, rut, and never fully lock in as a driveway surface.

Drainage Is Everything:
Before any stone is laid, the driveway should be properly graded so water flows off into designated drainage areas—not down the center of your drive.

Key drainage features include:
-Proper slope and grading
-Guard rails (water bars) installed flush with the surface to redirect runoff
-Well-designed ditch lines
-Adequate culverts to capture and disperse water safely

On steep driveways, this step is critical—fast-moving runoff can quickly erode fines and destroy the surface if not controlled.

Know Your Reinforcement Materials
Not all ground stabilization products are the same:

* **Geo-textile fabric**: Separation layer between soil and aggregate
* **Geo-grid**: Flat, open grid used to reinforce built-up layers and reduce settling
* **Geo-cell**: A 3D honeycomb structure that holds aggregate in place while allowing drainage through perforated cells

*Important: If you scrape your driveway too aggressively and expose any of these materials, they can be damaged. If they become visible, additional aggregate should be added immediately to protect the integrity of the system.

*Maintenance Matters
Gravel driveways are not “set it and forget it.” Routine maintenance is essential to keep them performing properly:

-Periodic scraping to redistribute aggregate (without digging too deep)
-Adding new material as needed to maintain proper coverage
-Cleaning out guard rails (water bars) so they function correctly
-Keeping ditch lines clear for proper water flow
-Ensuring culverts are free of debris and flowing properly

*Also to not as others have mentioned that compaction is important.
Compaction Matters (More Than You Think)
Compaction is key to a stable, long-lasting surface. While your tires will naturally compact the areas you drive over, that alone isn’t enough for a uniform, durable finish.

At a minimum, aggregate should be tracked in (driven over repeatedly) to help seat the material. For best results, mechanical compaction should be used across the entire surface:

Gas walk-behind vibratory plate compactors
Hydraulic vibratory plate compactors
Hydraulic vibratory roller compactors

Lightly wetting the material during compaction can help the fines bind together, creating a tighter, more stable surface.*

Bottom line: A great gravel driveway is built, not just spread—and it’s maintained, not ignored. Invest in proper materials, prioritize drainage, and stay on top of upkeep to save yourself time, money, and frustration down the road.

Where quality of work is what we pride ourselves on.

UpLand Grading & Septic LLC
Uplandgrading.com
828-513-3847

*Older photo of a driveway installation we provided a client of ours

04/11/2026

Update on one of our clients properties. They're so close to getting it finished and we're super excited for them!!
We came back after the house was set on the foundation to backfill the foundation to grade with positive drainage away from the house and installed the gutter downspout drainage. Installed a 35' long natural boulders wall to retain the hillside soils and create a beautiful aspect to the large parking area we installed to allow the crane space to set the house on the foundation.

We're grateful for such wonderful clients and excited to be part of their future home build!

Where Quality of Work is What We Pride Ourselves on.

UpLand Grading & Septic LLC
Uplandgrading.com
828-513-3847

04/11/2026

Here's a time-lapse video of part of one of the walkways we refreshed at the Asheville Botanical Garden. This one was a pretty tight/narrow walkway with many S curves to work around with beautiful stone retaining walls.

04/11/2026

04/11/2026

A bit of a photo dump—but we hope y’all enjoy the progress!

We had the opportunity to work on a massive downed sycamore at Asheville Botanical Garden. Instead of removing it, the vision was to preserve the tree and transform the space into something more artistic, interactive, and enjoyable for the public.

This one took some serious effort. We started by mounding soil up against the tree, then carefully shaped everything based on a concept our client sketched out—and brought it to life as close to perfect as possible.

The root ball left behind a huge void that naturally fills with runoff and even taps into an underground spring. We reworked that entire area, reshaping it and adding swales to help capture even more water. The plan is to turn it into a thriving wetland-style planting area.

To tie everything together, we also designed the bench area to mirror the look and feel of the sycamore installation—creating a cohesive, natural flow throughout the space.

Go check it out! Also they have newly refreshed walkways that we had the pleasure of touching up!

Proud of how this one came together!

Where Quality of Work is What We Pride Ourselves on.

UpLand Grading & Septic LLC
Uplandgrading.com
828-513-3847