PGS Precision Grading Specialists · Upper Cumberland TN
(931) 400-8188 Get Free Estimate
Upper Cumberland Tennessee

Excavating Contractor for Retaining Walls, Septic Systems, Land Clearing and Site Prep

Precision Grading Specialists is an excavating contractor based in Hilham, Tennessee, serving Cookeville and the Upper Cumberland. We work in Cookeville, Algood, Baxter, Monterey, Livingston, Hilham, Gainesboro and Sparta with our own CAT track loaders, mini excavators and forestry mulcher.

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★★★★★ 5.0 Stars on Google Same owner as Gravel Driveway Recovery, rated 5.0 across 100+ Google reviews
CAT Equipment Fleet 275XE mulcher, CTLs, mini excavators
Licensed & Insured UCHBA member contractor
Free On-Site Estimates We come look. No pressure.
Why Property Owners Call Us

Overgrown lots. Steep terrain. Builders on a deadline.

We bring machines sized for the job and walk the property with you before we quote. You get the scope and the price in writing, and we keep you posted until the work is done.

What you’re probably dealing with

  • A lot you can’t walk through, let alone build on
  • Cedar, brush, and stumps choking out usable acreage
  • A site that needs grading before a foundation can go in
  • A septic system to install before you can close on the build
  • A builder timeline you can’t miss
  • Steep ground or a big acreage that needs serious equipment

How we approach it

  • We come out, walk the property, and tell you honestly what it’ll take
  • CAT 275XE with a 38-tooth HM418 mulching head clears acreage fast
  • Two CAT compact track loaders and two CAT mini excavators for finish grading and detail work
  • Single point of contact from clearing through retaining walls, septic, and final grade
  • We hit timelines because builders depend on us hitting them
  • One company, one crew, one bill
Who We Work With

Two paths. Same standards.

For Homeowners

Take your land back

If your property is overgrown, hard to use, or losing value to brush and cedar, we can clear it, grade it, and hand it back to you ready to enjoy. Whether you’re building, expanding pasture, or just tired of the mess.

See residential clearing →
For Builders & Developers

One contractor, full site scope

Clear it, grade it, install the septic, and get out of your way so the foundation crew can roll. We’re a member of the Upper Cumberland Home Builders Association, and we put your dates in writing because your draw schedule depends on them.

See builder site prep →
What We Do

Excavating and land services

One crew and our own machines, from the first tree to the final grade.

L-shaped Redi-Rock retaining wall, about 8 feet tall, beside a walkout basement in Gainesboro, Tennessee
W

Retaining Walls

Redi-Rock® big-block gravity walls for steep lots, walkout basements, and driveway cuts, and replacement of rotting tie walls and bulging block walls. One-ton blocks set by our own excavators, with drainage behind every course and a written 1-year workmanship guarantee.

See how we build a wall →
+

Septic Installation

New septic systems for new homes and buildings, installed under Richard’s Tennessee septic installer permit and inspected by the state before anything is covered.

Learn more → C

Land Clearing

Clearing for new builds, pasture, view restoration, and pad sites. Brush, trees, stumps, and rough grade, priced by the project.

Learn more → S

Site Preparation & Grading

House pads, building pads, and basement digs. Cut, fill, and grade with the drainage planned in from day one.

Learn more → T

Trenching

Trenches for underground electric, water lines, septic field lines, and drainage, dug to the depth the utility or your plans call for.

Learn more → M

Forestry Mulching

Clear underbrush, cedar, and small trees in a single pass. No burn piles. Mulch left in place protects soil and stops regrowth.

Learn more → L

Residential Lot Clearing

For homeowners taking back overgrown property. We’ll come walk it with you and tell you what’s realistic.

Learn more →
Built For The Job

Our own CAT equipment, on every job.

When the clearing matters, the machine matters. Here’s what shows up on your property.

CAT 275-05XE with HM418 forestry mulcher attachment on an Upper Cumberland clearing job

CAT 275-05XE w/ HM418 Mulcher

Our heavy hitter for forestry mulching. 38 carbide teeth, knocks down cedar and hardwood in a single pass.

CAT 275-05 compact track loader mid-mulch on the Old Union clearing job

CAT 275-05 Compact Track Loader

Heavy clearing, grading, and material handling. The workhorse of our fleet.

CAT 305-07CR and CAT 308-08CR mini excavators staged for a PGS jobsite

CAT 305-07CR Mini Excavator

Detail excavation, drainage, and tight access work where the big machines can’t go.

Side-by-side view of both PGS mini excavators, the CAT 305 and CAT 308

CAT 308-08CR Mini Excavator

Mid-size excavation for foundations, septic, and finish grading on residential and small commercial sites.

See the full fleet →

Recent Jobs

Recent jobs from our crew

Real PGS jobs and real photos. No stock photos.

BEFORERaw red clay bank about 8 feet tall cut against a walkout basement door before the retaining wall, Gainesboro TN
AFTERFinished L-shaped Redi-Rock gravity retaining wall, about 8 feet tall, beside the walkout basement door, Gainesboro TN

Retaining wall at a walkout basement

Gainesboro · Finished September 2026 · See the project

Aerial view of a PGS mini excavator and compact track loader digging a basement for a new home in open pasture near Hilham, Tennessee

Basement dig for a new home

Near Hilham · Mini excavator and track loader in open pasture

BEFOREPleasant Valley site before grading showing rocky soil and loose brush
AFTERPleasant Valley site after grading with cleared pad and hillside backdrop

Pad site prep

Pleasant Valley · Clearing, grading, and erosion control

BEFOREOvergrown understory with saplings and brush at Jennings Creek before forestry mulching
AFTERClean mulched floor with mature hardwoods kept in place after selective understory mulching

Selective understory mulching

Jennings Creek · Kept the hardwoods, cleared the brush

BEFOREOld Union property before clearing with brush and cedar debris
AFTERAerial view of Old Union hillside after forestry mulching with selected trees retained

Hillside mulching

Old Union · Forestry mulching on sloped terrain

BEFOREWide view of Old Union acreage before clearing
AFTERWide drone view of Old Union after clearing with mature trees kept

Acreage clearing with tree retention

Old Union · Large-scale mulching, selected trees kept

See more projects

See It In Action

Watch the CAT 275XE clear acreage

From our YouTube channel. A real job on real Upper Cumberland ground, no stock footage.

What People Say

Same team. Same standards.

Real reviews from Precision Grading Specialists customers on Google. Same owner, same crew, same standards.

★★★★★

“Richard was able to start my job right away and it was done within 3 days! We got way more land cleared than I expected, the price was reasonable, and everything was done to scope. We will be using them again for future projects. Communication was great the whole time, and I feel I got a ton of value out of the whole deal!”

Sharlene B.Google review

Precision Grading Specialists
★★★★★

“Had the mulched out for two days to clean up branches and small fallen trees on road side and in pathway through the woods. Very professional, listened to what I wanted done, and absolutely delivered to have things looking neat and clean! Highly recommend them!”

CCGoogle review

Precision Grading Specialists
★★★★★

“Great people to work with. Richard was very accommodating and job well done. Would definitely recommend them to friends and family! Thank you Richard!!!”

Helen G.Google review

Precision Grading Specialists

See all of our Google reviews

Where We Work

Serving the Upper Cumberland

Based in Hilham, serving Cookeville and the Upper Cumberland. We work across four counties.

Putnam County

Cookeville, Algood, Baxter, Monterey

Overton County

Hilham, Livingston, Allons

Jackson County

Gainesboro, Granville, Whitleyville

White County

Sparta, Doyle, Quebeck

View full service area →

Not sure what your property needs?

Call us for a free on-site assessment. We’ll walk it with you and tell you honestly what it’ll take. No pressure, no hard sell.

Get My Free Site Estimate Call (931) 400-8188
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